Learn what it takes to be eligible for NCAA (D1-D3), NAIA, and JUCO!
To be eligible your first year at a Division I school, you must:
Graduate from high school
Complete 16 core courses, including:
4 years of English
3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (with one lab if offered)
1 extra year of English, math, or science
2 years of social science
4 additional years in English, math, science, social science, foreign language, or philosophy
Finish 10 core courses by the end of your junior year (before your 7th semester)
7 of those must be in English, math, or science
These 10 cannot be replaced or repeated once you're a senior
Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses
Get an SAT or ACT score that matches your GPA on the NCAA sliding scale
Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale, which balances your test score and core-course GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher core-course GPA to be eligible. If you have a low core-course GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible.
To compete your first year at a Division II school, you must:
Graduate from high school
Complete 16 core courses, including:
3 years of English
2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of science (including 1 year of lab science if available)
3 extra years of English, math, or science
2 years of social science
4 additional years from approved subjects
Earn at least a 2.2 GPA in your core courses
Achieve a score on the SAT or ACT that aligns with your GPA on the Division II sliding scale
To be eligible for sports at an NAIA school, you must:
Graduate high school or be accepted as a regular student
Meet 2 of these 3 criteria:
Score at least 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT
Have a 2.0 cumulative GPA in high school
Graduate in the top half of your class
If you don’t meet at least 2 of these, you’ll be ineligible to compete in sports during your first year.
Division III schools set their own academic standards.
There are no specific NCAA eligibility rules, but...
You must meet the school’s admission requirements
Contact the school directly to learn about their policies for student-athletes
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