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Register here: NCAA Eligibility Center
Set up your account to track eligibility, core courses, and scholarships for Division I & II sports.
Create your account to check academic requirements and scholarship opportunities for NAIA schools.
Thinking about playing sports at the college level?
If you plan to play sports in college, start preparing now! Recruiters visiting Ryan High School often ask for your transcript first — they want to see that you’re strong both academically and athletically.
You’ll also need to create an NCAA or NAIA eligibility account to participate in recruiting activities, including official campus visits.
See Ms. Biggers if you have questions about creating your account.
Preparing for the Next Level
Preparing for the Next Level
Graduate on time: Pass all classes and complete your Foundation Plan with Endorsement.
Choose smart courses: Pick classes that build a strong college-ready foundation.
Do your work: Homework and assignments prep you for tests — like practice preps you for games.
Get help early: Attend tutorials if you struggle, and talk to your coaches if practice conflicts with classwork.
NCAA Eligibility: What You Need to Know
NCAA Eligibility: What You Need to Know
To play Division I or II sports, you need to meet NCAA academic requirements: take the right core courses, keep a strong GPA, and hit the required test scores.
Start early — knowing the rules now makes it easier to stay on track for eligibility.
For detailed information on academic requirements, recruiting rules, and helpful resources, visit the NCAA Eligibility page: NCAA Athletics Eligibility
Tip for parents: Once on the page, look for the “Eligibility Toolkit” in the lower right-hand corner. This toolkit has printable resources, checklists, and guides to help you and your student stay on track for college sports eligibility.
NCAA Eligibility Center: Quick Facts
NCAA Eligibility Center: Quick Facts
Credit-by-exams and correspondence courses: These don’t count toward NCAA eligibility.
Transcripts from other schools: If your student attended a high school outside Denton ISD, you must request an official transcript directly from that school to be sent to the Eligibility Center, even if the grades appear on the Ryan HS transcript.
Standardized tests: Take the SAT or ACT and send your scores to the Eligibility Center. Eligibility depends on a sliding scale of core GPA and test scores.
College admission: Meeting NCAA rules doesn’t guarantee admission — students must still apply and be accepted.
For detailed information on academic requirements, recruiting rules, and helpful resources, visit the NCAA Eligibility page: NCAA Athletics Eligibility
Tip for parents: Once on the page, look for the “Eligibility Toolkit” in the lower right-hand corner. This toolkit has printable resources, checklists, and guides to help you and your student stay on track for college sports eligibility.
NCAA vs. NAIA: Key Differences
NCAA vs. NAIA: Key Differences
NCAA: The NCAA governs over 1,200 schools and includes three divisions (I, II, III). Divisions I and II offer athletic scholarships, while Division III does not (only academic or other non-athletic scholarships). NCAA schools distribute billions in athletic scholarships each year, making eligibility rules strict.
Division I: Highest competition, full or partial athletic scholarships, significant time commitment.
Division II: Competitive athletics, some scholarships available, moderate time commitment.
Division III: No athletic scholarships, focus on academics, lighter time commitment.
NAIA: The NAIA has about 300 schools and two divisions. Most NAIA schools offer scholarships, though amounts vary and there’s no central database like the NCAA. NAIA Division I is roughly comparable to NCAA Division II.
Key takeaways: Scholarship opportunities, eligibility rules, and competition levels differ depending on whether a school is NCAA or NAIA. Understanding these differences is important for planning your path as a college athlete.
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