NCAA athletes improve overall graduation rates

INDIANAPOLIS -- College athletes continue to graduate at record rates, according to the newest data released Wednesday by the NCAA.

The annual Graduation Success Rate shows 79 percent of athletes entering college between 2000-01 and 2003-04 earned their degrees within six years, matching last year's record high.

Data collected for the freshman class of 2003-04 also graduated at a rate of 79 percent, matching last year's high mark. Federal numbers also show athletes in the 2003-04 incoming class were graduating at a better rate, 64 percent, than the general student body, 63 percent.

The NCAA's numbers are again higher than those released by the federal government because the NCAA data counts transfer students. The federal assessment does not.