Boston College Athletics
Eagle Football Honored For Graduation Rate
August 05, 2002 | Boston College Athletics
Aug. 5, 2002
Boston College was among four BIG EAST squads - along with Miami, Syracuse and Virginia Tech - recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for standout graduation rates, it was announced. Twenty-four institutions in the nation were saluted, as the BIG EAST and Big Ten tied for the national lead for the most schools honored.
BC was among eight institutions with a graduation rate of 90 percent or better for their student-athletes. The Eagles are joined nationally by Duke, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Penn State, Rice, Vanderbilt and Western Michigan.
Schools in the 70 percent group are: Ball State, Central Michigan, East Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas State, MIAMI, Mississippi State, Southern Methodist, SYRACUSE, Texas Tech, Utah State, Virginia, VIRGINIA TECH and Wisconsin.
The BIG EAST has had at least one team earn honorable mention recognition every year since the league was formed in 1991. In addition, BC has captured the national award (won by Northwestern this year) three times, with Syracuse earning the honor once. The Eagles and Orangemen are two of only six schools to be recognized 13 or more times (with at least honorable mention status) since the award expanded in 1987. The others are Duke, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Virginia.
The overall graduation rate of the 80 institutions participating in the survey was 60 percent, the highest recorded in the history of the survey and just ahead of last year's 59 percent. The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 1996-97, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.
