Herd Football Recognized By The American Football Coaches Association For Graduation Rates

6/11/2004

WACO, Texas - Marshall University was one of 31 schools honored by The American Football Coaches Association for graduating 70% or more of its players that entered as freshman in the academic year of 1998-99. The Herd's graduation rate was 83%, or 19 out of 24 players.

Ninety-four (94) NCAA Division I-A members responded to the AFCA 2004 graduation rate survey, which is designed to measure an entering freshman class that received athletically related financial aid from the institution of initial attendance and analyze academic progress over a period of five plus years. This study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 1998-99, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in aid.

This year's overall graduation rate for all 94 schools reporting was 59%. Forty-nine of the members responding were above the average and 45 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 60%, compared to 59% last year and 61% two years ago.

Marshall has made the AFCA's honorable mention list, which honors schools with a 70% graduation rate or higher, six out of the last seven years.

Two schools, Boston College and Northwestern, achieved a 100% graduation rate. Other schools joining Marshall on the honorable mention include Ball State, Bowling Green, Duke, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Maryland, Memphis, Miami-Florida, Miami-Ohio, Nebraska, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma State, Rice, Southern Mississippi, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Western Michigan.

Thundering Herd Graduation Rates Over the Last Seven Years (Year class entered school):

1998-99: 83%
1997-98: 79%
1996-97: 62%
1995-96: 90%
1994-95: 92%
1993-94: 89%
1992-93: 84%