NCAA FRESHMAN-ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
Course work requirements for NCAA athletics and NCAA scholarships*
| Division I: 16 Core Courses |
Division II: 14 Core Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 years of English | 3 years of English |
| 3 years of math (algebra 1 or higher level) | 2 years of math (algebra 1 or higher level) |
| 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered) | 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered) |
| 1 extra year of English, math, or science | 2 extra years of English, math, or science |
| 2 years of social science | 2 years of social science |
|
4 years of additional core courses (from any category above, or in a foreign language, nondoctrinal religion, or philosophy) |
3 years of additional core courses (from any category above, or in a foreign language, nondoctrinal religion, or philosophy) |
*The NCAA is the authoritative source for eligibility criteria. Visit the NCAA eligibility center.
August 1, 2013, and After - *Division II Colleges will require 16 Core Courses.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Division I eligibility
All students entering college on or after August 1, 2008 must have completed 16 core courses in high school.
Students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 after graduation must have either a combined SAT® score of 1010 or sum ACT score of 86.*
Division II eligibility
All students entering college on or after August 1, 2005 must have completed 14 core courses in high school.Standards require a minimum GPA of 2.0 and a combined minimum SAT score of 820 or sum ACT score of 68.*
*Note that there's a sliding scale between GPA and test scores: if a student has a high GPA, a lower test score is permitted.
August 1, 2013, and After - *Division II Colleges will require 16 Core Courses.
NCAA core courses definition
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; and a course at or above the high school's regular academic level, for example, an AP® class or outside college course.
Remedial, special education, or compensatory courses are not admissible. And not all classes that meet high school graduation requirements meet NCAA course work requirements.