General

ACC Makes Another Strong Showing in NCAA Graduation Success Rates

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference’s collective high level of academic success is again reflected by the NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report released on Wednesday. The ACC’s average graduation rate of 94 percent is four points higher than this year's national average of 90 percent. 

“Our incredible student-athletes continue to excel in all facets, and the latest GSR report showcases the phenomenal dedication by our collective institutions to academics,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We are proud of our student-athletes and their work in the classroom that has led to a collective NCAA GSR that greatly exceeds the national average once again. Our schools continue to prioritize the educational and athletic opportunities they provide.” 

Below are the notes of interest for the ACC’s 18 member schools:  

  • 17 schools have a GSR above or matching the NCAA Division I average. 

  • A total of 183 ACC teams achieved perfect GSR scores of 100, led by 18 teams each from Duke and Notre Dame. 

  • A combined 23 ACC teams achieved GSR scores of 100 in the sports of men's basketball, women's basketball and baseball. 

  • ACC football programs have the highest GSR average (88) among all FBS Conferences. 

  • The ACC remains the only conference to have multiple football teams register GSR scores of 90 or higher every year since 2005. Boston College (97), Clemson (99), Duke (94), Georgia Tech (90), Louisville (97), SMU (90), Stanford (93), Virginia (93), and Wake Forest (97) reached that plateau in this year’s report. 

  • 12 ACC football teams earned higher than the FBS football GSR average. 

  • Nine ACC men's basketball teams earned higher than the Division I basketball GSR average. Seven teams posted GSR scores of 100: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Stanford, and Virginia Tech. 

  • 12 ACC women's basketball teams earned higher than the Division I women's basketball GSR average. 

  • Eleven ACC women's basketball teams posted GSR scores of 100: Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, and Wake Forest. This marks the 16th straight year that the ACC has had at least four women’s basketball programs score 100, making it the only peer conference to do so. 

  • 14 ACC baseball teams earned at or higher scores than the Division I GSR baseball average. Boston College, Clemson, Notre Dame, Stanford, and Wake Forest each registered a 100 GSR. 

The Wednesday update is based on information obtained from the 2024 NCAA Graduation Rate Report. The report provides graduation information for students and student-athletes who entered in Fall 2014 through Fall 2017. These are the most recent graduating classes for which six years of information is available. A graduation rate (percent) is based on a comparison of the number of students who entered a college or university and the number of those who graduated within six years. For example, if 100 students entered and 60 graduated, the graduation rate is 60 percent. The four-class average includes those who entered as freshmen in 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18.   

It should be noted that graduation rates are affected by a number of factors: some students transfer to another college, some may be dismissed for academic deficiencies, some may have to work part-time and need more than six years to graduate. The NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) subtracts students from the entering cohort who are considered allowable exclusions (those who either die or become personally disabled, those who leave school to join the armed forces, foreign services or attend a church mission) as well as those who would have been academically eligible to compete had they returned to the institution. 

About The ACC  
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).