General

MAAC Ranks Top-Three Nationally in Latest NCAA GSR Report while MAAC Institutions Show Continued Academic Success

EDISON, NJ (Nov. 19, 2025) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) recorded an average Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 94 percent, according to the most recent NCAA Division I GSR data released by the NCAA today.

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The 94 percent placed the MAAC tied for third among all 32 NCAA Division I conferences along with the ACC and Patriot League and only trailed the Ivy League (98%) and A10 (95%).

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All 13 MAAC institution posted an overall GSR of 89 percent or above. Marist University and Canisius University led the MAAC with overall GSRs of 97 percent. Following the top two schools were the trio of Fairfield University, Niagara University, and Quinnipiac University with a GSR of 96 percent. Rider University and Saint Peter’s University were next, recording an overall GSR of 95, with Siena University just behind with a GSR of 94.
 
Marist led all MAAC member institutions with 14 teams posting a perfect GSR of 100, while the quartet of Canisius, Fairfield, Sacred Heart University, and Siena were next with 11 teams posting a perfect 100 GSR in the latest report.
 
MAAC basketball programs continued its outstanding success in GSR. MAAC men’s basketball recorded an overall GSR of 92 percent, well above the national average of 85 percent. The 92 percent ranked fourth in the NCAA and the MAAC had six total men’s basketball programs achieved a perfect 100 GSR. MAAC women’s basketball registered an overall GSR of 95 percent, which ranked tied for fifth in the NCAA and was three percent above the national average rate of 92 percent. In total, MAAC women’s basketball had 10 programs achieve a perfect 100 GSR, one more than the previous two years.

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Softball led all MAAC sports with 11 out of the 13 teams registering a perfect GSR of 100, with women’s basketball just behind with 10 out of the 13 teams recording 100 GSRs. MAAC women’s tennis as a whole, recorded a perfect overall GSR, with all nine MAAC teams achieving a perfect 100 GSR.
 
The NCAA GSR report gives graduation information for students and student-athletes who entered college in 2018, the most recent class for which the required six years of information is available. It also breaks down the GSR by sport, using a four-year class average (2015-2018) called a cohort rate to provide a big enough sample. 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.
 
For more information and the NCAA’s official release, visit NCAA.org.
 
Institution Overall GSR # of Teams with
GSR of 100
Canisius 97 11
Fairfield 96 11
Iona 90 4
Manhattan 93 6
Marist 97 14
Merrimack 89 5
Mount St. Mary’s 93 6
Niagara 96 8
Quinnipiac 96 9
Rider 95 7
Sacred Heart 91 11
Saint Peter's 95 7
Siena 94 11
Associate Members n/a 5
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
 
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