The NCAA imposes eligibility requirements for incoming freshmen that must be fulfilled before a student enters college. Determining whether you or your child has met the requirements for NCAA eligibility can be a complex but rewarding process. For parents and students who intend to rely on athletic scholarships to fund a college degree, the eligibility determination becomes even more crucial as only about 2% of high school athletes are awarded athletic scholarships to compete in college, and an even smaller portion receive a full athletic scholarship.
What are the Differences Between NCAA Divisions I, II, and III?
Availability of athletic scholarships vary among the different divisions of athletic competition within the NCAA. Division I is the highest level of competition and is likely most familiar to the general public, but Divisions II and III provide opportunities for athletes to compete, receive financial assistance through scholarship, and potentially raise their level of play for a transfer to a higher division. The breakdown of 2022-23 scholarship and eligibility statistics within the NCAA is as follows:
Most notably, Division I athletic programs may offer multi-year, full athletic scholarships to student-athletes, but Division III provides more opportunities overall for the high school athletes looking to continue competing in the NCAA.
All High School Student Athletes:
Students who know that they wish to play an NCAA college sport should sign up for an NCAA account as soon as possible. This begins in the NCAA eligibility center. There are three types of accounts for NCAA, a free profile page account, an amateurism-only account, and an academic and amateurism certification account.
Free Profile Page:
All students should start with a free profile page. There is no registration fee for this account, and it can be transferred into one of the other two types of accounts at any time. A student planning to compete in Division III or to register for an NCAA event may only need the free profile page.
Amateurism-Only Certification Account:
This type of account is required for international student-athletes preparing to compete for a Division III athletic program and for student-athlete transferees coming from a two-year or junior college program to a Division I or Division II school who have not previously been certified as an amateur. The account requires a $70 USD registration fee .
Academic and Amateurism Certification Account:
This account is required to compete at the Division I and Division II levels. There is a $100 domestic student fee and a $160 fee for international students. This account is a prerequisite for an official visit or signing a national letter of intent with a Division I or Division II athletic program.
Eligibility Requirements:
As of the 2023-2024 academic year, the NCAA no longer requires standardized testing as part of high school students’ eligibility determination. Check with the NCAA school you plan to attend regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements at that particular school.
Students however do need to maintain eligibility through “core courses” and maintaining a high enough “core course” grade point average (GPA). Students should strive for Division I eligibility to create the broadest eligibility for both Division II and Division III.
Division I Requirements:
- Graduate high school
- Earn a core course GPA pf 3 or higher
- Complete 16 core courses
- Classes that are NCAA core courses include:
- English 1-4, American Literature, Creative Writing
- Algebra 1-3, Geometry, Statistics
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- American History, Civics, Government
- Comparative Religion, Spanish 1-4
- Classes that are not NCAA core courses include:
- Classes in non-core areas, fine arts, or vocations such as driver education, typing, art, music, physical education, or welding.
- Personal skill classes such as personal finance or consumer education
- Classes taught below grade level, at a slower pace, or with less rigor or depth, such as those titled “basic,” “essential,” “fundamental,” or “foundational.”
- Classes that are not academic in nature such as film appreciation, video editing, or greenhouse management.
- Complete 4 years of English
- Complete 3 years of math at the Algebra 1 or higher level
- Complete 2 years of natural or physical science
- Complete 1 year of a science lab, if offered by your high school
- Complete an additional year of English, math, or natural/physical science
- Complete 2 years of social science
- Complete 4 additional years of a combination of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion, or philosophy
Division II Requirements:
- Graduate high school
- Earn a core course GPA of 2 of higher
- Complete 16 core courses as mentioned above
- Complete 3 years of English
- Complete 3 years of math at the Algebra 1 or higher level
- Complete 2 years of natural or physical science
- Complete 1 year of a science lab, if offered by your high school
- Complete an additional 3 years of English, math, or natural/physical science
- Complete 2 years of social science
- Complete 4 additional years of a combination of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion, or philosophy
Students should strive to complete four core courses per each academic year of high school in order to finish high school with sixteen core courses. Students must complete ten of their sixteen core courses by the end of their junior year (before the start of their seventh semester). Students should check their individual school’s list of approved NCAA coursework. Seven of the ten core courses need to be in English, math, or natural/physical science. The grades in these seven courses will be “locked in,” meaning students are not allowed to retake them to improve grades/core course GPA.
Division III schools each set their own requirements for athletics eligibility, including academic requirements, admissions requirements, and financial aid.
Student Athletes with Individualized Education Plans and 504 Plans
Students who have IEPs or 504 plans in high school may qualify as students with education-impacting disabilities (EIDs). These plans should be uploaded to the student’s NCAA account as soon as possible along with a signed release form. Students should also make initial contact with their individual high school’s primary contact, who can be identified through the NCAA website as well as the NCAA service center.
Students with EIDs may be granted accommodations to meet eligibility requirements, including taking certain classes designed for students with learning disabilities. Students with EIDs may be granted additional opportunities to complete core courses after high school graduation, including three core courses for Division I-bound students and an unlimited number of core courses for Division II-bound students.
