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NCAA FRESHMAN-ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
QUICK REFERENCE SHEET
KNOW THE RULES:
Core Courses
- Starting August 1, 2008, 16 core courses will be required for NCAA Division I only. This rule applies to any student first entering any Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008. See the chart below for the breakdown of this 16 core-course requirement.
- 14 core courses are required in NCAA Division II. See the breakdown of core-course requirements below.
Test Scores
- Division I has a sliding scale for test score and grade-point average. The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on page two of this sheet.
- Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement 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 four sections on the ACT: English, math, reading and science.
- All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will no longer be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the clearinghouse code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the clearinghouse. Grade-Point Average
- Only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average.
- Be sure to look at your high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses on the clearinghouse Web site to make certain that the courses being taken have been approved as core courses. The Web site is www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
- Division I grade-point-average requirements are listed on page two of this sheet.
- The Division II grade-point-average requirement is a minimum 2.000.
DIVISION I
16 Core-Course Rule
16 Core Courses:
4 years of English.
3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab
if offered by high school).
1 year of additional English, mathematics or
natural/physical science.
2 years of social science.
4 years of additional courses (from any area
above, foreign language or nondoctrinal
religion/philosophy).
DIVISION II
14 Core-Course Rule
14 Core Courses:
3 years of English.
2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab
if offered by high school).
2 years of additional English, mathematics or
natural/physical science.
2 years of social science.
3 years of additional courses (from any area
above, foreign language or nondoctrinal
religion/philosophy).
PLEASE NOTE: For students first entering any NCAA college or university on or after August 1, 2005, computer science courses may only be used for initial-eligibility purposes if the course receives graduation credit in mathematics or natural/physical science and is listed as such on the high school's list of NCAA approved core courses.