NCAAEligibility

Basics

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

The NCAA Eligibility Center is the organization that determines whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or Division II schools.

Student athletes must register with the Eligibility Center to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college. (Division III does not have to register.)

NCAA Eligibility Center Resources

Website: www.eligibilitycenter.org

Go to their site and download a copy of the 2015-16 Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete

NCAA Course Lists

Five Parts of Initial Eligibility

1. Graduation from high school.2. Division I & II - Completion of 16 core courses. 3. Minimum core grade-point average (GPA). 4. Minimum ACT or SAT test score. 5. Complete amateurism questionnaire & request

final amateurism certification.

Division I Academic Standards (16 Core Courses)

4 years of English 3 years of Math (at Algebra I or higher) 2 years of Science (one must be a lab) 1 year of additional English, Math or

Science 2 years of Social Science 4 years of additional core-courses (from

any category above, or Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy)

Division I Academic Standards (Cont.)

-Complete 10 core courses, including 7 in English, math or science before the start of your seventh semester (senior year)-Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses-Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale

Be cautious when taking non-traditional courses such as courses taught online, through independent study, credit recovery, etc.

Currently, BYU Independent Study courses do not meet the criteria for NCAA core course credit.

Currently, approved courses taken though National University Virtual High School, Pacific Coast High School, and Laurel Springs (just to name a few) are accepted.

In general, Credit Recovery is not accepted.

Use of Non-Traditional Courses

Division I Initial-Eligibility Index

This is an abbreviated version of the full scale. This shows the high-end, the low-end and points in- between.

Core Grade-Point Average

SAT(Critical Reading &

Math only)

ACT(Sum of Scores)

3.550 400 37

3.000 620 52

2.750 720 59

2.500 820 68

2.300 900 75

The SAT

Will the NCAA require a writing test as part of its initial-eligibility requirements? How will they use the scores on the SAT?

The NCAA had determined that the writing component should not be required at the present time.  The NCAA has noted the importance of reviewing research related to the impact of the writing component.

Because the critical reading and math sections will still be scored on a 200-800 point scale, the Eligibility Center will still combine those two sections for the combined score.  The writing section will not be used. 

Division II Academic Standards (16 core courses) for those who enroll at a Div II

school before August 2018

3 years of English 2 years of Math (at Algebra I or higher) 2 years of Science (one must be a lab) 3 years of additional English, Math or

Science 2 years of Social Science 4 years of additional core-courses (from

any category above or Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy)

Division II Academic Standards for those who enroll at a Div II school before

August 2018 (cont.)

Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in your core courses

Earn an SAT combined score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68.

Division II Changes for those enrolling in a Div II school after August 2018

-Earn at least a 2.2 GPA in your core courses.

-Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your core-course GPA on the Division II sliding scale.

Division III

Contact your Division III college regarding its policies on financial aid, practice, and competition.

Selecting your courses

Grades 9-12Meet with your counselors

regarding course selection to: Meet high-school graduation

requirements. Fully prepare students for a four-year

college. Meet NCAA core-course requirements.

Freshman & Sophomore Year

Start planning now!Work hard and get good grades.Familiarize yourself with West High’s List of NCAA courses. Take classes that match that list. At beginning of sophomore year, register at www.eligibilitycenter.org (a fee waiver for the $75 can be issued if you are eligible for a fee waiver for the ACT or SAT test).

Who Needs to Register with the Eligibility Center?

Any student who plans to attend an NCAA Division I or II institution

andwho wishes to participate in

intercollegiate athletics even if you choose to attend a community college first because you will need to answer

an amateurism questionnaire…

Junior Year

Take ACT or SAT test, or both and use the NCAA code (9999) as a score recipient.

After completing junior year, you must send official transcripts to the Eligibility Center. If you have attended more than one high school, you will need official transcripts from all high schools attended.

Your Senior YearDuring the senior year Continue to monitor course selection and work on

getting best grades possible; Take the SAT and/or ACT again, if necessary (the

best scores from each section of the tests will be used to determine your highest cumulative score).

Review amateurism responses and request final amateurism certification.

After the senior year Send final transcript (with proof of graduation) to

NCAA.

REMEMBER: Meeting the NCAA academic requirements does not guarantee you admission into a college. You must apply for college admission.

Questions???