NCAA study reports that college athletes graduate at a higher rate than other students
By Dannielle Lowe
Gone are the days of the stereotype of the student athlete as a dumb jock.
A recent study conducted by NCAA found athletes at Division I universities tend to graduate at a higher rate than regular students overall.
The NCAA Graduation Success Rates Study, released Oct. 30, stated that 63 percent of Division I athletes who began attending college in 2000 graduated within six years.
In comparison, according to the study data, 62 percent of non-athlete students who attend Division I universities graduate within six years.
The study also suggests that white male student athletes graduate at a lower rate than their peers. According to the study, white male athletes graduate at a rate of 59 percent.
Here at the University of Portland, student athletes tend to graduate at a rate comparable to that of the whole student body. According to data found on the NCAA Web site, UP student athletes graduate within six years at a rate of 64 percent while the rest of the student body graduates at a rate of 69 percent.
"UP does a really good job to ensure we're on track to graduate on time," red-shirt sophomore Kelsey Davis, a goalkeeper for the women's soccer team said, "We work closely with Dan (McGinty, UP's student athlete academic adviser) so we choose the right courses and get the grades to make sure we graduate on time."
The graduation rate is based on a comparison of the number of entering students and the number of those who graduate within six years, according to the NCAA.
Graduation rates could be affected by a number of factors. For example, some students only attend part-time due to work or family issues, other students travel and some may even be dismissed for poor academic performance.
According to the NCAA, the study provides information about two specific study groups of students: all undergraduate students and student athletes who received athletic-based aid from the university. Athletic aid is a grant, tuition waiver, scholarship or other assistance awarded strictly on the basis of a student's athletic ability.
McGinty said that UP tries to make sure student athletes keep pace with the rest of the students. UP's student athlete academic service has four main objectives, one of those being to make sure every student athlete graduates on time.
"We try to offer student athletes a buffet of services and answers to specific questions," McGinty said.
Services such as NCAA- subsidized tutoring, study halls and a student athlete life skills course all help to ensure timely graduation and academic success.
The UP Athletic Department also provides athletes with an orientation during which students have access to an assortment of helpful people such as upperclassmen, nutritionists and academic advisers.
"There are plenty of opportunities for incoming freshmen and other student athletes to get the help they need," Davis said. "The university does a great job making academics a priority."
Despite the many available resources, the study found that UP male athletes graduate at a lower rate, 60 percent, in comparison to female athletes, who graduate at a rate of 68 percent.
According to the study, UP student athletes who exhaust their all their years of eligibility graduate at a rate of 85 percent.
