NAIA - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

What is the NAIA?

• The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall college educational experience. The student-athlete is the center of all NAIA experiences. Each year more than 65,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member institutions.

Do I meet the freshman eligibility requirements?

• Initial eligibility for incoming college freshmen is simple. The NAIA does not have any core course requirements and can be determined as early as the summer following your junior year. The NAIA Eligibility Center will determine your eligibility based on your high school grades and sometimes your SAT/ACT scores, class rank, and/or dual credit. Rules can differ if you are a GED, home school student, or took time off between high school and the NAIA. Register at PlayNAIA.org.

To learn about the NAIA, please click HERE.

NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association

What is the NCAA?

• The NCAA is the governing body of many intercollegiate sports. Each college regulated by the NCAA has established rules on eligibility, recruiting, and financial aid and falls into one of the three membership divisions (Divisions I, II, and III).

Do I meet the freshman eligibility requirements?

• To study and compete at a Division I or II school, you must earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits, earn a minimum 2.3 (Division I) or 2.2 (Division II) core-course GPA and submit your final transcript with proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center. 

To learn about the NCAA, please click HERE.

To log into the student NCAA portal, please click HERE.

Additional Resources for the NCAA:

• Play College Sports - An overview of the NCAA and participating in competitive athletics in college.

• College-Bound Student Athlete Guide - A comprehensive guide to the NCAA and the process to become certified.

• Students with Education Impacting Disabilities - Frequently asked questions for students with education impacting disabilities. 

• www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future - The website to register and become certified with the NCAA.

• What is Amateurism? 

• NIL - "Name, Image, Likeness" Regulations

• NCAA Division I and II Course Worksheet - Worksheet designed to help student athletes monitor their progress and map their way to meeting the NCAA academic requirements.

• In order to find out the NCAA approved coursework for Thousand Oaks High School, please click here to access the NCAA high school portal.

• Wondering what schools are Division I, Division II, or Division III? Click here for a searchable database.