NCAA Eligibility

The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the eligibility of every college-bound student-athlete in NCAA Divisions I and II using the following two areas:

• Academic Certification. Does the college-bound student-athlete meet the legislated minimum academic requirements?
• Amateurism Certification. Has the college-bound student-athlete jeopardized his or her amateur status?

Initial-Eligibility Overview: Academics

• Academic: initial-eligibility requirements are different for each of the three divisions.
• It is possible for a college-bound student-athlete to be eligible in one division and not another.

NCAA Division I Academic Requirements

• In order to practice, compete and receive institutional financial aid as a freshman, a student-athlete must:
  • Graduate from high school;
  • Earn a minimum required grade-point average (GPA) in 16 approved core courses; and
  • Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches the core-course GPA (refer to the "sliding scale" in the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

NCAA Division II Academic Requirements

• In order to practice, compete and receive institutional financial aid as a freshman, a student-athlete must:
  • Graduate from high school;
  • Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in 14 approved core courses; and
  • Earn a combined SAT score of at least 820 (critical reading and math) or an ACT sum score of at least 68.
• No sliding scale for Division II

* Beginning August 1, 2013, students planning to attend an NCAA Division II institution will be required to complete 16 core courses.

NCAA Division III Academic Requirements

• Unlike Divisions I and II, there is no uniform set of eligibility requirements for Division III schools.
• Eligibility for admission, financial aid, practice and competition is determined by the institution.

For more information about NCAA Eligibility, please see the articles and downloadable brochures below, or go to the new and improved NCAA Eligibility Center web site.