GEHS Counseling - NCAA Eligibility

Playing college sports provides benefits like developed physical fitness, leadership, and time management skills, increased academic support, networking opportunities, and a strengthened resume for future careers. It can also offer financial assistance through scholarships, access to medical care, a strong sense of community, and improved mental and emotional well-being.

Playing sports for an NCAA school is not your only option. Check out the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for other opportunities.

This page is not comprehensive and students are always encouraged to communicate with academic and athletic advisors at the colleges they are interested in attending, to obtain accurate and complete information and requirements pertaining to those specific schools.

NCAA Eligibility

Make Sure You Are Eligible!

Division I & II 16 CORE-COURSE RULE

NAIA Eligibility

Registration

Make Sure You Are Eligible!

NCAA Eligibility

Please visit NCAA.org/playcollegesports for information to help high school student-athletes successfully transition to college. Student-athletes are guided through current and upcoming initial-eligibility requirements, recruiting guidelines, and timelines for staying on track in high school.

Checklist to Becoming an NCAA Athlete

Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete

High School Timeline

Make Sure You Are Eligible!

Division I requires 16 core courses. 10 of those 16 courses need to be completed prior to your seventh semester. For most of you, that’s the start of your senior year. Also, Division I student-athletes will be required to graduate with a minimum 2.3 GPA in those core courses.

Students and Parents are responsible for ensuring that students are taking NCAA approved courses throughout high school.

The NCAA approved Core Course List for Gardner Edgerton High School can be viewed in the High School Portal by entering our CEEB Code: 171075.

Division I & II 16 CORE-COURSE RULE

English - 4 years (Division II requires 3 years instead of 4)

Math - 3 years (Algebra I or higher)

Natural/Physical Science - 2 years (1 yr of lab if offered)

Social Science - 2 years

Addit. English, Math or Natural/Physical Science - 1 year

Additional Courses - 4 years (any area above, foreign language, or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy)

NAIA Eligibility

Registration

Every student interested in playing sports at NAIA colleges for the first time needs to register online with the NAIA Eligibility Center and receive an eligible determination. This applies to high school seniors and transfers from both two- and four-year colleges.

Visit www.naia.org/why-naia/index for more information.

Make Sure You Are Eligible!

NAIA Eligibility is a bit more simple to determine. In order to be eligible, students must graduate from high school and meet two out of three of these requirements:

Achieve a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Graduate in the top half of your high school class. (Ex: If a studen't class ranking were 150/300, he or she would meet this standard. If the ranking were 151/300, this requirement would not be met.)
Achieve the NAIA minimum test score requirement and send your scores from the testing company.