Bears Tie School-Record Graduation Success Rate

For the second consecutive year, Baylor tied its school-record Graduation Success Rate (GSR) with a 94 overall score. It is the eighth straight year and 12th time overall that Baylor has led the Big 12 Conference in GSR, according to data released by the NCAA.

Baylor ranked second in the state of Texas behind Rice University (95) and 14th nationally among Power Five schools. Iowa State University (93) was second in the Big 12, followed by Kansas State University (92) and the University of Kansas (90). The University of Oklahoma (89) and the University of Texas at Austin (89) tied for fifth, followed by Texas Christian University (87), West Virginia University (86), Oklahoma State University (85) and Texas Tech University (83).

Baylor also led the Big 12 in composite GSR from 2005 to 2008 and from 2014 to 2020. The University has finished first or second 13 times in the last 15 years.

“Baylor is full of high-achieving student-athletes,” Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services Ramone Cooper said. “Their commitment to academic excellence is what drew me to the University. We are fortunate to attract students who take their academics so seriously. Having tied a department-wide GSR personal best for the second year in a row is emblematic of our students’ buy-in on meeting the Baylor standard.” 

Baseball, men’s golf, women’s golf, soccer, softball, women’s tennis and volleyball all earned perfect GSR scores (100). Men’s golf achieved a perfect score for the 10th straight year, while women’s golf and women’s tennis both hit the mark for the ninth straight year. Soccer (five), volleyball (three) and baseball (two) also extended streaks, while softball achieved the feat for the fifth time in program history and first time since 2011.

Additionally, baseball (100), men’s XC/track and field (89), men’s golf (100), women’s golf (100), soccer (100), softball (100), volleyball (100) and women’s tennis (100) boasted the top scores in the Big 12 in their respective sports.

Aaron Tebo, assistant athletics director for academic services, said Baylor’s GSR numbers would not be possible without support from across the University, especially the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE).

“Graduation as the expectation for our student-athletes continues to be our mindset, and these numbers are evidence of that,” Tebo said. “That would not be obtainable without the outstanding support from our Baylor faculty, coaches and administration and incredible work being done by our SACE Academic Services team, including our learning specialists, tutor coordinator and academic coaches on a daily basis. It is truly remarkable seeing our student-athletes enter as freshmen and then allow us the opportunity to pour into them, leading them to graduation and helping prepare champions for life.”

The NCAA began compiling GSR with the entering freshman class of 1995. Unlike the federal graduation rate, GSR holds institutions accountable for students who transfer into their institution, and it accounts for midyear enrollees.

Baylor’s student-athlete federal graduation rate for the 2020-21 academic year was 73 percent, best in the Big 12 and equal to the previous year’s mark. Baylor has been first or second in the federal graduation rate report 15 times in the conference’s 26-year history, and at least 60 percent of the University’s student-athletes graduated 23 times in that span.

Sport-Specific GSR Highlights:

Baseball: 100%
for the second straight year after reaching the mark for the first time in program history last year. The Big 12’s only baseball program at 100.

Men's Cross Country/Track and Field: 89%
leads the Big 12.

Men's Golf: 100%
for 10 straight years.

Women's Golf: 100%
for nine straight years.

Soccer: 100%
for five straight years.

Softball: 100%
for first time in 10 years.

Women's Tennis: 100%
for nine straight years.

Volleyball: 100%
for third straight year.