CHICAGO – The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics continues to maintain its high standard of academic excellence, with Wednesday's announcement of the school's 91-percent overall NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the latest NCAA report. In addition, nearly half (6) of the Flames' 14 measured programs earned a perfect 100 percent NCAA GSR score (cross country/track & field are considered a combined program for purposes of this calculation). This marks the fifth consecutive year UIC has topped the 90-percent mark on its department-wide NCAA GSR score.
 
"Our student-athletes continue to set the bar high and this year's results once again reflect their relentless commitment to excellence," said UIC Director of Athletics Andrea Williams. "Graduating at such an exceptional rate speaks to the culture we've built — one where academic achievement is prioritized, supported and celebrated. We're incredibly proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and our academic services team for ensuring that UIC remains a place where champions thrive in the classroom and beyond."
 
The six UIC athletics programs that recorded 100 percent NCAA GSR scores last year were men's tennis, women's cross country/track & field, women's golf, softball, women's tennis and volleyball. Four other UIC programs — baseball, women's basketball, women's soccer and women's swimming & diving — checked in with graduation rates of 90 percent or better.
 
This marks the 15th consecutive year the Flames volleyball team has graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes. It is also the seventh year in a row that the UIC women's tennis squad recorded a perfect NCAA GSR score.
 
"The Graduation Success Rate is more than just a number — it reflects the commitment our UIC student-athletes make to their education and the incredible support they receive along the way," said Karen Dixon, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. "We are excited that our Flames consistently graduate in high numbers, proving that academic achievement and athletic excellence can thrive together. We continue to be proud of the way our student-athletes represent UIC — earning their degrees and preparing for life beyond sport."
 
The latest NCAA GSR announcement comes on the heels of another impressive academic year for UIC Athletics in 2024-25 with a 3.39 department-wide grade-point average (GPA) in the Spring 2025 term, which marks the 22nd consecutive semester that Flames student-athletes combined to post a 3.0 GPA or better. In addition, nearly all 18 UIC programs achieved a 3.0 team GPA or better last semester, led by women's golf (3.78) and men's soccer (3.52). Nearly half (144) of UIC's 300+ student-athletes also earned Dean's List honors last spring, with 63 registering a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
In August, the Missouri Valley Conference recognized a school-record 255 UIC student-athletes with a place on the MVC Honor Roll (3.2 GPA or higher), including 68 who received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (3.5 GPA or higher) and 15 who garnered the league's highest academic achievement, the MVC Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award (3.8 GPA or higher).
 
What is the Graduation Success Rate (GSR)?
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in 2002 to more fully reflect the academic achievement of student-athletes.
 
The traditional Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) compiled by the U.S. Department of Education is used as an indicator of academic success for all college students. For student-athletes, it measures the cohort of first-time, full-time freshmen on athletics aid who enter in the fall semester and graduate within six years of entering their original four-year institution. UIC's latest four-class average Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) for student-athletes is 71 percent, which is 10 percent higher than UIC's general student population.
 
Calculation of the GSR begins with the cohort the federal methodology identifies, but additionally includes student-athletes the federal rate omits — (1) incoming transfer student-athletes who receive athletics aid, and (2) freshmen on athletics aid who enroll at midyear rather than in fall. The GSR also does not penalize colleges whose student-athletes transfer in good academic standing, as those student-athletes are effectively moved into the cohort of the destination colleges.
 
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