NCAA Eligibility
NCAA Eligibility & Academic Requirements
In the USA, NCAA academic eligibility is determined by two key factors:
-
Core Course Completion: Student-athletes must complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses during high school. Requirements vary slightly between Division I and Division II institutions.
-
Core Course GPA: Eligibility is based on GPA earned in core courses only—not the full high school transcript. Students should work closely with their school counsellor to ensure compliance.
While approximately 75% of college student-athletes meet NCAA academic minimums, strong grades alone do not guarantee eligibility. Each year, students with high GPAs are ruled ineligible due to missing specific NCAA requirements.
Although the NCAA no longer mandates SAT or ACT scores, some colleges and scholarship programs may still require them. Prospective student-athletes should confirm testing expectations for each institution.
Here is a comprehensive guide to NCSAA Eligibility by Division
NCAA Division I
For high-school athletes enrolling in college full-time in 2023-24 and beyond:
-
Complete 16 core courses using pass/fail grades:
-
English: 4 years
-
Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 3 years
-
Natural/Physical Science (Including 1 year of lab, if offered): 2 years
-
Social Science: 2 years
-
Additional Courses
-
English, Math or Science: 1 year
-
English, Math, Sciences, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy: 4 years
-
-
-
Core Course Progression: You must complete 10 core courses by the beginning of senior year, or seventh semester. Among these 10, seven must be in the subjects of English, math or natural/physical science. This is known as the 10/7 rule.
-
Earn a core course GPA of 2.3 or higher
-
Graduate high school
-
Receive final certification on your amateurism status via the NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Division II
For high-school athletes enrolling in college full-time in 2023-2024 and beyond:
-
Complete 16 core courses using pass/fail grades:
-
English: 3 years
-
Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 2 years
-
Natural/Physical Science (Including 1 year of lab, if offered): 2 years
-
Social Science: 2 years
-
Additional Courses
-
English, Math or Science: 3 year
-
English, Math, Sciences, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy: 4 years
-
-
-
Earn a core course GPA of 2.2 or higher
-
Graduate high school
-
Receive final certification on your amateurism status via the NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Division III & Junior College (JUCO)
NCAA Division III institutions set their own academic eligibility standards. Student-athletes considering Division III (or those still determining which collegiate level to pursue) may begin with a free NCAA Profile and upgrade to a Certification Account if they later decide to pursue Division I or II opportunities.
Junior colleges require student-athletes to have earned a standard high school diploma or an approved equivalency, such as a GED, in accordance with NJCAA guidelines. Junior college programs often serve as a pathway for athletes seeking to gain eligibility for NCAA or NAIA institutions or for those who wish to explore academic options before transferring to a four-year school.