Best is Standard: For Clemson Student-Athletes, Graduation Both Expected and Celebrated

Graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from any university is hard. For most, it takes commitment, lots of hard work, and steadfastly focusing on an almost impossible dream. Clemson graduates are no different.

According to data released by the NCAA, Clemson’s football program has a graduation success rate of 75 percent, seventh best nationally among the Top-25 teams in the latest USA Today poll, and 16th best in the nation among all FBS schools.

The data was derived after reviewing graduation rates from all student-athletes who entered school between 2002 and 2005, so the data examines a four-year cohort. Student-athletes have a six-year window to graduate. Unlike the federal graduation rate, student-athletes who transfer are not counted in the Graduation Success Rate data.

This year’s 75 percent rate for the Clemson football program was the best in six years and just below the record rate of 77 percent announced for the 1995-99 cohort.

Clemson was tied for fifth among ACC schools and trailed only Boston College, Miami, Duke and Wake Forest. Nationally, Clemson was tied for 16th among FBS schools with Alabama, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Clemson’s men’s basketball program also had a 75 percent rate and the overall rate for all Clemson sports was 84 percent, ahead of the national average of 80 percent.

Leading the way among Clemson’s sports was women’s basketball, women’s swimming, and women’s volleyball, which all posted a perfect 100 score. The women’s rowing program was a 97 and the school’s national Top-10 women’s track program was 89. Larry Penley’s golf program had the top figure among men’s sports with an 88.

While it’s the student-athletes achievements that deserve celebrating, there also has to be some acknowledgment of Clemson’s role in that success. Proof of Clemson football’s lifetime commitment to its former players, they can always come back to complete their degree, free.

It’s time to honor all graduates of the Class of 2022. Go forth, change the world and never forget your time spent in those hills.