Graduation Rate on the Rise for Titans : Colleges: Fullerton’s scholarship athletes show dramatic improvement, according to NCAA study.

Cal State Fullerton scholarship athletes entering the school in 1992 graduated at a rate similar to the student body as a whole, according to an NCAA study released Monday.

Fullerton attracted national attention last year, when the annual NCAA survey of graduation rates revealed that only 18% of Titan athletes entering in 1991 had graduated, the third-lowest rate among 307 Division I schools. However, 40% of the athletes entering in 1992 graduated, compared to a 42% rate for the general student body.

“It’s something we’re always striving to do better with,” Fullerton Athletic Director John Easterbrook said. “We’re happy it’s improved. We’ve put more resources into it the last few years. We’re seeing that pay off.”

Among students entering Fullerton in 1991, 40% graduated within six years--the time frame used by the NCAA--compared to 7% of male athletes and 32% of female athletes. The gender rates improved to 25% for male athletes and 54% for female athletes. The NCAA counts only those athletes entering as freshmen; transfers are counted among those not graduating from their original school.

In the survey released Monday, Long Beach State replaced Fullerton as the local college with the worst graduation rates, although its rates for athletes were similar to those for the student body as a whole. At Long Beach, 33% of all students entering in 1992 graduated, compared to 32% of scholarship athletes, including 12% of male athletes and 64% of female athletes. Those rates were within range of the figures in last year’s study, which showed Long Beach graduating 28% of all students and 33% of athletes, including 25% of male athletes and 46% of female athletes.

At UC Irvine, 74% of all students graduated, compared to 62% of athletes, including 50% of male athletes and 64% of female athletes. At UCLA, 78% of all students graduated, compared to 49% of athletes, including 47% of male athletes and 52% of female athletes. At USC, 70% of all students graduated, compared to 59% of athletes, including 57% of male athletes and 67% of female athletes.

Nationally, 56% of all students graduated, compared to 58% of athletes, including 52% of male athletes and 68% of female athletes.