NCAA - College Eligibility

If you are interested in playing sports in college (or even just considering it), no matter the Division, we encourage you to speak with your Counselor to ensure that you have the best opportunities and the most support. Be sure to keep the Athletics Office and your school counselor in the loop throughout the process. 

Process: The NCAA Eligibility Center ensures that a student-athlete is academically clear to compete in intercollegiate sports at the Division I or II level. If you are interested in playing sports at a Division I or II school, it is your responsibility to be sure the NCAA Eligibility Center has the documents it needs to certify you; this determination is typically done at the end of the junior year. These documents include: 

• Your completed registration on the NCAA Eligibility Center website and $80 fee (fee waivers are available; speak with your school counselor for details)

• Your official transcript, uploaded electronically (You can now order the transcript from the Parchment website to go directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center - you can find help on how to use Parchment here)

• Your official SAT or ACT scores, sent directly from the testing agency

• International Student Release Form (if appropriate)

• For students starting college in the fall of 2016 and beyond who are considering participating in athletics at a Division I program, new requirements are in place. Click here to view them. If you'd like to work on your NCAA Core Course GPA, please click here for a Division I and/or Division II worksheets

• Note: Current students no longer need to have a transcript release form on file because transcripts are obtainable through the Parchment website. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do I need to register and be certified?

A: If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register with and be certified as eligible by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Eligibility Center. Initial eligibility certification pertains only to whether you meet the NCAA requirements for participation in Division I or II athletics and has no bearing on your admission to a particular Division I or II institution. 

Q: When should I register? 

A: You should register with the Eligibility Center at the end of sophomore year or start of your junior year. 

Q: How do I register? 

A: Log in to the NCAA Eligibility Center website and complete the required registration form. It is your responsibility to send your SAT or ACT scores by entering ‘9999’ when you send scores through www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org. 

Q: What will the Eligibility Center send to my colleges? 

A: The Eligibility Center will send your eligibility status to any Division I or II college that requests it, provided you have given permission on your student release form for the school to receive the information. 

NCAA Division III 

If you are interested in athletic competition at the Division III level, you may wish to be in contact with a coach or coaches at your schools of interest so you can indicate your interest in their school and athletic program. You can begin this communication in the summer between your sophomore and junior year, especially if you are a fall athlete. Additionally, if you make a visit to the college, you may wish to contact the coach before your visit in order to schedule a meeting. You do not have to go through the NCAA Eligibility Center process. 

NAIA

 If you are interested in a college that is a NAIA school, you will need to register with the NAIA. It is a different process than the NCAA, and just because you are registered with the NCAA, doesn’t mean you do not have to register with the NAIA. You should register with the NAIA at the end of your junior year, or beginning of your senior year. To register for the NAIA, go to NAIA Eligibility Center.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 

Students interested in possibly participating in collegiate athletics should read up on some of the guidelines and eligibility requirements here. There are some links that will take you to the NCAA website (below) and will tell you the same information. 

http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA17.pdf