LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell has once again earned a Division I Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 93%, according to an announcement made by the NCAA on Tuesday. This GSR is based on the 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14 and 2012-13 freshman classes, and gives each class a maximum of six years to graduate at UMass Lowell.
 
"I am so proud of our student-athletes, who dedicate themselves to excellence in all areas every single day," said Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "Their success in the classroom never ceases to amaze me, and I thank our academic support staff and coaches for helping all of our River Hawks pursue their academic goals."
 
The GSR calculates graduation rates for a Division I athletic department's first-time freshmen and mid-year entrants, as well as transfer student-athletes who received athletics aid. The GSR subtracts students from the entering cohort who are considered allowable exclusions and those who left the institution prior to graduation, if they had athletics eligibility remaining and would have been academically eligible to compete had they returned to the institution.
 
UMass Lowell has maintained or exceeded the 90% GSR benchmark for the last eight consecutive years, including the last six since completing its Division I transition.
 
"The work our student-athletes put in, day in and day out, is reflected in these numbers," commented Alison Quandt Westgate, Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Services. "We couldn't be more proud."
 
Overall across the NCAA, the Division I student-athlete GSR average is 89%. Nationally, all subgroups are at or near their highest levels ever.
 
For the 2012-2015 cohorts, UMass Lowell has the second highest GSR among the nine America East Conference institutions, as three other conference institutions all lead with 96%. In Hockey East, the River Hawks lead the way with a perfect 100% GSR. In addition to the hockey program, five other UMass Lowell teams boast a perfect score of 100%, including baseball, women's cross country, field hockey, women's lacrosse and women's track & field.