University of New Hampshire finished in the top five in the nation in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) released earlier this week. The Wildcats had a GSR score of 97, topped only by Notre Dame (99), Colgate (99) and the U.S. Naval Academy (98).

The GSR data indicates the number of student-athletes earning a degree within six years. The NCAA developed the GSR to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The GSR, unlike the federal graduation rate, holds the institution accountable for transfer students.

New Hampshire had 15 of its 20 sports earn a perfect GSR score of 100, including men's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer, women's cross country and track and field, women's lacrosse, women's swimming and diving, field hockey and volleyball.

America East had more than a third of its programs with perfect GSR scores. Forty-five of the conference's teams earned a score of 100, up from 35 teams a year ago.

"America East is proud of the student-athletes who realize the value of a college degree and the opportunities which may be available to them following graduation from any of our nine institutions," said Patrick Nero, Commissioner of America East. "It is a testament to the administrators and coaches who put an emphasis on academics within their programs."

New Hampshire had 18 of its 20 teams score above the national average in their respective sports. Vermont had 17 of 22 score above the national average while Boston University saw 13 of 17 exceed the national standards. Boston University's student-athletes had a GSR score of 94. Vermont compiled a score of 91.

The nation's student-athletes are graduating at the highest level since the NCAA began calculating the rate eight years ago. Seventy-nine percent of all Division I student-athletes graduated, according to the data, up one percentage point from a year ago. Student-athletes at Division I also graduate at a higher rate than their non-athlete peers according to the data.

The current GSR numbers are based on student-athletes who began full-time enrollment in 2002-03 and received athletic aid in their first year of college.

America East: Developing champions in academics, athletics and leadership.