VILLANOVA, Pa.—In a new release of NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data on Wednesday afternoon, an overall score of 98 percent continues to rank Villanova Athletics among the elite Division I schools in America for its combination of athletic and academic excellence. This is the fifth straight year of data in which the Wildcats had a score of 98 percent or higher. Villanova is one of just 16 schools nationwide to post a score of at least 98 percent in Wednesday's release.
The overall score of 98 percent puts Villanova in a class of prestigious universities which includes six Ivy League schools and other elite academic institutions from around the country. In addition, the BIG EAST was the only conference aside from the Ivy League to have as many as three schools post a score of 98 percent or higher. Wednesday's release consisted of the 2015-2018 cohort, meaning student-athletes who entered college during those years and graduated within six years.
Particularly impressive for the Wildcats in the latest data is 14 varsity programs who achieved a perfect 100 percent GSR score, while all Villanova teams are above 93 percent. There are nine Villanova women's teams with a 100 percent score, including women's basketball, field hockey, women's lacrosse, rowing, women's soccer, softball, women's track & field/cross country, volleyball, and water polo. The five men's teams with a 100 percent NCAA GSR are men's basketball, men's soccer, men's swimming & diving, men's tennis, and men's track & field/cross country.
The across-the-board success of Villanova student-athletes looks even more impressive under closer examination. In the high-profile sports of men's and women's basketball, the Wildcats are one of just two BIG EAST schools to have each of those teams post a 100 percent score. Additionally, three sports – rowing, men's swimming & diving, and volleyball – had a perfect 100 percent GSR in both the NCAA and the federal rate calculation.
GSR was created in 2002 to more accurately reflect the mobility of college students beyond the federal graduation rate. The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation provides a more accurate measurement of student-athlete success.
Villanova's football program – currently 8-2 on the season and in pursuit of a third straight FCS playoff berth – recorded an NCAA GSR of 95 percent. It is the fifth consecutive year that the Wildcats have posted a score of 95 percent or higher. Villanova is one of three CAA Football programs with a score of at least 95 and also has the highest score among league membership (87 percent) in the federal rate calculation.
Division I student-athletes nationwide continue to achieve graduation success, with both the single-year and four-year rates remaining high at 90 percent in Wednesday's release. This year, all women's sports recorded a graduation rate of 90% or better, while all men's sports recorded a graduation rate of 79% or better.
Over the last five academic years (2020-21 through 2024-25), the Wildcats have won a combined 16 regular season and postseason conference championships. Women's swimming & diving won its program record 12th consecutive BIG EAST title in 2024-25 and the men's cross country team captured its second conference championship in a span of three years.
Villanova teams made 32 national postseason appearances in the last five years, including the football team reaching the second round of the FCS playoffs last season. The men's track & field/cross country program scored at all three NCAA Championships last year in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. Both the women's and men's cross country teams will be represented once again at this year's NCAA Championships.
