How do I prepare for this?
Grade 9
Ask Mrs. Smith for a list of your high school’s NCAA core courses to make sure you take the right classes.
Grade 10
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org
Grade 11
Check with Mrs. Smith to make sure you will graduate on time with the required number of NCAA core courses.
At the end of the year, ask Mrs. Smith to upload your official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Grade 12
Finish your last NCAA core courses
Complete all academic and amateurism questions in your NCAA Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org
After you graduate, ask Mrs. Smith to submit your final official transcript with proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
NCAA Division I Academic Eligibility
To be eligible to compete in NCAA sports during your first year at a Division I school, you must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:
Four years of English
Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science)
One additional year of English, math or science
Two years of social science
Four additional years of courses from any of the above or foreign language, philosophy, or comparative religion
Complete 10 core courses before the start of your seventh semester (typically the start of senior year), and 7 of those 10 must be in English, math, or natural/physical science. Once you begin your seventh semester, you may not repeat, replace, or improve grades in any of those 10 courses to raise your core-course GPA.
NCAA Division II Academic Eligibility
To be eligible to compete in NCAA sports during your first year at a Division II school, you must meet academic requirements for your core courses and grade-point average (GPA). You must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements:
Three years of English.
Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
Two years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science)
Three additional years of English, math or science
Two years of social science
Four additional years of courses from any of the above or foreign language, philosophy, or comparative religion
NCAA Eligibility: Are There Test Requirements?
❌ Division I & Division II:
As of January 2023, the NCAA officially eliminated SAT/ACT test score requirements for incoming freshman athletes for both Division I and Division II initial eligibility.
ℹ️ What Still Matters:
Even though test scores aren't required for NCAA eligibility, some colleges still require the SAT or ACT for general admissions or scholarship decisions. Always check individual school policies.
Coaches may still ask for test scores to evaluate academic readiness—even if they're not required.