The NCAA has named Davenport University among the top 10 universities in the country for student-athlete academic performance. The NCAA just released the Division II Academic Success Rate report through the 2020-21 season, which lists Davenport University student-athlete performance as sixth in the nation.

The Academic Success Rate is the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial enrollment at a college/university. Davenport has been included in this report for three years since transitioning from the NAIA and each year its student-athlete academic performance has earned significantly high rankings, with at least a 93 percent or higher. This year Davenport’s student performance jumped three percentage points to 96%, highlighting the incredible achievement of its athletes.

“To see our student-athletes perform at such an incredible level both on the field and in the classroom underscores the hard work of this entire organization, the athletic program, their coaches and their families,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University.

Unlike the federal rate, the Division II Academic Success Rate includes non-scholarship student-athletes and accounts for those who transfer to a Division II school after initial enrollment elsewhere, while removing student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible. The most recent Academic Success Rate for the incoming class of 2014 reveals that 76 percent of Division II student-athletes graduate within six years of initial enrollment.

Of the 16 Davenport sports that were evaluated (indoor track, outdoor track and cross country are considered one sport), 12 had a perfect 100 percent Academic Success Rate score, including six men’s sports and six women’s sports. The high-ranking men’s teams included baseball, basketball, cross country/track, golf, lacrosse, and tennis. The high-ranking women’s teams included cross country/track, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

“Being ranked in the top 10 for NCAA Division II in Academic Success Rate is a testament to our student-athlete’s commitment to excellence in the classroom and we are extremely proud of their accomplishment,” said Paul Lowden, executive director of athletics at Davenport University.

Davenport was the highest-rated institution in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) at 96 percent.

About the Ranking

The NCAA developed the Division II Academic Success Rate as a more accurate picture of student success than graduation data compiled by the federal government. The Academic Success Rate takes transfer students into account and removes students who left the institution in good academic standing. In addition, the rate also measures student-athletes who don’t receive athletically related financial aid, a significant number of Division II athletes.

NCAA DIVISION II ACADEMIC SUCCESS RATE – TOP 10

1. Bentley University – 99
2. Saint Michael’s College (Vt.) – 99
3. Hillsdale College (Mich.) – 98
4. Thomas Jefferson (Pa.) –  98
5. Biola University (Cal.) – 98
6. Davenport University (Mich.) – 96
7. Le Moyne College (N.Y.) – 96
8. Rollins College (Fla.) –  96
9. Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) – 95
10. Rockhurst University (Mo.) – 95

About Davenport University:

Founded in 1866, Davenport is a private, non-profit university serving students at campuses across Michigan and online. The university is committed to providing high academic quality, small class sizes, conveniently located campuses, faculty with real-world experience, and more than 60 dynamic undergraduate and graduate programs addressing in-demand careers in business, technology, health, and urban education. Learn more at www.davenport.edu.