NCAA

🏅 What You Need to Know About the NCAA – For Student-Athletes and Families

If your student dreams of playing college sports, it’s important to understand how the NCAA works and what steps to take during high school to stay on track—both athletically and academically.

🏈 What is the NCAA?

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the organization that governs most college sports. It’s divided into three divisions:

• Division I – The most competitive and includes large colleges with big athletic programs and scholarships.
  
  

• Division II – Offers athletic scholarships but with a smaller scale than Division I.
  
  

• Division III – Focuses more on academics and does not offer athletic scholarships, though other forms of aid are available.
  
  

🎓 Academic Requirements

To compete at the NCAA Division I or II level, students must meet specific academic eligibility standards, including:

• Completing a required number of core courses (such as English, math, science, and social studies).
  
  

• Earning a minimum GPA in core courses.
  
  

• Getting a qualifying score on the ACT or SAT (for some divisions).
  
  

• Graduating from high school.
  
  

📌 Important: These requirements can change, so always check the most current standards at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

📝 Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

If your student wants to compete at a Division I or II school, they must:

1. Create an account with the NCAA Eligibility Center—ideally by the end of 10th grade.
   
   

2. Submit transcripts, test scores, and amateurism information.
   
   

3. Stay in contact with their school counselor to ensure they’re meeting academic requirements.