ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A new study shows the disparity between graduation rates for white and black players at schools headed to bowl games grew again this year even as overall academic progress increased for both.

The annual report released Monday by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found that the graduation success rate is increasing at a higher rate for white players than black players.

The graduation success rate for black players went from 58 percent to 60 percent this year among the 70 bowl teams. But for white players, the graduation rates increased from 77 percent last year to 80 percent this year.

That means there’s now a 20 percent gap between the two.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.