ACADEMICS Div. I athletes graduating at a higher rate

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- More than three-fourths of Division I athletes complete their college education, according to a new calculation that NCAA President Myles Brand calls more accurate.
The new Graduation Success Rate, or GSR, shows 76 percent graduate, the NCAA said Monday. The rate includes students who transfer to other schools throughout their college career, information not considered in the federally mandated graduation rate. That rate is 62 percent, according to preliminary data.
"Our students today are far more mobile than they have been in the past," Brand said. "We must respect that migration of students in order to get accurate data."
Lacrosse had the highest GSR for both men and women, at 89 percent and 94 percent, respectively.
Basketball still lowest
In men's sports, basketball had the lowest GSR, at 58 percent, an improvement on the federally reported graduation rate of 44 percent. The women's basketball rate was 81 percent. In women's sports, bowling had the lowest GSR at 72 percent.
Among the 318 Division I schools, the overall graduation rate for football was 64 percent, an increase from 54 percent based on the federal rate.
The NCAA plans to release an overall rate for each college or university in late January.
Although most GSR numbers are higher, teams that have lower rates are those attracting transfer students who do not end up graduating, Brand said.
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