May 17, 2007

WACO, TEX. -- For the fourth consecutive year, the University of North Carolina has been recognized for graduating at least 70 percent of its football student-athletes by the America Football Coaches Association. Carolina was one of five Atlantic Coast Conference institutions to receive the honor. The ACC, Big Ten and Mid-American lead all other conferences with five, followed by the Big East, Big 12 and Southeastern with four.

Thirty-two institutions will be recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes. The other institutions are: Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Baylor, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Toledo, Troy, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin. Northwestern and Notre Dame received top honors with a 95 percent graduation rate.

The overall graduation rate of the 107 schools that responded to the survey was 60 percent, surpassing the mark of 58 percent in each of the previous two years. Fifty-two of the members responding were above the average and 55 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 59 percent, compared to 57 percent for the last two years. The 107 respondents to this year's survey is a record high. One hundred and four schools replied in 2006.

The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 2001-2002, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.

Conference Breakdown: Atlantic Coast (5), Big 10 (5), Mid-American (5), Big East (4), Big 12 ( 4), Southeastern (4), Sun Belt (2), Conference USA (1), Independent (1), Mountain West (1), Pac-10 (1), Western Athletic (1).