The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department saw 10 of its 16 programs beat the national average for Graduation Success Rate based on information released by the NCAA this week. The Mocs posted an 89% overall GSR for the most recent cohort, its second-highest number on record since the NCAA began reporting in 1998.
Figures released reflect graduation numbers among student-athletes who entered school in 2014.
"The work of our student-athletes in the classroom is a cornerstone of success for our program," stated Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics
Mark Wharton. "It is a source of pride in the department, across campus and in the community, and their hard work should be recognized and celebrated.
"Our coaches establish the right culture, our academic staff is outstanding and we get unbelievable support from our campus. Add that with the hard work of our student-athletes, and we expect to see this level of success in the classroom continue for years to come."
Leading the way for the Mocs were seven teams with a perfect 100% GSR. Those programs include:
| Men's cross country |
100% GSR |
82% National Average |
| Women's track & field/cross country |
100% |
90% |
| Men's golf |
100% |
91% |
| Soccer |
100% |
94% |
| Men's tennis |
100% |
91% |
| Women's tennis |
100% |
96% |
| Volleyball |
100% |
93% |
Three other teams at UTC that beat the national average include:
| Women's basketball |
92% GSR |
91% National Average |
| Football |
80% |
79% |
| Softball |
95% |
93% |
The volleyball program has scored a 100% GSR for the last seven years, while men's tennis and soccer have logged perfect numbers for three years in a row. Men's cross country, women's track & field and cross country and men's golf posted back-to-back 100% GSRs. Wrestling hit an all-time high of 79% in 2021, while softball matched its program best 95% for the third consecutive year.
Over the last 20 years, the NCAA has seen its overall GSR increase from 74% to its current peak at 90% in 2021. UTC has seen a dramatic increase in the last decade, moving from a low of 48% in 2010 to a high mark of 90% in 2020.
The GSR — which more accurately reflects mobility of college students beyond what the federal graduation rate measures — was created by the Division I Board of Directors in 2002. The federal rate counts as an academic failure any students who leave their initial school, even if the students transfer and enroll at another school. Also, the federal rate does not include students who enter school as transfer students.
The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation provides a more accurate measure of student-athlete success.
For more information on the NCAA's graduation rates data,
see the official release here.
