KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Truman State University student-athletes recorded an academic success rate of 95% according to the 2011 NCAA Graduation Rates report. This is the highest graduation rate of any institution in the MIAA, all active Division II schools in the state of Missouri and well above the NCAA Division II average for 290 institutions of 72%.
 
The report, released by the NCAA this week, represents data from first-time freshman, as well as transfers and non-scholarship athletes who entered Truman between 2001 and 2004.  The NCAA developed the ASR to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes.  The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate.  The ASR also accounts for non-scholarship athletes in Division II.  The ASR has been calculated the past six years and for all NCAA championship sports. 
 
Every sport at Truman had an ASR above 80%, with all but two above 90%.  Seven of Truman's ten women's programs had a 100% ASR.  Men's basketball's 83% (DII average 60%) and football's 88% (DII average 54%) were tops among all programs in the MIAA. Football's rate was the fifth highest in Division II and first among public institutions.
 
“Academic success and degree-completion are an essential part of the student-athlete experience on our campus and I am pleased that our ASR continues to lead by example in our state, our conference, and NCAA Division II,” director of athletics Jerry Wollmering said. “This data is the result of the collective effort of student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff.”
 
The NCAA also released Federal Graduation Rates in the report, which counts all student-athletes who transfer from or leave the institution for any reason as non-graduates from their initial school, even if they leave in good academic standing and subsequently graduate from another institution.  The report showed Truman's federal graduation rates for student-athletes at 78%, again best in the MIAA and well above the NCAA Division II average of 55%.  It was also 8% higher than the rate for all Truman students of 70%.
 
NCAA Academic Success Rates in the MIAA
95%     Truman State University
83%     Northwest Missouri State University
79%     Pittsburg State University
75%     University of Central Missouri
72%    NCAA Division II average
67%     Fort Hays State University
65%     Emporia State University
64%     Missouri Southern State University
63%     Southwest Baptist University
60%     Washburn University of Topeka
56%     Missouri Western State University
47%     Lincoln University
 
For more information on NCAA graduation rates data, please visit www.ncaa.org