If you want to compete at a Division I or II school, you must meet academic and amateurism standards set by the NCAA membership. At Division III schools, you must meet the admission standards set by the school for all incoming students and amateurism standards set by the NCAA membership. The college eligiblity process begins in grade 9.
The following is taken from the NCAA Eligibility Center. For complete information and more resources visit www.eligibilitycenter.org.
Grade 9
- Start planning now: Take the right courses and work hard to earn the best grades possible.
- Ask your counselor for a list of your high school's NCAA-approved courses at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
Grade 10
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
Grade 11
- Check with your counselor to make sure you will graduate on time with the required number of NCAA-approved courses.
- Take the ACT or SAT and submit your scores to the NCAA using code 9999.
- At the end of the year, ask your counselor to send or upload your official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center. If you took classes at more than one high school or porgram, you will need to submit an official transcript for each school.
- Make sure you are on track to graduate on time with your class.
Grade 12
- Complete your final NCAA courses as you prepare for graduation.
- Take the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, and submit your scores to the NCAA using code 9999.
Division I schools require you to meet academic standards for NCAA core courses, core-course grade-point average (GPA) and test scores. To be eligible to practice, complete and receive athletics scholarships in your first full-time year at a Division I school, you must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:
1. Complete 16 NCAA core courses:
- Four years of English;
- Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher);
- Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it);
- Two years of social science;
- One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science; and
- Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy.
2. Complete 10 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before the start of your seventh semester. Once you begin your seventh semester, you may not repeat or replace any of those 10 courses for GPA improvement.
3. For a complete list of your high school's NCAA core courses, visit www.eligibilitycenter.org.
4. Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses.
5. Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale.
If you have not met all the Division I academic standards, you may not compete in your first year at college. However, if you qualify as an academic redshirt, you may practice during your first term in college and receive an athletics scholarship for the entire year. To qualify as an academic redshirt, you must graduate high school and meet ALL of the following academic standards:
1. Complete 16 core courses;
2. Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in your core courses; and
3. Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale
Division II schools require college-bound student-athletes to meet academic standards for NCAA core courses, core course grade-point average (GPA) and test scores. The standards are changing for students who enroll full time for the first time at a Division II school on or after Aug. 1, 2018. To be eligible to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarships in your first full-time year at a Division II school, you must graduate high school and meet ALL of the following requirements:
1. Complete 16 core courses:
- Three years of English;
- Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher);
- Two years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it);
- Two years of social science;
- Three additional years of English, math or natural or physical science; and
- Four additional years of English, math, natural or physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy.
2. Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in your core courses.
3. Earn an SAT combined score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
If you have not met all the Division II academic standards, you may not compete in your first year. However, if you meet the standards to be a partial qualifier, you may practice and receive an athletics scholarship in your first year at college. To be a partial qualifier, you must graduate high school and meet ONE of the following standards:
1. Earn a 2.0 GPA in 16 core courses;
2. Earn an SAT combined score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on academic success while offering a competitive athletics environment. Division III rules minimize potential conflicts between athletics and academics and focus on regional in-season and conference play. While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 75 percent of Division III student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid. If you are planning to attend a Division III school, you do not need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Division III schools set their own admissions and eligiblity standards.