East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Athletics has maintained its record-high Graduation Success Rate (GSR), according to the latest NCAA report. The university achieved an overall GSR of 89%, matching its previous record from the 2022-23 season. This marks a decade of consistently high performance, with EMU maintaining a GSR of 80% or higher for ten consecutive years and showing a 17-point increase since the 2010-11 academic year.

"Academic success is a cornerstone of Eastern Michigan Athletics and a source of great pride for our department," stated Scott Wetherbee, Vice President/Director of Athletics. He credited the dedication of student-athletes and the support from faculty, academic staff, and coaches for this achievement.

The NCAA's GSR metric considers student-athletes who graduate, transfer in good standing, or leave for professional opportunities. For the cohort entering in 2017-18, several EMU programs excelled with perfect scores: men's and women's golf, women's basketball, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball. Gymnastics achieved its 17th consecutive perfect score; volleyball marked its 14th straight; and women's golf reached this milestone for the eighth time.

All EMU programs recorded a GSR of at least 78%, with improvements seen in eleven teams compared to last year. Among women's sports, all nine programs scored at least 85%, with seven exceeding 90%. Men's golf led with a perfect score while men's basketball posted its highest-ever GSR at 93%, improving by 53 points since the 2006-07 period.

The GSR reflects data from student-athletes receiving athletic aid who entered college as freshmen in the class of 2017-18. It shows graduation rates within six years while accounting for transfers both into and out of institutions.

Within the Mid-American Conference, EMU tied for first place in six categories: men's golf, women's golf, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, and volleyball. According to federal graduation rates—considered narrower than GSR—EMU student-athletes surpassed their non-athlete peers by 24%.

For more details on Graduation Success Rates visit www.ncaa.org.