Especially for STUDENT-ATHLETES

Attention Student-Athletes

The NCAA has established a central clearinghouse to certify athletic eligibility for Division I and II. Here are the answers to the questions that are frequently asked by students about what they need to do to participate in college sports under this new process and a quick Reference Sheet for NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards.

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 clearinghous 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 the chart at the bottom of this page.
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 year 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.

NCAA DIVISION I SLIDING SCALE CORE GRADE-POINT AVERAGE/TEST-SCORE New Core GPA / Test Score Index
Core GPA	SAT Verbal & Math ONLY	ACT
3.550 & above	400	37
3.525	410	38
3.500	420	39
3.475	430	40
3.450	440	41
3.425	450	41
3.400	460	42
3.375	470	42
3.350	480	43
3.325	490	44
3.300	500	44
3.275	510	45
3.250	520	46
3.225	530	46
3.200	540	47
3.175	550	47
3.150	560	48
3.125	570	49
3.100	580	49
3.075	590	50
3.050	600	50
3.025	610	51
3.000	620	52
2.975	630	52
2.950	640	53
2.925	650	53
2.900	660	54
2.875	670	55
2.850	680	56
2.825	690	56
2.800	700	57
2.775	710	58
2.750	720	59
2.725	730	59
2.700	730	60
2.675	740-750	61
2.650	760	62
2.625	770	63
2.600	780	64
2.575	790	65
2.550	800	66
2.525	810	67
2.500	820	68
2.475	830	69
2.450	840-850	70
2.425	860	70
2.400	860	71
2.375	870	72
2.350	880	73
2.325	890	74
2.300	900	75
2.275	910	76
2.250	920	77
2.225	930	78
2.200	940	79
2.175	950	80
2.150	960	80
2.125	960	81
2.100	970	82
2.075	980	83
2.050	990	84
2.025	1000	85
2.000	1010	86

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Division II has no sliding scale. The minimum core grade-point average is 2.000. The minimum SAT score is 820 (verbal and math sections only) and the minimum ACT sum score is 68.
14 Core courses are required for Division II.
16 Core courses are required for Division I.
The SAT combined score is based on the verbal and math sections only. The writing section will not be used.
SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the clearinghouse from the testing agency. Scores on transcripts will not be used.

For more information regarding the rules, please go to www.ncaa.org. Click on "Academics and Athletes" then "Eligibility and Recruiting." Or visit the clearinghouse Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

Please call the NCAA Eligibility Center if you have questions:

Toll-free number: 877.622.2321

ATHLETES

Attention Student-Athletes

NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards Quick Reference Sheet

DIVISION I 16 Core-Course Rule

DIVISION II 14 Core-Course Rule

NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards
Quick Reference Sheet

DIVISION I
16 Core-Course Rule

DIVISION II
14 Core-Course Rule