NCAA Eligibility Requirements
School Counseling Department Contact: Sharlene Drakeford, 803-691-4090 x28018
NCAA Eligibility Center Website
School Counseling Department Contact: Sharlene Drakeford, 803-691-4090 x28018
NCAA Eligibility Center Website
Division I
(16 Core Courses) 4 years of English 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or Higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (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 comparative religion/philosophy |
Division II
(*16 Core Courses) 3 years of English 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 3 years 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 comparative religion/philosophy) *For Students enrolling on or after August 1, 2013. |
Core Courses
Grade-Point Average
Test Scores
To view the Division I Sliding Scale, visit www.eligibilitycenter.org and enter as an NCAA College-Bound Student-Athlete. Then click the "Resources" tab, then "U.S. Students" and finally, "Eligibility Quick Reference Sheet".
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 score that appear on transcripts will not be used.
- NCAA Division I currently requires 16 core courses. NCAA Division II will require 16 core courses for students enrolling on or after August 1, 2013.
- Beginning August 11, 2016, NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 core courses must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements above.) These 10 courses become "locked in" at the seventh semester and cannot 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. However, the student-athlete would not be able to compete.
Grade-Point Average
- Only courses that appear on your high school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in calculation of your core GPA.
- Currently, Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core GPAs. The Sliding Scale can be found on page No. 10 of the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete found at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
- Division I GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.300.
- Division I GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.000.
- The Division II core GPA requirements is a minimum of a 2.000.
Test Scores
- Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA).
- Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
- The SAT score used for NCAA purposes include only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.
- The ACT score used for the NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
To view the Division I Sliding Scale, visit www.eligibilitycenter.org and enter as an NCAA College-Bound Student-Athlete. Then click the "Resources" tab, then "U.S. Students" and finally, "Eligibility Quick Reference Sheet".
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 score that appear on transcripts will not be used.
Checklist for College-Bound Student-Athletes
- Register at the beginning of your sophomore year at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
- Ask your high school counselor to send your transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of your junior year.
- Take the ACT or SAT and use the code "9999" to have your official scores sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
- Check with your high school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate on time with your class and have the required amount of core courses.
- Request final amateurism certification during your senior year (beginning April 1).
- Ask your high school counselor to submit your final transcript with proof of graduation.