Oct. 15, 2008

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The 71 percent graduation rate for Oakland University student-athletes leads all Summit League schools, according to a report released by the NCAA on Tuesday. The 71 percent rate ties OU for second among Division I schools in Michigan.

"We have put a high emphasis on the graduation of our student-athletes," said Holly Kerstner, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services. "For many of our student-athletes, this is the end of their athletic career and between our academic support staff and coaches we put a tremendous amount of effort into graduating our student-athletes and helping them to be successful after their athletic career."

The national graduation rate for Division I student-athletes is 64 percent, the highest rate ever calculated by the federal government's methodology. The report gives graduation information about student-athletes receiving athletics aid entering school in 2001, the most recent graduating class for which the required six years of information is available. The rates for North Dakota State and South Dakota State are included in the report's Division II section due to their recent transition to Division I.

OU Among Summit League School
Oakland University - 71%
IUPUI - 61%
Western Illinois University - 60%
Southern Utah University - 55%
North Dakota State University - 52%
South Dakota State University - 52%
Centenary College - 51%
IPFW - 51%
UMKC - 41%
Oral Roberts University - 36%

OU Among Division I Michigan Schools
University of Michigan - 84%
Oakland University, Central Michigan University, University of Detroit Mercy - 71%
Michigan State University - 65%
Western Michigan University - 58%
Eastern Michigan University - 54%

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