Arizona State graduated 56 percent of its student-athletes who enrolled as freshmen in the fall of 1999 within six years, ranking ASU eighth in the Pac-10.
Arizona ranked last with a 40 percent graduation rate, according to statistics released Thursday by the NCAA.
Arizona’s poor showing was caused in part by a 19 percent rate for its incoming football players in 1999; statistics indicate a large number of players transferred away.
By contrast, ASU had a 67 percent graduation rate for football players in the class. They were recruited by former coach Bruce Snyder and played mostly for current coach Dirk Koetter.
This figure rates No. 2 in the Pac-10 behind only Stanford, said associate athletic director Jean Boyd.
The graduation rates for players recruited by Koetter also should be outstanding, he said.
Overall, however, “I’m disappointed because we’re competitive,” Boyd said. “We want to be the best.
“At the same time, the trend is up,” Boyd said.
ASU ranked tied for ninth in the Pac-10, with Oregon, for its four-year graduation rate of 56 percent. Arizona ranked No. 8 at 57 percent.
ASU fared somewhat better in the newer measurement called the “graduation success rate” which excludes student-athletes who transfer away while academically eligible to compete.
ASU’s 70 percent graduation success rate ranked No. 8, though most Pac-10 schools had rates within a few percentage points.
Nationally, 63 percent of Division I athletes graduated within six years for the freshman class of 1999; the four-year average is 62 percent.
GRADUATION RATES
ASU-UA freshman rates
Freshman class of 1999
All athletes
ASU: 53 percent (men 45 percent, women 67 percent) UA: 40 percent (men 26 percent, women 63 percent)
Football
ASU: 67 percent (53 percent over four years) UA: 19 percent (33 percent over four years)
Men’s basketball
ASU: 17 percent (22 percent over four years) UA: 0 percent (36 percent over four years)
Pac-10 athletic rates
Freshman class of 1999 1. Stanford, 89 percent 2. UCLA, 74 percent 3. Washington State, 70 percent 4. California, 69 percent 5. Oregon State, 66 percent 6. Washington, 61 percent 7. USC, 60 percent 8. ASU, 53 percent 9. Oregon, 47 percent 10. Arizona, 40 percent
Four-year athletic rate
1996-1999 1. Stanford, 88 percent 2. California, 67 percent 2. Washington, 67 percent 4. Washington State, 63 percent 5. UCLA, 62 percent 6. Oregon State, 61 percent 6. USC, 61 percent 8. Arizona, 57 percent 9. ASU, 56 percent 9. Oregon, 56 percent
Graduation success rate
1996-1999 (Excludes those who transfer away while academically eligible) 1. Stanford, 93 percent 2. Washington, 82 percent 3. Oregon State, 75 percent 4. California, 73 percent 5. Oregon, 72 percent 6. UCLA, 71 percent 6. Washington State, 71 percent 8. ASU, 70 percent. 9. USC, 66 percent 10. Arizona, 65 percent
