For the second consecutive year, the graduation rate among Norfolk State athletes has risen, according to the recently-released NCAA graduation reports for 2004.

Forty-three percent of student-athletes at NSU from the 1997-98 freshman class have graduated in the six years since their arrival, compared with 28 percent for NSU students in general. Thirty-five percent of 1997-98 freshman athletes graduated after four years, compared to 26 percent for the student body at large.

“This report is significant, because this is the first class that has benefited from being entirely under the academic support system we now have in place,” NSU Athletics Director Orby Moss said.

Last year’s report, which covered the six years from 1996-97 through 2002-03, showed that 38 percent of NSU athletes had graduated in six years, up from 30 percent in the 2002 report. Thirty-three percent of athletes reflected in the 2003 report graduated in their first four years.

Incoming transfer students who graduate are not included in the graduation rate, nor are walk-on athletes. Students who transfer to another school count against NSU’s graduation rate.