NCAA Eligibility - Compete in College Athletics

NCAA eligibility means that a student has met the NCAA's requirements to participate in college athletics. For students planning to compete at an NCAA Division I or Division II school, the NCAA Eligibility Center reviews things such as:

• The high school courses you completed

• Your grades in NCAA-approved core courses

• Whether you graduated from high school

• Your amateurism status and athletic participation

Think of it this way: Getting accepted to a college and being eligible to play a sport for that college are two different things. You could meet a college's admission requirements but still have an NCAA eligibility issue. That's why student-athletes need to plan ahead.

NCAA eligibility determines whether you can participate and compete in college athletics at an NCAA Division I or II school. Even if a college accepts you or a coach wants you on the team, you still have to meet NCAA eligibility requirements. If you don't take the right NCAA-approved classes while you're in high school, you may be ineligible to compete in college athletics. The classes you choose throughout high school can directly affect your ability to play at the college level.

If college athletics is even a possibility, start planning early so you don't accidentally close that door.

1. Tell your counselor you're interested in college athletics. This allows us to keep NCAA requirements in mind when discussing your high school course selections and postsecondary plans. Don't assume your counselor knows you want to play in college. Keep lines of communication open. 

2. Pay attention to your classes AND your grades. The NCAA doesn't simply look at whether you earned enough credits to graduate. Division I and Division II students must complete a required number of NCAA-approved core courses in areas such as english, math, science, and social science. Not every high school course necessarily counts as an NCAA core course. Your core-course GPA matters too, so freshman-year grades can be important. Don't wait until junior or senior year to start thinking about your academics.

3. Create an NCAA Eligibility Center account. Students interested in Division I or Division II athletics should become familiar with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. The Eligibility Center is where students complete the NCAA certification process. Depending on your plans and where you are in the recruiting process, you'll need the appropriate type of account.

4. Be honest about your athletic participation. The NCAA also considers amateurism. Students may be asked questions about their athletic history, including teams they've played for, payments or prizes they've received, agents or professional representation, and other athletic activities. If you're unsure whether something could affect your eligibility, ask before assuming it's okay.

5. Keep checking in, eligibility isn't something you check once and forget about.