Student-Athlete Academic Services | November 17, 2020

LOS ANGELES--The 2020 Graduation Success Rate of USC student-athletes hit an all-time high for the seventh consecutive year, this year reaching 91%, according to data released today (Nov. 17) by the NCAA.

The 2020 GSR measures how many student-athletes in the classes of 2010 through 2013 graduated within six years of their enrollment.

That 91% four-year figure is one percentage point higher than USC's 2019 mark. It also is 24 percentage points higher than it was when the NCAA first released GSR numbers in 2005.  And it is equal to the University's current federal graduation rate.

Eleven of the 19 USC sports whose data was tracked by the NCAA had a GSR this year above 90%, including five with a perfect 100%: men's tennis (100%)men's water polo (100%), women's lacrosse (100%), women's soccer (100%), women's track and field (100%), women's rowing (95%), women's water polo (95%), women's basketball (93%), men's volleyball (92%), women's volleyball (92%) and women's swimming (92%). 

Seven other teams scored in the 80% range:  men's track and field (88%), men's golf (86%), women's tennis (86%), baseball (85%), men's swimming (85%), football (84%) and women's golf (80%).

Eight USC teams either set or equaled all-time high GSR rates for their programs this year:  the five teams that scored 100%, plus football, men's volleyball and men's track and field.

Sixteen USC teams saw their scores either improve from last year or stay the same, including all nine men's teams:  men's basketball (+15 percentage points), women's golf (+13), baseball (+9), women's basketball (+6), women's track and field (+6), football (+2), men's swimming (+1), men's golf (even), men's tennis (even), men's track and field (even), men's volleyball (even), men's water polo (even), women's lacrosse (even), women's soccer (even), women's volleyball (even) and women's water polo (even).

Women's soccer's rate was at 100% for the fifth consecutive year.  Football's 84% rate was a program high for the fifth consecutive year and is 29 points better than its initial figure in 2005.  Men's basketball's rate of 75% is 25 percentage points higher than two years ago in 2018 (and 31 points better than its initial 2005 figure).  Women's golf's rate of 80% is 23 points better than 2018.  Men's tennis' 100% rate is 75 points higher than its initial 2005 figure, while men's volleyball's 92% is 35 points better than 2005, baseball's 85% is 32 points higher than 2005 and women's track and field's 100% is 36 points better than 2005.

"We are once again very proud of our student-athletes and their outstanding performance in the classroom," said Dr. Denise Kwok, USC's director of Student-Athlete Academic Services. "Our students' continued success demonstrates their commitment to the full USC experience.  USC's commitment to the student-athlete experience and our strong alignment with our partners throughout campus is highlighted in the success we see here.  Our Student-Athlete Academic Services professionals have provided outstanding support in partnership with our administrators, coaches, and campus colleagues."