The NCAA has recently begun to require that incoming student-athletes complete an amateurism certification section as part of their Eligibility registration. Click here to read more.

Graduates of 2008 or later

The Least You Need To Know:

Division I: 16 core courses and other stuff required. Click here to learn what you need.

Division II: 14 core courses required

Division III and NAIA: NCAA Eligibility does not apply.

Gaining admission (in almost all cases) to a NAIA or NCAA Division III school will allow you to be eligible as a freshman.

NEW INFORMATION

IMPORTANT NCAA RULE: As of August 1, 2007 student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center BEFORE you make any official school visits or receiving a written offer of athletically related financial aid. University Athletic Departments will require a copy of your SAT or ACT score before they set up a visit.

What is a Core Course? 

A core course is an academic course in one or a combination of these areas: 

* English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, nondoctrinal religion, or philosophy.

* A four year college preparatory course

* A course at or above the high school's regular academic level, for example, an Advanced Placement Program class or outside college course 

* BUT remedial, special education, or compensatory courses are not admissible unless these courses are listed on your school's list of NCAA approved courses and you are permitted to take these courses towards your core courses based on your needs as a student.

Students with learning disabilities should contact their potential university or college and/or the NCAA Clearinghouse for specific information about the courses they must complete. The Clearinghouse has allowed for some alternate ways to success for students with learning disabilities.

So all I have to do is take 16 core courses to be eligible and to get into college?

No. If you meet NCAA Clearinghouse requirements it does not guarantee admission into college—it merely determines whether you may participate in athletics during your freshman year in college. Student-athletes still need to follow each member school's admission policies and apply directly to that school. ONE MORE THING ~ not all classes that meet high school graduation requirements meet NCAA course work requirements. All this means is that you have to meet three sets of qualification.

Student-athletes to do list:

Freshman year:

1) Look up your high school's approved Clearinghouse courses to make sure your four year plan reflects the requirements. 

2) Write down your four year academic course plan

Sophomore year:

1) Double check your school's course list and make sure you are on track.

Junior year:

1) At the end of this year, register for the NCAA Clearinghouse; It doesn't matter what your grades are. Don't try to wait "until your grades are better." This makes no sense. Better grades replace grades in repeated courses. The NCAA will see ALL of your grades anyways. You cannot hide.

Senior year:

1) At the beginning of this year, verify that your Clearinghouse registration went through. 

Every year:

1) Re-check your high school's course list at the end of each year before you enroll for the following year's courses. 

Other important tidbits 

"Initial eligibility" is the term used to describe your eligibility as a freshman at a Division I or Division II College or University. See the eligibility index below.

The writing sections on the SAT or ACT don't count. The NCAA clearinghouse allows you to use your sum score. Click here to learn what a sum score is. 

When you take the SAT and ACT use code 9999 so that the Clearinghouse receives your scores. The Clearinghouse will not accept the scores on your transcript. The scores they receive must be official scores. 

Click here for the official NCAA Clearinghouse site and to register with the Clearinghouse (proper time to do so is at the end of your junior year)

Click here for a more in depth description on the college board's site.

Eligibility Index

The requirements for 2008 and beyond grads will increase to a total of 16 core courses for Division I eligibility as of August 1, 2008 -- as in enrollment in college.

The NCAA's current academic standards for Division I eligibility mean that students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 after graduation must have either a combined SAT score of 1010 or total ACT score of 86. 

The good news is that there's a sliding scale between GPA and test scores: if you have high test scores, a lower GPA is accepted; and if a student has a high GPA, a lower test score is permitted.

Division II eligibility standards remain the same with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and a combined minimum SAT score of 820 or sum ACT score of 68.