7-17-97
Contacts:
Tom Kroeschell, Athletic Media Relations, (515)294-3404
IOWA STATE STUDENT-ATHLETE GRADUATION RATE LEADS BIG 12 CONFERENCE
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State's 62 percent student-athlete
graduation rate for individuals who entered ISU as part of
the 1990-91 freshman class is the highest figure in the Big
12 Conference. The Cyclones' 61 percent graduation rate
average for four freshman classes between the 1987-88 and
1990-91 academic years also leads the Big 12. It is the
second straight season in which Iowa State led the conference
in both categories, based on figures released by the
NCAA.
Student-athletes who entered ISU between the 1983-84 and
1990-91 school years and stayed in school until their
collegiate eligibility was exhaused graduated at a Big 12-
best mark of 90 percent.
"I think these figures underscore the effort we have
made to provide the best environment for our student-athletes
to succeed in the classroom," Iowa State athletic director
Gene Smith said. "Our performance has been consistent over a
considerable period of time. We will continue to work to
ensure that our student-athletes are given the best chance to
make their mark at Iowa State and after graduation."
The 62 percent six-year graduation rate for ISU student-
athletes who were a part of the 1990-91 freshman class is
slightly higher than the overall university mark of 60
percent. The student-athlete figure is up from 59 percent
last year.
The six-year rate for female ISU student-athletes (73
percent) is higher than the all-university women's average of
63 percent. ISU female student-athletes graduated at a six-
year figure of 79 percent last year.
The six-year graduation rate for ISU male student-
athletes entering ISU for the 1990-91 academic year was 57
percent, up from 49 percent last year. The rate was 59
percent two years ago. The latest all-university men's
graduation rate was 58 percent.
The football student-athlete six-year graduation rate
rose for the fifth straight year, increasing one point to 64
percent. That figure leads the Big 12 Conference. The six-
year mark was 54 percent two years ago.
Three men's basketball student-athletes, Donnell Bivins,
Saun Jackson and Skip McCoy, entered ISU for the 1990-91
school year. Bivins and Jackson graduated. McCoy
transferred to New Mexico State in good academic standing.
ISU's men's basketball graduation rate is 67 percent because
the NCAA does not count transfers toward a school's
graduation rate even if that individual goes on to earn a
degree at a new institution.
"These figures are in part a reflection of excellent
instruction students receive from the Iowa State faculty,"
Smith said. "We have worked to build up our student-athlete
services program and these figures reflect that effort. We
don't have an intense focus on yearly numbers. At Iowa
State, we focus on each individual's academic and athletic
progress and I think that is why we fare so well relative to
our peer institutions."
Big 12 Conference Graduation Rates (Source:
NCAA)
1990-91 Freshman Student-Athlete Rate
|
1. IOWA STATE 2. Nebraska 3. Baylor 4. Missouri Texas 6. Kansas 7. Texas A&M 8. Texas Tech Colorado 10. Kansas State 11. Oklahoma 12. Oklahoma State |
62% 61% 60% 58% 58% 56% 53% 51% 51% 48% 46% 41% |
Student-Athlete Four-Year Average (1987-1990)
|
1. IOWA STATE 2. Nebraska 3. Baylor 4. Kansas 5. Missouri Texas 7. Texas A&M Texas Tech 9. Kansas State 10. Colorado 11. Oklahoma 12. Oklahoma State |
61% 60% 57% 55% 54% 54% 52% 52% 51% 50% 44% 43% |
Six-Year Graduation Rate for 1990-91 Student-Athlete Freshman Who Exhausted Their Eligibility
|
1. IOWA STATE 2. Missouri Nebraska 4. Oklahoma Texas 6. Baylor Kansas 8. Colorado 9. Texas Tech 10. Texas A&M 11. Oklahoma State 12. Kansas State |
90% 86% 86% 80% 80% 79% 79% 78% 76% 74% 69% 41% |
University Relations, online@iastate.edu
Copyright © 1997, Iowa State University, all rights
reserved
URL:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/athgrad.html
Revised
7/16/97