Cardinals' Academic Success Continues to Rise
November 15, 2016 | General, Academic Services
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- University of Louisville student-athletes continue to achieve academically at a high level, a measure of success which is reflected in recent national graduation rates released by the NCAA.
UofL student-athletes achieved a record 83 percent graduation rate in the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report, which was developed 12 years ago to account for transfers into the university who graduate and those who leave in good academic standing. The Cardinals' GSR, most recently reported for freshmen who entered in the 2009-10 academic year, has risen 17 percent since the reporting began 12 years ago. Nine sports -- women's basketball, women's cross country/track, field hockey, women's golf, women's rowing, women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and women's tennis and volleyball -- attained a GSR at 90 percent or above in the most recent report. Women's golf, women's tennis and softball achieved perfect marks.
Since tracking the data over the last 13 years, graduation rates for UofL student-athletes have risen 17 percent, improving from 48 percent for the freshman class which entered UofL in 1997-98 to a 65 percent graduation rate in the most recent 2009-10 figures. UofL student-athletes graduate at an 11 percent higher rate than the overall university student population in the 2009-10 four-class average.
"Looking at where we have come through the years, we've been making substantial progress academically and our numbers reflect that," said Tom Jurich, U of L Vice-President for Athletics. "Investing in support services and the new Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence are certainly helpful. There is an overall commitment from our coaching and support staffs to provide what is needed to help our student-athletes to achieve in the classroom."
All UofL student athletes combined to produce an average grade point average of 3.0 or better for each of the last 11 straight semesters. A total of 362 student-athletes achieved a 3.0 or higher GPA in the Spring 2016 semester.
UofL's men's basketball, women's lacrosse and men's and women's golf are among the top 10 percent in their respective sports in the latest figures for the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures academic eligibility, retention and graduation for student-athletes. All four sports programs have a perfect 1000 score for the most recent four-year period from 2011-15.
U of L Freshman Cohort Graduation Rates
Graduation Rate
All Student-
Year Students Athletes
1997-98 35% 48%
1998-99 33% 55%
1999-00 37% 56%
2000-01 41% 59%
2001-02 44% 65%
2002-03 46% 61%
2003-04 48% 59%
2004-05 49% 58%
2005-06 51% 58%
2006-07 52% 61%
2007-08 53% 65%
2008-09 54% 63%
2009-10 53% 65%
Four-Class Average
All Student-
Year Students Athletes
1997-98 33% 45%
1998-99 34% 50%
1999-00 35% 52%
2000-01 37% 54%
2001-02 39% 58%
2002-03 42% 60%
2003-04 45% 61%
2004-05 47% 60%
2005-06 48% 59%
2006-07 50% 59%
2007-08 51% 61%
2008-09 53% 62%
2009-10 53% 64%
Student-Athlete
Graduation Success Rate
1998-99 66%
1999-00 68%
2000-01 72%
2001-02 75%
2002-03 77%
2003-04 80%
2004-05 81%
2005-06 80%
2006-07 81%
2007-08 80%
2008-09 81%
2009-10 83%
UofL student-athletes achieved a record 83 percent graduation rate in the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report, which was developed 12 years ago to account for transfers into the university who graduate and those who leave in good academic standing. The Cardinals' GSR, most recently reported for freshmen who entered in the 2009-10 academic year, has risen 17 percent since the reporting began 12 years ago. Nine sports -- women's basketball, women's cross country/track, field hockey, women's golf, women's rowing, women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and women's tennis and volleyball -- attained a GSR at 90 percent or above in the most recent report. Women's golf, women's tennis and softball achieved perfect marks.
Since tracking the data over the last 13 years, graduation rates for UofL student-athletes have risen 17 percent, improving from 48 percent for the freshman class which entered UofL in 1997-98 to a 65 percent graduation rate in the most recent 2009-10 figures. UofL student-athletes graduate at an 11 percent higher rate than the overall university student population in the 2009-10 four-class average.
"Looking at where we have come through the years, we've been making substantial progress academically and our numbers reflect that," said Tom Jurich, U of L Vice-President for Athletics. "Investing in support services and the new Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence are certainly helpful. There is an overall commitment from our coaching and support staffs to provide what is needed to help our student-athletes to achieve in the classroom."
All UofL student athletes combined to produce an average grade point average of 3.0 or better for each of the last 11 straight semesters. A total of 362 student-athletes achieved a 3.0 or higher GPA in the Spring 2016 semester.
UofL's men's basketball, women's lacrosse and men's and women's golf are among the top 10 percent in their respective sports in the latest figures for the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures academic eligibility, retention and graduation for student-athletes. All four sports programs have a perfect 1000 score for the most recent four-year period from 2011-15.
U of L Freshman Cohort Graduation Rates
Graduation Rate
All Student-
Year Students Athletes
1997-98 35% 48%
1998-99 33% 55%
1999-00 37% 56%
2000-01 41% 59%
2001-02 44% 65%
2002-03 46% 61%
2003-04 48% 59%
2004-05 49% 58%
2005-06 51% 58%
2006-07 52% 61%
2007-08 53% 65%
2008-09 54% 63%
2009-10 53% 65%
Four-Class Average
All Student-
Year Students Athletes
1997-98 33% 45%
1998-99 34% 50%
1999-00 35% 52%
2000-01 37% 54%
2001-02 39% 58%
2002-03 42% 60%
2003-04 45% 61%
2004-05 47% 60%
2005-06 48% 59%
2006-07 50% 59%
2007-08 51% 61%
2008-09 53% 62%
2009-10 53% 64%
Student-Athlete
Graduation Success Rate
1998-99 66%
1999-00 68%
2000-01 72%
2001-02 75%
2002-03 77%
2003-04 80%
2004-05 81%
2005-06 80%
2006-07 81%
2007-08 80%
2008-09 81%
2009-10 83%
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