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Senior women's gymnastics captain Kiley Rorich says academics is part of team culture at DU.��Photo courtesy Justin Tafoya - Clarkson Creative

�鶹�� student-athletes are setting a new standard for academic success. According to NCAA data released in November, the Pioneers posted a 96% Graduation Success Rate and a school-record 13 athletic programs with perfect graduation rates—underscoring that academic excellence at DU extends well beyond the classroom.

The data, which reflects , places the �鶹�� first among D-I schools in Colorado, first in the Summit League, and second in the West Coast Conference, which DU is joining next year.

The 13 programs earning perfect scores include men's basketball, golf, skiing, soccer, and tennis, along with women's golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball.

Men's soccer head coach Jamie Franks says the numbers reflect a culture that values academics as much as athletics.

“We want people to come to our community not just for soccer but also for academics and to be long-standing alumni,” says Franks. “If older players are leading by example—their study habits, how they manage professors, how they use resources—that shows the way for younger guys.”

Franks credits DU's advising structure and faculty engagement for the programs' academic success. Student-athletes work with campus academic advisors, sport-specific advisors, and, once they declare a major, an additional advisor within their academic unit.

“That support system is unmatched,” Franks says. “The relationships these guys can build with their professors are unique, and when they're studying something that they're interested in, they pour more into it.”

The approach aligns with DU's 4D Experience, which emphasizes intellectual growth, character development, and preparation for life beyond campus.

“This is the 4D experience,” Franks says. “It's about experiential learning, relationships, habits, and how you show up every day. We use soccer as a microcosm to teach important life skills—we're teaching character skills, developing a growth mindset, self-awareness, and humility.”

Senior women's gymnastics captain Kiley Rorich says Denver's academic expectations are woven into team culture. A double major in kinesiology and psychology from Charlotte, North Carolina, Rorich credits structured support systems for helping student-athletes balance demanding schedules.

“Academics is a very prominent part of our team culture,” she says. “Our coaching staff truly cares about our academic success as well as our athletic success, and they want to see us go on to be independent, capable, and successful.”

Mandatory study hall, working with advisors, and access to career development resources provide a foundation, Rorich says, especially as athletes adjust to college coursework.

“Those study hall hours really are beneficial if you take advantage of them,” she says. “You're with your teammates and other athletes, and it builds a sense of community. You're all in it together.”

Faculty engagement also plays a major role.

“All of my professors have been very receptive to our busy schedule,” Rorich says. “They're willing to work with us as long as we're communicating and building those relationships.”

That level of advising and faculty engagement is a major reason Denver consistently posts some of the nation's strongest graduation outcomes. The NCAA tracks those results through the , a metric introduced in 2002. Unlike the traditional federal graduation rate, the GSR accounts for transfers and academic eligibility, offering a broader picture that includes student-athletes who leave in good academic standing or graduate elsewhere.

While NCAA officials note that increased transfer flexibility could have an effect on future GSR trends, DU's focus on academics, support, and long-term development positions athletes for success beyond competition.

“That's built every single year,” Franks says. “It's great to have a good graduation rate, but now you have to continue it.”