NCAA Eligibility Information

Division I Initial-Eligibility Requirements

Core Courses

• NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses:

4 years of English.

3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)

2 years of natural/physical sicence (1 year of lab if offered by high school)

1 year of additional English, mathematics, or natural/physical science.

2 years of social science

4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

• NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requiresments below). These 10 course become "locked in" at the seventh semester and cannot to be retaken for grade improvement.

• Beginning August 1, 2016 it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete.

Test Scores

• Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on Page No. 2 of this sheet.
• The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.
• The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science. •The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science.
• When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.

Grade Point Average

• Be sure to look at your high school's List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA. Use the list as a guide.
• Division I core GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is between 2.000 and 2.299 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on the Sliding Scale on Page No. 2 of this sheet).
• Division I core GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.300 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on the Sliding Scale on Page No. 2 of this sheet).
• Remember, the core GPA is calculated using the best 16 NCAA core courses only.

Division I Sliding Scale


SLIDING SCALE A

Use for Division I prior to August 1, 2016
Core GPA SAT
Verbal and Math ONLY		 ACT
3.550 & above 400 37
3.525 410 38
3.500 420 39
3.475 430 40
3.450 440 41
3.425 450 41
3.400 460 42
3.375 470 42
3.350 480 43
3.325 490 44
3.300 500 44
3.275 510 45
3.250 520 46
3.225 530 46
3.200 540 47
3.175 550 47
3.150 560 48
3.125 570 49
3.100 580 49
3.075 590 50
3.050 600 51
3.025 610 52
3.000 620 52
2.975 630 53
2.950 640 53
2.925 650 54
2.900 660 55
2.875 670 56
2.850 680 56
2.825 690 57
2.800 700 58
2.775 710 59
2.750 720 59
2.725 730 60
2.700 730 61
2.675 740-750 62
2.650 760 63
2.625 770 64
2.600 780 65
2.575 790 66
2.550 800 67
2.525 810 68
2.500 820 69
2.475 830 70
2.450 840-850 70
2.425 860 71
2.400 860 72
2.375 870 73
2.350 880 74
2.325 890 75
2.300 900 76
2.275 910 77
2.250 920 78
2.225 930 79
2.200 940 80
2.175 950 80
2.150 960 80
2.125 960 81
2.100 970 82
2.075 950 83
2.050 990 84
2.025 1000 85
2.000 1010 86
SLIDING SCALE B

Use for Division I beginning August 1, 2016
Core GPA SAT
Verbal and Math ONLY		 ACT
3.550 & above 400 37
3.525 410 38
3.500 420 39
3.475 430 40
3.450 440 41
3.425 450 41
3.400 460 42
3.375 470 42
3.350 480 43
3.325 490 44
3.300 500 44
3.275 510 45
3.250 520 46
3.225 530 46
3.200 540 47
3.175 550 47
3.150 560 48
3.125 570 49
3.100 580 49
3.075 590 50
3.050 600 50
3.025 610 51
3.000 620 52
2.975 630 52
2.950 640 53
2.925 650 53
2.900 660 54
2.875 670 55
2.850 680 56
2.825 690 56
2.800 700 57
2.775 710 58
2.750 720 59
2.725 730 60
2.700 740 61
2.675 750 61
2.650 760 62
2.625 770 63
2.600 780 64
2.575 790 65
2.550 800 66
2.525 810 67
2.500 820 68
2.475 830 69
2.450 840 70
2.425 860 70
2.400 860 71
2.375 870 72
2.350 880 74
2.325 890 74
2.300 900 75
2.299 910 76
2.275 910 76
2.250 920 77
2.225 930 78
2.200 940 79
2.175 950 80
2.150 960 81
2.125 960 82
2.100 970 83
2.075 950 84
2.050 990 85
2.025 1000 86
2.000 1010 86

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Division II Initial-Eligibility Requirements

Core Courses

• NCAA Division II requires 16 core courses:

4 years of English.

3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)

2 years of natural/physical sicence (1 year of lab if offered by high school)

1 year of additional English, mathematics, or natural/physical science.

2 years of social science

4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

• Beginning August 1, 2018, to become a full or partial qualifier for Division II, all college-bound student-athletes must complete the 16 core-course requirement.

Test Scores

• Division II currently requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68. Beginning August 1, 2018, Division II will use a sliding scale to match test scores and core-course grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on Page No. 2 of this sheet.
• The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.
• The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
• When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.

Grade Point Average

• Be sure to look at your high school's List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA. Use the list as a guide.
• The current Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000. Division II core GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2018, is 2.200 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on the Sliding Scale below)
• The minimum Division II Core GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice as a partial qualifier on or after August 1, 2018, is 2.000 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on the Sliding Scale below)
• Remember, the core GPA is calculated using the best 16 NCAA core courses only.


Division II Sliding Scale


COMPETITION SLIDING SCALE

Use for Division II prior to August 1, 2018
Core GPA SAT
Verbal and Math ONLY		 ACT Sum
3.300 & above 400 37
3.275 410 38
3.250 420 39
3.225 430 40
3.200 440 41
3.175 450 41
3.150 460 42
3.125 470 42
3.100 480 43
3.075 490 44
3.050 500 44
3.025 510 45
3.000 520 46
2.975 530 46
2.950 540 47
2.925 550 47
2.900 560 48
2.875 570 49
2.850 580 49
2.825 590 50
2.800 600 51
2.775 610 52
2.750 620 52
2.725 630 53
2.700 640 53
2.675 650 54
2.650 660 55
2.625 670 56
2.600 680 56
2.575 690 57
2.550 700 58
2.525 710 59
2.500 720 59
2.475 730 60
2.450 730 61
2.425 740-750 62
2.400 760 63
2.375 770 64
2.350 780 65
2.325 790 66
2.300 800 67
2.275 810 68
2.250 820 69
2.225 830 70
2.200 840 & above 70 & above

PARTIAL QUALIFIER SLIDING SCALE

Use for Division II beginning August 1, 2018
Core GPA SAT
Verbal and Math ONLY		 ACT Sum
3.050 & above 400 37
3.025 410 38
3.000 420 39
2.975 430 40
2.950 440 41
2.925 450 41
2.900 460 42
2.875 470 42
2.850 480 43
2.825 490 44
2.800 500 44
2.775 510 45
2.750 520 46
2.725 530 46
2.700 540 47
2.675 550 47
2.650 560 48
2.625 570 49
2.600 580 49
2.575 590 50
2.550 600 50
2.525 610 51
2.500 620 52
2.475 630 52
2.450 640 53
2.425 650 53
2.400 660 54
2.375 670 55
2.350 680 56
2.325 690 56
2.300 700 57
2.275 710 58
2.250 720 59
2.225 730 60
2.200 740 61
2.175 750 61
2.150 760 62
2.125 770 63
2.100 780 64
2.075 790 65
2.050 800 66
2.025 810 67
2.000 820 & above 68 & above

 

 

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ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY:

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a student register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
Students should register with the Eligibility Center at the beginning of their junior year in high school. At the end of the student's junior year, a transcript, which includes six semesters of grades, should be sent to the Eligibility Center from the high school. Additionally, students should have their SAT or ACT scores forwarded directly to the Eligibility Center (by using code "9999") whenever they take the exam.


What requirements do I need to be able to practice, play and get a scholarship at an NCAA Division I or II college or university?
You need to complete the following:

  1. Graduate from high school;
  2. Complete a minimum of 16 (for Division I) or 14 (for Division II) 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 or a minimum 2.0 GPA for Division II);
  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.

How do I know if the courses I am taking will count as core courses?
You need to look at your high school's NCAA List of Approved Core Courses. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net;
  2. Click on "General Information";
  3. Click on "List of Approved Core Courses";
  4. Input your high school's CEEB code (if you know it) or search by your high school's name and state; and
  5. Review the list.
    *Very important: If a core course you took is not on the list, it will not be used in your eligibility determination. Courses that appear on your transcript must exactly match what is on the list.

 

What do I do if a core course I took is not on the list?
See your high school counselor immediately. Someone at your high school is responsible for keeping your high school's list updated. It is important your high school does this each year to make sure the core courses you are taking appear on the list.


What is the lowest grade that will be used for a course to count as a core course?
Follow your high school's policy regarding its lowest passing grade. If the Eligibility Center does not have this policy, the lowest passing grade that will be used is D.


Will credit-by-exam courses meet core-course requirements?
No. Courses completed through credit-by-exam will not be used.


Are vocational courses acceptable?
No. Traditional vocational courses (e.g., typing, auto mechanics, driver's education and health) are not acceptable.


Do pass/fail grades count?
Yes, these grades may satisfy your core-course requirements. The Eligibility Center will assign your high school's lowest passing grade for a pass/fail class.


May courses taken in the eighth grade that are high school core courses (e.g., Algebra I, Spanish 1, Freshman Composition) be used to meet the core-course requirement?
A high school course taken in the eighth grade may be used if the course is on the high school transcript with a grade and credit and if the course is on the high school's NCAA List of Approved Core Courses.


May independent-study, Internet and correspondence courses count as core courses?
Yes, if the following four conditions are met:

  1. The course meets core-course requirements;
  2. You and the instructor have access to each other during the course so that the instructor can teach, evaluate and provide assistance to you;
  3. Appropriate academic authorities evaluate your work according to the high school's academic policies; and
  4. The course is acceptable for any student to take and is placed on your high school transcript.

 

May college courses count as core courses?
College courses may be used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements if the courses are accepted and awarded credit by the high school for any student and meet all other requirements for core courses. For NCAA Division I only, such courses must be placed on the student's high school transcript. Courses taken at a college will NOT appear on the high school's NCAA List of Approved Core Courses. The high school's NCAA List of Approved Core Courses will include only those courses taught/offered by the high school.


How are courses taken over two years counted?
A one-year course that is spread over a longer period of time is considered one course and will receive a maximum of one core-course credit. (Example: Algebra 1, spread over two years, would receive one unit of credit.)


May my study in a foreign country help me meet core-course requirements?
If you attended a secondary school outside the United States for all or part of grades nine through 12, different evaluation procedures will be applied to your international education documents. You must submit original-language documents with certified translations for Eligibility Center evaluation.


How is my core-course GPA calculated?
Your core-course GPA is the average of your best grades achieved for all required core courses. If you have taken extra core courses, those courses will be used in your GPA, only if they improve your GPA.


Can weighted grades for honors or advanced-placement courses be factored into the calculation of the student's core GPA?
A school's normal practice of weighting honors or advanced courses may be used, as long as the weighting is used for computing GPAs. Weighting cannot be used if the high school weights grades for the purpose of determining class rank. Additionally, in no instance may the student receive greater than 1.000 additional quality points for purposes of calculating the GPA for initial eligibility.


How is the NCAA core GPA different from a student's overall GPA?
The NCAA core-course GPA is calculated using only NCAA-approved core courses in the required number of core units. High school GPAs generally include the grades from most or all courses attempted in grades nine through 12.


Will courses taken after my senior year meet core-course requirements?

For Division I:
Maybe. Only courses completed in grades nine through 12 will qualify as core courses for Division I. If you graduate from high school on schedule (in eight semesters) with your incoming ninth grade class, you may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year). You may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which you graduated and may initially enroll full time at a collegiate institution at any time after completion of the core course.

For Division II:
Yes. All core courses completed before your full-time enrollment at any college may be used by the Eligibility Center.

For Division I students with diagnosed disabilities:
Yes. If you have a properly diagnosed and documented disability, you may use one or more core courses completed after high school but before full-time enrollment in college.


How does the NCAA treat courses similar in content?
Some approved core courses might be considered duplicates. That is, the content of one course is the same as that of another, even though the classes might have different titles. If you have taken two classes considered to be duplicates, you will receive only one core-course credit (typically for the course with the higher grade). Please ask your high school counselor if you have questions about duplicate courses.


May courses taken at high school "A" be accepted if they appear on high school "B's" transcript?
No. High school "A" may provide the Eligibility Center with an official copy of high school "B's" transcript, but grades from one high school cannot be accepted on another high school's transcript.


Does the prohibition against special education, remedial or compensatory courses apply to students with education-impacted disabilities?
No. In order for courses designated for students with education-impacted disabilities to be approved, the course must be substantially comparable, qualitatively and quantitatively, as a regular core course offered in that academic area.


Can students with a diagnosed education-impacted disability use courses that are designated for students with an education-impacted disability to meet NCAA core-course requirements?
Students with appropriately diagnosed education-impacted disabilities may use courses for students with education-impacted disabilities for the purpose of meeting NCAA core-course requirements. Courses for students with education-impacted disabilities must appear on the high school's NCAA List of Approved Core Courses in order for a student to receive NCAA credit for the course.


May a nonstandard ACT/SAT exam be used for initial eligibility?
Yes. Students with diagnosed education-impacted disabilities may take a nonstandard ACT or SAT exam. The test score must be provided to the Eligibility Center from the testing agency, just as any other test score.


How are students prioritized for processing at the Eligibility Center?
Students who have their status requested by an NCAA institution are prioritized by the Eligibility Center for processing. If a student's eligibility status is never requested by a member institution, the Eligibility Center may not process such a student's status.


* If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please contact the Eligibility Center's customer service staff at 1-877-262-1492.


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