Duke Leads Final Four Teams in Graduation Rates That Don't Reflect Real Graduation

As the winner of this years March Madness tournament, Duke’s men's basketball team is at the top when it comes to their success on the court. However, the amazing part of this year is that they also led the way in academic success. Duke was able to graduate more of its players than any of the other Final Four teams competing. If Duke is able to win, and graduate players, it should set a standard for the rest of the NCAA. It can be done, and it should be rewarded and celebrated.

That is the narrative they want everyone to hear. It’s a load of garbage, too. This is like being the best of the bad. They are by no means leading the NCAA.

A school’s graduation rates are usually assessed in one of two ways. The U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Graduation Rate, and the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate.

According to the more generous GSR, 100 percent of Duke’s men’s basketball team who started there in 2007 graduated. While that’s supposed to be impressive, it is really irrelevant because the FGR numbers tell the real story. Only 67 percent of male basketball players who began their playing career at Duke graduated from the school within six years. This is so low for the type of school Duke is. A top private university with very generous funding, future hall of fame coach, and access to the nations best recruits arn’t doing too well. You’d think they would have higher standards.

As long as most schools hide behind “fake” numbers, and the NCAA stands by, nothing is going to change. There needs to be more of a push from fans to help get the athletes educated who go to these schools. We keep tuning into the tournament every march and more money is made, and in turn justifies the current system to those involved.