OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton University student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom as well as on the field, water or court, according to the Division I Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Reports released today by the NCAA.

Creighton led the Missouri Valley Conference in student-athlete graduation success rate at 94 percent and student-athlete four-class average at 76 percent. Creighton was also tied for first in graduation rate (67) of its student-athletes and four-class average of all students on campus (76). The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering freshmen classes from 2002-2003 through 2005-06.

Creighton's 94 percent Student-Athlete graduation success rate was easily the best in the Valley. Creighton had a 100 percent GSR in nine of its 14 sports, including men's cross country, men's golf, women's basketball, women's cross country, women's crew, women's golf, women's soccer, women's tennis and women's volleyball. The GSR reflects the federal graduation rate cohort and adds those student-athletes receiving aid who entered mid-year as well as those who transferred into the institution.

Creighton's GSR rate was tied for 27th (of 340 schools) nationally, while its federal graduation rate ranked tied for 40th best in the country. According to research from the University of Dayton, Dayton and Creighton had the highest GSR (94) of any school to have four teams as automatic qualifiers into the NCAA Tournament during the 2011-12 school year.

According to the latest NCAA data nationwide, 65 percent of Division I freshmen student-athletes who entered college in 2005 earned their degrees. The average GSR for the last four graduating classes nationally is 80 percent.

The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The Graduation Success Rate also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport.