Nebraska was one of 34 schools nationally to have its football program recognized Thursday with the 2007 Academic Achievement Award by the American Football Coaches Association.

The Huskers were one of just 34 Division I-A schools to be honored for graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes. Just four of the 34 schools were honored for graduating 90 percent or more of its student-athletes.

Nebraska has been honored by the AFCA for its 70 percent or better graduation rate for seven straight years and 11 times since 1994. The Huskers were one of four Big 12 schools honored by the AFCA, joining Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech that also graduated 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes.

Northwestern and Notre Dame led the nation with 95 percent graduation rates for their freshman classes of 2001-02, while Duke and Vanderbilt had rates of 90 percent or better.

In addition to Nebraska and the other Big 12 schools, those honored at the 70 percent or higher level were Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, TCU, Toledo, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin.

The overall graduation rate of the 107 schools that responded to the survey was 60 percent, surpassing the mark of 58 percent in each of the previous two years. Fifty-two of the members responding were above the average and 55 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 59 percent, compared to 57 percent for the last two years. The 107 respondents to this year’s survey is a record high. One hundred and four schools replied in 2006.

The study involves the freshman class from the academic year of 2001-02, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.