LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena College student athletes continue to outpace their peers in graduation success. According to the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report, 93% of student athletes who enrolled at Siena as freshmen in the Fall of 2013 went on to graduate, exceeding the national Division I record-setting average of 90% by three points.
 
"The commitment of Division I college athletes to the classroom is incredible, and we celebrate their academic success," said NCAA President Mark Emmert. "To see 90% of student athletes accomplish the ultimate goal of college graduation is a testament to their hard work and dedication. We must also support initiatives that help the remaining 10% of student athletes earn their degrees. The NCAA applauds the achievements of student athletes and will continue to support their goals in the classroom, in competition and in life."
 
Siena's 93% GSR in the latest report matches the athletic department's highest rate in eight years, since achieving a 95% mark in 2012. Siena had earned a 92% mark in each of the previous three reports, last posting as high as a 93% rate in 2013. Siena Athletics has attained a Graduation Success Rate of 90% or higher in all 16 NCAA reports since the first rate was released in 2005. 
 
"Siena is proud of the academic success of our student athletes," noted Siena College Provost and Senior Vice President Margaret E. Madden, Ph.D. "The scholar athlete model is fundamental to the College's mission, and we appreciate all the hard work by the students and athletics staff to ensure that our student athletes do well academically and complete their degrees."
 
Siena tied for second amongst the 11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schools with a total of 10 athletic programs earning perfect 100% Graduation Success Rates in this year's report. Perfect scores were recorded by men's cross country/track, men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's tennis, women's basketball, women's golf, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, volleyball, and water polo.
 
"Siena Athletics is committed to excellence in the classroom," added S.A.IN.T.S. Advisor Sarah Sivertson. "Our strong graduation success rate marks are an accomplishment that speaks to the commitment that our student athletes demonstrate both on and off the field. We are proud of their efforts, and appreciate their continued hard work and dedication in pursuing 'the education for a lifetime'."
 
The NCAA Graduation Success Rate report gives graduation information for students and student athletes who entered college in 2013, the most recent class for which the required six years of information is available. It also breaks down the GSR by sport, using a four-year class average (2010-2013) called a cohort rate to provide a big enough sample.
 
The NCAA developed the GSR because the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) does not credit institutions with student athletes who leave in good academic standing and go on to graduate, or transfers into the school who graduate. Siena recorded an 82% FGR – the athletic department's highest mark since achieving a school-record 84% rate in 2011 – with men's cross country/track, men's golf, men's tennis, women's swimming and diving, and women's tennis tallying perfect 100% cohort FGR's. The athletic department's FGR was 2% higher than the overall Siena College student population, and 13% better than the national Division I average. The FGR is based on a comparison of the number of students who entered a college or university and the number of those who graduated within six years. For example, for every 100 Siena student athletes entering school from 2010-13, 82 went on to graduate from Siena within six years.