NCAA Eligibility

Eligibility Rules

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? Why is it Important?

The NCAA Eligibility Center took over operations for the NCAA Initial-Eligibility

Clearinghouse in November 2007. The Eligibility Center certifies the academic and amateur

credentials of all students who want to play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution as

freshmen. In order to practice, play and receive an athletics scholarship, students need to meet

certain academic benchmarks. An additional certification process exists to make sure the student

is still an amateur, which is necessary in order for the student to compete.

Academic Credentials + Amateurism Status = College Eligible

What are the Academic Initial-Eligibility Requirements?

The following requirements must be met in order for a student to be able to practice, play and

receive a scholarship at an NCAA Division I or II college or university.

Division I:

1. Graduate from high school; 2. Complete a minimum of 16 core courses; 3. Present the required grade-point average (GPA) (see the sliding scale in the Guide for the

College-Bound Student-Athlete for Division I);

4. Present a qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT (see the sliding scale in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete); and

5. Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification.

Division I Core-Course Breakdown (Courses Must Appear on your List of Approved Core

Courses)

 4 years of English

 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)

 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your

high school)

 1 extra year of English, math, or natural or physical science

 2 years of social science

 4 years of extra core courses from any category above, or foreign language,

nondoctrinal/comparative religion/philosophy

Division II

1. Graduate from high school;

2. Complete a minimum of 14 core courses (Note: increase to 16 core courses for class of 2013 and beyond);

3. Present a minimum 2.000 core-course grade-point average (GPA); 4. Present a minimum 820 SAT score (critical reading and math only) or 68 sum ACT score

qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT; and

5. Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification.

Download the quick reference sheet with the requirements.

Division II Core-Course Breakdown:(Courses Must Appear on your List of Approved Core

Courses)

 3 years of English

 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)

 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your

high school);

 2 additional years of English, math, or natural or physical science (3 years required in

2013 and beyond)

 2 years of social science

 3 years of extra core courses from any category above, or foreign language,

nondoctrinal/comparative religion/philosophy (4 years required in 2013 and beyond)