Loyola’s GSR tied for third best in nation

Loyola Maryland ranked tied for third out of 351 NCAA Division I schools in the organization’s latest Graduation Success Rate report published Tuesday, and the Greyhounds again had the highest rate among schools in Maryland. Eleven Greyhounds teams — men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, women’s soccer and women’s tennis — recorded scores of 100 percent in the report as Loyola cumulatively achieved a 98 percent GSR score for the 20062009 cohorts that make up this year’s report. All 15 of the Greyhounds’ included programs were at or above the national GSR of 86 percent. The Greyhounds have been ranked in the top 25 nationally of the overall GSR in each of the report’s 12 years; this year’s 98 percent mark is tied for the highest Loyola has scored on the report, matching the Greyhounds’ 2003 rate. Among schools that do not sponsor football at the NCAA Division I level — institutions that are classified as I-AAA — Loyola ranked second behind Loyola Chicago. MARYLAND: The University of Maryland earned a GSR of 85 percent; it’s the seventh time Maryland has been above 80 percent. Maryland’s FGR was reported at 70 percent, 4 percent higher than the overall NCAA Division I average of 66 percent. The football program posted a mark of 78 percent, the highest mark in program history and higher than the NCAA FBS average of 74 percent. The men’s basketball program earned a GSR score of 83 percent, its third highest in program history, and higher than the NCAA Division I average of 76 percent. Women’s basketball posted a GSR of 89 percent; the Division I average was 87 percent. Overall, Maryland’s GSR rate of 85 percent is higher than the NCAA Division I average of 84 percent.