Statistics for the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) released Wednesday by the NCAA indicated a 90% GSR for the Wichita State athletic department, which matches the all-time high achieved two years ago. The GSR rate for the previous five years was 89% (2015-16), 90% (2014-15), 87% (2013-14), 84% (2012-13 class), and 82% (2011-12 class).
 
Ten Wichita State programs registered at least an 87 percent GSR, with four programs achieving a perfect 100 percent. Women's tennis posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the 13th 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 seventh year in a row. The softball team posted a perfect four-year GSR score for the fifth year in a row. The women's track and field team posted a 94 percent GSR score for the third-consecutive year, which is an all-time high. The men's track and field team posted an 87 percent GSR score which is the highest score in 15 years. The baseball team posted an 88 percent GSR score which is the highest score in 12 years. This year's numbers reflect a four-year average for students who entered college from 2013-14 through 2016-17.
 
The athletic department has achieved a GSR score of 80 percent or above every year for the last 16 years. Ten out of 11 Wichita State programs with scores posted 87 percent GSR rates or higher and seven 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 2016-17 academic year achieved a 56-percent rate, compared to the general student body, which had a 52-percent graduation rate. The four-class average (2013-16) data showed that Wichita State student-athletes graduated at a 64-percent rate, compared to the general student body, which has a 50-percent rate.
 
This year marks the 33^rd 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.