Graduation Rate Higher for Whites

Nearly twice the percentage of white athletes as blacks graduated from college the last five years, according to a study by the NCAA.

The findings, released Wednesday, are the first part of an academic study of 3,288 athletes from 85 Division I schools who entered college in 1984 and 1985.

Black athletes graduated at a 26.6% rate, compared to 52.2% for whites and 45.7% for all athletes. The women’s rate was almost 54%, compared with the men’s 42.3%.

The NCAA study said one in four athletes graduated in four years, but only 9.2% of all blacks graduated in four years. And although more than half of the white athletes graduated, 28.2% left school in good academic standing and 19.6% in less than good standing. Almost 33% of blacks left in good standing, but 42.5% did not.