Statistics for the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) released Tuesday by the NCAA indicated an 89% GSR for the Wichita State athletic department, which is one percentage point lower than the all-time high of 90% achieved one year ago.  The GSR rates for the previous five years were 90% (2014-15), 87% (2013-14), 84% (2012-13 class), 82% (2011-12 class), and 80% (2010-11 class).
 
Nine Wichita State programs registered at least an 86 percent GSR, with four programs achieving a perfect 100 percent.  Women's tennis posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the 11th year in a row, meaning for a four-year average, all student-athletes either graduated or left the program in good academic standing.  The men's golf team posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the sixth year in a row and the women's golf team for the fifth year in a row. The softball team posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the fourth year in a row.  The women's track and field team posted a 94 percent GSR score for the second consecutive year, which is an all-time high.  The men's track and field team posted an 86 percent GSR score for the third consecutive year which is the highest score in 14 years.  This year's numbers reflect a four-year average for students who entered college from 2012-13 through 2015-16.
 
The athletic department has achieved a GSR score of 80 percent or above every year for the last 14 years.  Ten out of 11 Wichita State programs with scores posted 81 percent GSR rates or higher and six out of 11 Wichita State programs posted scores of 91 percent GSR rates or higher.
 
The Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) data was also released.  The data showed that Wichita State student-athletes entering in the 2015-16 academic year achieved a 64-percent rate, compared to the general student body, which had a 48-percent graduation rate.  This is the fourth-consecutive year the student-athletes have achieved a 61-percent graduation rate or higher. 
 
This year marks the 32^nd release of institutional graduation rates since Federal Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act legislation was passed in 1990.  In 2005, the NCAA Division I Committee on Academic Performance implemented the initial release of the GSR in order to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes.