Student Athletes Knowledge Page

Athletes who plan to play a sport in college must research the academic standards of the particular college.

Division I or Division II Level Sports

In order to play sports at the Division I or Division II level, each student must “qualify” through the NCAA Eligibility Center. A student must complete 16 “Core” courses for Division I or Division II, and achieve a specified GPA and SAT or ACT score. The Eligibility Center accepts either the SAT or ACT. Students must register online with the Eligibility Center. Contact the Eligibility Center directly for more information at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

Division III divisional level:

Division III schools do not use the Eligibility Center and do not have the same eligibility requirements. You must contact the individual college regarding its academic policies.

NAIA divisional level: (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

In order to play for an NAIA program students must meet two of the following three criteria:

-Graduate with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0

-Graduate in the top half of the Senior Class

-Achieve at least an 18 Composite score on the ACT or an 860 on the SAT (Critical Reading and Math sections only)

NJCAA: (National Junior College Athletic Association)

In order to meet NJCAA academic eligibility requirements you must graduate from high school or receive a GED that has been authorized by a state-recognized education agency or a regional association or approved by the NJCAA National Office.

If you're a non-high school graduate, you can establish eligibility by completing a single term of college work. You'll have to pass 12 credits with a 1.75 or higher overall grade point average.

Being academically ineligible greatly reduces the possibility that you will qualify for any sports scholarships.