WORCESTER, Mass. –  Holy Cross' athletic teams are tied for sixth in the nation with an overall graduation rate of 98 percent, according to the Graduation Success Rate Report which has been released by the NCAA. This marks the 17th consecutive year in which the Crusaders have posted a Graduation Success Rate of at least 97 percent.

"We celebrate this standard of achievement and the continued academic success of our student-athletes," said Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Kit Hughes. "To be counted among the top institutions in the nation for our outstanding NCAA graduation success rate reflects our student-athletes' dedication to a comprehensive pursuit of excellence. We are grateful for the incredible support of our coaches and staff, and the dedication of our faculty to create an environment where academic and athletic excellence are able to coexist." 

"I am so proud of the remarkable dedication demonstrated by Holy Cross student athletes each semester," said Holy Cross Faculty Athletics Representative Sarah Petty. "They continue to surpass the academic benchmarks set by their professors, while also excelling in the athletic arena. Graduation Success Rates of this caliber are a testament to years of hard work, showcasing the commitment, intelligence and integrity of our student-athletes. This accomplishment is also a tribute to the unwavering support they receive from their professors, coaches and administrators."

Holy Cross finished in a 17-way tie for sixth in the nation with its 98 percent Graduation Success Rate. The 16 schools to match the Crusaders at 98 percent were Belmont, Boston College, Brown, Canisius, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Georgetown, Lafayette, Marist, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Princeton, Saint Bonaventure, Samford and Seton Hall. Bucknell, Columbia, Harvard, Villanova and Yale led the nation at 99 percent.

Twenty-three of a possible 26 Holy Cross athletic teams achieved a perfect 100 percent graduation rate. The Crusader programs to post perfect graduation rates were baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, field hockey, men's golf, women's golf, men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, women's rowing, women's soccer, softball, men's swimming and diving, women's swimming and diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, women's indoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field. 

The data reflect the six-year graduation rates for college athletes who entered school in 2016, for which the NCAA has compiled sport-by-sport figures. The average Graduation Success Rate for all sports at the NCAA's 352 Division I institutions stood at 90 percent. 

View the complete NCAA report on Holy Cross' Graduation Success Rates, or access the NCAA's searchable Graduation Success Rate database for more information.

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