INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Portland posted a 94 percent student-athlete Graduation Success Rate (GSR), according to the latest data released by the NCAA on Wednesday.

Portland's men's cross country and track & field, men's soccer and women's cross country and track & field teams each posted perfect scores during the most recent cohort. Nine of the 11 Pilot teams represented in the data posted a score of 90 percent or better.

"Credit to our student-athletes, support staff and coaches for once again recording impressive graduation numbers," Portland Vice President for Athletics, Scott Leykam noted. "We are in the business of personal development of students and it is rewarding to know that the hard work and resources invested in the department are providing a pathway to success."

The GSR measures graduation rates for the most recent six-year graduating class of student-athletes who entered as freshmen during the fall of 2012. The national GSR this year increased by one point to 89 percent.

The Division I Board of Directors created the GSR in response to Division I college and university presidents who wanted data that more accurately reflected the mobility of college students than the federal graduation rate. The federal rate counts any student who leaves a school as an academic failure, no matter whether he or she enrolls at another school. Also, the federal rate does not recognize students who enter school as transfer students.

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 makes it a more complete and accurate look at student-athlete success. The federal graduation rate, however, remains the only measure to compare student-athletes with the general student body.