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NE10 Continues to Excel in the Classroom, as NCAA Releases ASR Data

Seven NE10 Institutions Achieve 90% ASR or Higher

MANSFIELD, Mass. – The NCAA's release of Academic Success Rate (ASR) data on Wednesday reaffirmed the Northeast-10 Conference's commitment to outstanding academic performance, as the league ranked second in all of Division II with an 87% ASR overall - 10 percentage points higher than the national average. 
 

For the sixth-straight year, the NE10 reached at least 87% as a conference in ASR, according to the most recent four-year compilation of graduation rates. The NE10 is still the first Division II league to ever hit the 89% mark, which it accomplished for three consecutive years from 2020 through 2022. 
 

Since the four-year calculation of ASR began 16 years ago, the NE10 has dominated in this area across the Division II landscape – evident in the fact that the conference has finished first or tied for first among all Division II conferences in six of the past eight years. When examining the single-year ASR for its member institutions, the NE10 had four schools rank in the top 25, seven in the top 50 and eight in the top 100.
 

Overall, NE10 member institutions produced a total of 4,410 graduates among 5,060 student-athletes who enrolled during the four-year period of 2014-17. The numbers are based on the Conference's current membership, in addition to the College of Saint Rose due to its NE10 membership during the 2023-24 academic year. Among the 12 institutions, nine of them recorded a single-year ASR of 80 or better.
 

The NCAA annually releases the Division II ASR, a model developed 20 years ago at the request of presidents of Division II institutions to overcome inadequacies with the Federal Graduation Rate (FGR). The FGR only takes into account student-athletes that receive athletically related aid, leaving large numbers of DII student-athletes out of the calculation. Because of Division II's partial scholarship financial aid model, the ASR was created to include non-scholarship student-athletes. 
 

"Our institutions continue to prioritize outstanding academic achievement and I am thrilled to see that commitment recognized in the latest ASR data," said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "The NE10 has long been a Division II leader in this area and the data makes it clear that our institutions are striving toward excellence in both the student-athlete experience and higher education. The incredible faculty members and student-athletes in our league make this possible year-in and year-out. It is an achievement we cannot take for granted, as it requires the hard work of so many dedicated individuals." 
 

Bentley led all NE10 schools with a 98% ASR, which was second only to Hillsdale College (99%) in all of Division II. Saint Michael's was close behind, tying for third nationally at 97%. Joining Bentley and Saint Michael's at over 90% was Assumption (92%), Southern New Hampshire (92%), Adelphi (91%), Pace (91%) and Saint Anselm (91%), giving the NE10 seven institutions that will receive the NCAA Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence - the most among all Division II conferences. 
 

The NE10 saw three institutions improve upon their percentage from a year ago – including Assumption, Pace and Southern New Hampshire all increasing by one percentage point. 
 

Bentley had 11 programs earn a perfect ASR of 100%, leading all NE10 institutions. Saint Anselm and Saint Michael's each had eight programs earn perfect scores. In total, the NE10 had 60 programs with a 100% ASR, When broken down by sport, the Conference saw 22 of its 24 sponsored sports achieve an ASR of 80% or better - with 15 of them achieving 90% or higher. 

Field hockey, women's basketball, women's lacrosse and women's tennis each had a league-high six programs record a perfect ASR, while softball and volleyball followed with five. 

The overall sport leader in the NE10 was field hockey at 97%, while women's lacrosse, women's soccer and women's tennis were all at 96%. Leading all men's programs was men's tennis at 92%, with ice hockey and men's lacrosse both at 90%.

 


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ASR Ranking by NCAA Division II Conference
Sunshine State Conference 90%
Northeast-10 Conference 87%
Pacific West Conference 85%
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference 84%
East Coast Conference 83%
Great Lakes Valley Conference 82%
Great Northwest Athletic Conference 82%
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference 82%
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 82%
Great Midwest Athletic Conference 80%
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 78%
Peach Belt Conference 78%
Gulf South Conference 76%
California Collegiate Athletic Association 75%
Conference Carolinas 75%
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 73%
South Atlantic Conference 72%
Mountain East Conference 71%
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 71%
Great American Conference 70%
Lone Star Conference 69%
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association 65%
Independent 64%
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 63%


ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 11 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
 
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