NCAA Information for Athletes
Academic Standards for College
Division 1, 2, and 3 schools require you to meet academic standards. Exact requirements vary slightly between D1 and D2 schools. Division 3 eligibility requirements differ for each school, which is responsible for setting its own academic eligibility rules. To be eligible to practice, compete, and receive an athletics scholarship in your first year of full-time enrollment, please look at the requirements below:
NCAA eligibility center
NCAA Fact Sheet: For Division 1
Important Information per Grade-Level
9TH GRADE - REGISTER
Use NCAA Research’s interactive map to help locate NCAA schools you’re interested in attending.
Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses at eligibilitycenter.org/
course list to ensure you’re taking the right courses and earning the best grades possible!
10TH GRADE
If you’re being actively recruited by an NCAA school and have a Profile Page account,
Transition it to the required certification account.
Monitor the task list in your NCAA Eligibility Center account for the next steps.
At the end of the school year, ask your school counselor from each school you attend to upload an official transcript to your Eligibility Center account. If you fall behind academically, ask your high school counselor for help finding approved courses you can take.
11TH GRADE
Ensure your sports participation information is correct in your Eligibility Center account.
Check with your school counselor to ensure you’re on track to complete the required NCAA-approved core courses and graduate on time with your class.
Share your NCAA ID with NCAA schools recruiting you so each school can place you on its institutional request list.
At the end of the school year, ask your school counselor from each school you attend to upload an official transcript to your Eligibility Center account.
12TH GRADE
Request your final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (fall enrollees) or October 1 (winter/spring enrollees) in your Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org.
Apply and be accepted to the NCAA school you plan to attend.
Complete your final NCAA-approved core courses as you prepare for graduation.
After you graduate, ask your school counselor to upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation to your Eligibility Center account.