Cal Sets New Standard In Graduation Success Rate

BERKELEY – Cal Athletics has posted a record-high Graduation Success Rate (GSR) for the sixth consecutive year with the score rising to 91 percent in the latest data released by the NCAA on Tuesday. Overall, four teams achieved 100 percent, and 15 programs finished at or above the 90-percent mark.
 
The four programs with perfect graduation rates are:

Volleyball (11th straight year)

Women's Tennis (10th straight year)

Men's Tennis (7th straight year)

Women's gymnastics (6th straight year)

Additionally, Cal's football team had a graduation rate of 86 percent – a program record and the fourth straight year the team has set a highwater mark.
 
The Golden Bears' men's swimming & diving team also set a program record with a GSR of 93 percent while women's soccer and field hockey each tied its top mark at 93 percent.
 
In addition to the four programs with perfect graduation rates, 11 more were at least at 90 percent – lacrosse (97%), women's track & field (97%), women's rowing (96%), field hockey (96%), women's soccer (96%), softball (95%), women's swimming & diving (95%),  men's basketball (93%), men's swimming & diving (93%), women's basketball (90%) and women's golf (90%).  

Cal's overall rate of 91% was two points better than last year's previous high of 89 percent.

"It is so gratifying to see our student-athletes excelling in the classroom," Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. "They continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their studies, and it is rewarding to see us post the highest graduation rates in our history for the sixth consecutive year. As a department, our mission is to support and encourage our student-athletes to have a holistic experience – competitively, academically and developmentally. We will continue to do whatever we can to ensure their success in life after Cal."

Cal also has several programs on an upward trajectory. Men's track & field improved on its graduation rate for the fifth year in a row while men's golf, lacrosse and women's track & field each showed progress for the fourth year in succession.
 
The GSR is based on a six-year cohort, meaning that the latest report includes those student-athletes who received athletic scholarships, enrolled at Cal as freshmen or incoming transfers from 2012-15, and completed their degree within six years.