GREELEY, Colo. – For the fifth consecutive year Northern Colorado Athletics leads the Big Sky in Graduation Success Rate (GSR). The NCAA released the most recent GSR reports on Thursday for the freshman cohorts from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
 
Northern Colorado's GSR of 89 led the Big Sky by three points over Idaho State. Four programs had a perfect mark of 100%. They are men's cross country and track and field, women's basketball, women's golf and women's volleyball.
 
"I am proud of the hard work and success our student-athletes continue to have year in and year out," Darren Dunn, Director of Athletics said. "Academic success requires buy-in from the whole department and we have established that at UNC. We have a great culture not only in the athletic department but the whole campus to Build Champions for Life."
 
Four other programs had a rate of over 90 in swimming and diving, baseball, softball and women's soccer.
UNC's football program led all Big Sky Schools with a mark of 88%. Overall, UNC led or tied for the lead in five sports.
 
The GSR was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. Under the GSR calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing.