In conjunction with the National Eligibility Committee and Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives, the Council of Presidents has approved an exception to initial eligibility rules for incoming college freshmen in the 2021-2022 academic year, standardized test scores will continue to be optional.

Beginning on May 1, 2022, entering freshman will have a new way to meet initial eligibility. Previously a student needed two of the following three to be eligible: GPA, class rank, and/or test score. If a student didn’t meet the two out of three then they would have to meet one of the exceptions or request an exception with the National Eligibility Committee. However, entering freshman beginning in the fall of 2022 will be able to meet initial eligibility requirements by only meeting the elevated GPA requirement of 2.300 on a 4.000 scale. This change is in light of the national trend of institutions of higher learning moving away from standardized tests and fewer high schools providing a class rank.

With this change also comes a change to early decision criteria as well. Now students can receive an early decision of eligible based solely on their high school GPA. A student who has a 3.300 or higher after their sixth semester of high school and a student with a 2.800 or higher after their seventh semester can receive early decisions of eligible. As with all early decisions it will be the schools responsibility to ensure a student receiving an early decision did in fact graduate from high school and has been accepted in good standing.

This information has been verified for the 2025-2026 school year. 

For more information, go here: https://www.naia.org/legislative/briefs/releases/new-legislation-2022-23