Michigan State Student-Athletes Match Department Record for Federal Graduation Rate
11/19/2025 4:32:00 PM | General
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State student-athletes continue to set records in the classroom as the Spartans posted a four-year Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 81%, according to data released by the NCAA on Nov. 19. The 81% ties the highest mark in department history, matching the rate from 2023. It marks the fifth straight year at 80% or better. MSU's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90% is just two percent below the school's all-time high of 92%. This year's data includes the 2015-16 to 2018-19 freshman cohorts for the four-year totals and 2018-19 for the single-year rate.
Michigan State's four-year FGR (81%) ranks third in the Big Ten and eighth among Power 4 conference peers, ranking fourth among public institutions in that group. Three sports posted a perfect four-year FGR of 100%, including women's soccer, men's tennis, and volleyball. The single-year FGR of 81% is tied for the third-highest mark in department history.
The student-athletes' success in the classroom closely mirrors the academic achievements of MSU's student body. Of the Power 4 institutions with an all-student FGR of 80% or more, Michigan State is one of just eight whose student-athletes also had a rate of at least 80%. In fact, Spartan student-athletes posted the closest differential to the student body.
Seven sports posted a perfect 100% GSR, including women's golf, gymnastics, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis, and volleyball.
The FGR is the proportion of first-year, full-time student-athletes who entered a school on athletics aid and graduated from that institution within six years. This federal rate does not account for students who transfer from their original institution and graduate elsewhere. The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation provides a more accurate look at student-athlete success.
Michigan State's four-year FGR (81%) ranks third in the Big Ten and eighth among Power 4 conference peers, ranking fourth among public institutions in that group. Three sports posted a perfect four-year FGR of 100%, including women's soccer, men's tennis, and volleyball. The single-year FGR of 81% is tied for the third-highest mark in department history.
The student-athletes' success in the classroom closely mirrors the academic achievements of MSU's student body. Of the Power 4 institutions with an all-student FGR of 80% or more, Michigan State is one of just eight whose student-athletes also had a rate of at least 80%. In fact, Spartan student-athletes posted the closest differential to the student body.
Seven sports posted a perfect 100% GSR, including women's golf, gymnastics, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis, and volleyball.
The FGR is the proportion of first-year, full-time student-athletes who entered a school on athletics aid and graduated from that institution within six years. This federal rate does not account for students who transfer from their original institution and graduate elsewhere. The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation provides a more accurate look at student-athlete success.
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