CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago continued to raise the bar for itself, recording its highest-ever Graduation Success Rate score according to the latest figures released today by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Ramblers' 96 percent GSR puts them in a tie for 16th nationally, is the highest among Missouri Valley Conference institutions and is 14 points better than the national average of 82 percent. In addition, it marks the fifth consecutive year that Loyola has improved its GSR score.

"Not only are our students excelling athletically, but they are successful in the classroom as well," said Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Services Betsi Burns. "As we continue to transition into a new era athletically as members of the Missouri Valley, we will still maintain our tradition of academic excellence and the expectation of graduation as we prepare our students to lead extraordinary lives. The GSR is a direct reflection of that expectation and we are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom."

Loyola's men's basketball program continued its exemplary work, compiling a perfect score of 100, the only MVC school with a grade higher than 90. They are also one of six programs to earn the highest score, joining women's soccer, women's golf, women's volleyball, men's cross country/track and field and national champion men's volleyball.

The NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) was developed to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport. Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing students who leave in good academic standing. The outgoing transfers are included in the receiving institution's GSR cohort.

The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering classes from 2004-2007. The NCAA began compiling these figures with the entering freshmen class of 1995.

The NCAA also released updated Federal Graduation Rate data with Loyola also scoring favorably. The figures show that Loyola student-athletes entering in the 2007-08 academic year graduated at a 78% rate, compared to 71% among the general student body, with a four-year average that jumps to 81%.

The GSR and FGR are separate from the NCAA's Academic Performance Rates, which will be released in spring 2015.