INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the fourth time in since 2016, Concordia-St. Paul student-athletes have achieved a four year percent Academic Success Rate of over 90 percent and are one of 42 NCAA Division II institutions to earn the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence.
 
This marks the fourth time in the past five years that the institution has achieved the prestigious honor as they previously received recognition in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Concordia's 91 percent mark is the highest from the 16-member Northern Sun (NSIC) as they were the only NSIC member to be recognized with the award. CSP ranks tied for 21st of the 42 schools being honored. Ten more schools than last year earned the award, setting an all-time high for the 10-year program.
 
"Concordia is committed to credible outcomes of embedding the liberal arts concepts in responsive and relevant majors from which students can continue into their chosen career aspirations," said Dr. Eric LaMott, Provost and Chief Operating Officer. "We are so pleased and proud that the hard work of our students, faculty and staff continues to embody itself in meaningful athletic and academic successes."
 
"As an institution, we prioritize academic success for our student-athletes, and are proud that they have lived that out by earning this prestigious honor," added director of athletics Regan McAthie. "It is a testament to the hard work they have executed in the classroom and beyond, and it would not be possible without the support that they receive from our incredible faculty and staff."

Bentley was again the top performer in the division, turning in a four-year ASR of 99%, followed by Thomas Jefferson University and Saint Michael's with 98% each.
 
The Northeast-10 Conference led Division II's conferences, with seven schools earning the award, followed by the Great Lakes Valley Conference with five and the Sunshine State Conference with four.
 
"The Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence recognizes Division II member schools for their commitment to a balanced college experience that supports the academic success of college athletes," said Sandra Jordan, chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken and chair of the Division II Presidents Council. "Ten more institutions earned this award than last year, setting an all-time high for this program, but most importantly, this means college athletes at these schools are achieving academic success that will benefit them for the rest of their lives."
 
The Academic Success Rate is the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial collegiate enrollment and includes virtually all Division II student-athletes.
 
Unlike the federal rate, the Division II ASR includes nearly 34,000 nonscholarship student-athletes and accounts for those who transfer to a Division II school after initial enrollment elsewhere, while removing student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible. The national ASR for the four cohorts of student-athletes who entered college from 2010 to 2013 is 74%.
 
Division II student-athletes continue to graduate at a higher rate than the general student body. Even when using the less-inclusive federal graduation rate, the 2013 entering class of student-athletes graduated at a rate of 62%, compared with 53% for the general student body.