National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Initial Eligibility Requirements

NCAA (www.eligibilitycenter.org)

Core Courses

NCAA Divisions I and II require 16 core courses. See the charts below – you should also make an appointment with your counselor as soon as you decide to pursue NCAA or NAIA sanctioned activities

Test Scores

• Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages.  
• Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
• The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of  the SAT is not used.
• The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
• When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.
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Grade-Point Average

• Be sure to look at your high school’s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Use the list as a guide.
• Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core grade-point average. Use the list as a guide.
• Division I core grade-point-average requirements can be found at www.eligibilitycenter.org
• The Division II core grade-point-average requirement is a minimum of 2.000.
• Remember, the NCAA grade-point average is calculated using NCAA core courses only.

NAIA (www.playnaia.org)

• NAIA Initial Eligibility requirements are: High school graduation, plus two out of three of these requirements: