the NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
are you interested in playing sports in college? learn more here!
the National collegiate athletic association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes. There are over 1,100 colleges and universities who are part of the NCAA. The schools, NCAA, and athletics conferences work together to support half a million college athletes who make up 19,500 teams. NCAA members include schools of varying sizes. A 3 tier system was developed in 1973 to create a fair playing field for teams from similar schools and to help provide college athletes more opportunities to participate in national championships.
wHAT ARE THE THREE TIERS OF ncaa?
DIVISION I: Schools generally have large student bodies, manage a large athletics budget, and offer the highest number of athletics scholarships. To compete in a Division I school, you must meet NCAA Eligibility Center’s academic initial-eligibility requirements and amateurism requirements.
DIVISION II: Provides growth opportunities through academic achievement. Provides learning opportunities in high-level athletics competition and through a focus on service to the community. They offer athletic scholarships. To compete in a Division II school, you must meet NCAA Eligibility Center’s academic initial-eligibility requirements and amateurism requirements.
Division III: Offers athletes the ability to participate in a competitive athletics environment that pushes college athletes to excel on the field and help them grow by tackling new challenges across campus. They do not offer athletics scholarships.
Ncaa eLIGIBILITY CENTER
The Eligibility Center is a part of the NCAA responsible for evaluating and certifying college-bound student athletes for collegiate competition at Division I or Division II schools. Students can create one of three accounts on NCAA Eligibility Center.
ncaa eligibility center account options
Profile Page (Free)
If you plan to compete at a Division III school or currently are not sure in which division you want to compete, create a free Profile Page account.
If at any time you wish to pursue a Division I or II path, you’ll be able to transition to a Certification account!
*It is strongly recommended that you begin with a Profile Page*
Certification accounts
You need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. You must be on the Institutional Request List* first.
Before you can go on official visits or sign a Division I or II National Letter of Intent, you must have completed a Certification account registration.
Requires payment of $100 or fee waiver. To view fee waiver criteria, click here!
Note: You cannot move from a Certification account to a Profile Page account
TERMs TO KNOW
INSTITUTIONAL REQUEST LIST*
A list of college-bound athletes that a Division I or II school is interested in recruiting
A Division I or II school will use your NCAA ID to add you to their Institutional Request List. The NCAA ID is found in the top-right corner of your Eligibility Center account
cORE COURSE
Courses at the high school level approved by the NCAA. They are considered college-prep courses. Talk to your counselor about enrolling in Core Courses. You can view Core Courses offered at SLHS here
How can i be eligible to play ncaa sports in college?
ncaa division iii requirements
Each Division III School will set its own eligibility for admissions, practice/competition, and financial aid
You must complete the academic requirements in order to be eligible to practice, compete, and receive athletic scholarships!
whAT DO I NEED TO DO DURING HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ELIGIBLE?
what ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
standardized test scores
In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores from initial-eligibility requirements for all student-athletes who initially enroll full time on or after August 1, 2023. Check with the NCAA school you plan to attend regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements.
For more information, click here.
list of participatinG colleges/universities
Before you can compete, you must be accepted to the school! NCAA Eligibility Center’s certification DOES NOT include an acceptance to the Division I or Division II school!