Villanova Athletics Achieves 98% NCAA Graduation Success Rate, Leading BIG EAST Schools

Villanova Athletics Achieves 98% Graduation Success Rate

Villanova, Pennsylvania—Villanova Athletics has received positive NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data, scoring an impressive 98 percent. This score ranks Villanova among the top Division I schools in the United States for both athletic and academic performance. Villanova is one of 23 institutions to achieve a score of 98 percent or higher.

This score is the highest among BIG EAST schools. Villanova joins six Ivy League schools along with other distinguished universities such as Georgetown, Bucknell, and Northwestern. The released data covers student-athletes from the 2014-2017 cohort who graduated within six years of enrolling.

Notably, 14 varsity programs at Villanova achieved a perfect GSR score of 100 percent. All 10 women’s varsity programs reported a perfect GSR. These teams include women’s basketball, women’s cross country/track & field, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, rowing, women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming & diving, volleyball, and water polo. Additionally, four men’s varsity programs also scored a perfect 100 percent: baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country/track & field, and men’s soccer.

The academic performance of Villanova student-athletes shines in both men’s and women’s basketball. Villanova is one of only two BIG EAST schools with both teams achieving a 100 percent GSR score. Two sports—women’s cross country/track & field and women’s swimming & diving—also had a perfect GSR in both NCAA and federal rate calculations.

The NCAA GSR differs from the federal rate in two key aspects. It accounts for transfer student-athletes and does not penalize schools for student-athletes who transfer in good academic standing.

Villanova’s football program, currently 8-3 this season, recorded a GSR of 95 percent. This marks the fourth consecutive year the football team has scored at least 95 percent. Villanova leads the CAA Football programs with the highest score, also exceeding the league’s federal rate calculation of 88 percent.

The NCAA’s overall GSR for Division I student-athletes has remained steady at 91 percent, matching last year’s all-time record. Since the GSR tracking began over 20 years ago, graduation rates for Division I student-athletes have improved by 17 points.

Since the 2019-20 academic year, Villanova teams have secured 19 regular season and postseason conference championships. They have also made 20 national postseason appearances, including a notable run by the softball team after winning its third BIG EAST title in four seasons. The women’s basketball team reached the WBIT championship game, while the men’s and women’s track & field teams combined for nine All-America honors at the NCAA Championships.