Georgia State earned the Sun Belt’s 2016 Institutional Graduation Award for the work its athletes did in the classroom.

The Panthers had the highest graduation rate (70 percent) in a six-year cohort from the 2008-09 to 2014-15 academic years. The total is determined using results from the Federal Graduation Report.

The report is calculation through the 2014-15 academic year meaning it starts with student-athletes who started in the 2008-09 year. Georgia State’s percentage was five points higher than the second-place school.

“We are extremely proud to earn this honor and everything it entails,” athletic director Charlie Cobb told the sports information department. “It not only shows the type of culture we are building at Georgia State, but also embodies the great student-athletes, coaches and academic support staff we have. The University is gaining national recognition for its ability to graduate students and we are proud to be a part of that effort.”