Jan. 26, 2006
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The latest NCAA report on graduation rates shows Western Washington University student-athletes once again graduating at rates far above the national average for NCAA Division II and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and at rates higher than the Western student body as a whole.
The 2005 NCAA findings show 79 percent of Viking student-athletes receive their degrees in six years or less. That was 28 percentage points higher than the average for student-athletes in the 10-team Great Northwest Athletic Conference (51 percent), and 25 points higher than the national average for schools in NCAA Division II (54 percent), of which Western is a member.
Western student-athletes also scored 14 points higher on graduation rates than the Western student body in general (79 to 65 percent). This compares favorably with national averages for Division II schools, where student-athletes edged students in general, 54 to 46 percent.
"We continue to be very pleased with the academic performance of our student-athletes," said Western Director of Athletics Lynda Goodrich. "These numbers are indicative of the commitment to education demonstrated daily by our student-athletes, our coaches, and our department staff."
The 2005 NCAA Graduation Rate Reports are based on student-athletes who entered universities during the 1998-99 academic year and graduated in six years or less. Student-athletes are defined as those "who received athletics aid" such as grants, scholarships, tuition waivers or other assistance from the institution upon initial enrollment.
Western's four-class (student-athletes entering 1995-98) graduation rate of 71 percent is 15 points better than the GNAC average (56 percent). It is 17 points better than the Division II average (54 percent).
Western's four-class graduation rate is eight points better than that of the Western student body in general (63 percent). Students in general at Division II schools have an average graduation rate of 45 percent.
Last year, Western won the GNAC combined all-sports championship for the fourth straight year, winning league titles in men's basketball, and men's indoor and outdoor track and field. The Vikings captured the NCAA II national championship in women's rowing, and placed fifth nationally in women's golf and ninth in men's golf. They also made regional appearances in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf and women's rowing.
