NCAA Div. I Requirements

Want to play college sports at a Division I college?

Students must graduate high school and meet ALL the following requirements: 

  • Complete 16 core courses:
    • Four years of English
    • Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
    • Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it)
    • One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
    • Two years of social science
    • Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
  • Complete 10 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before your seventh semester. Once you begin your seventh semester, you may not repeat or replace any of those 10 courses to improve your core-course GPA.
  • Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in your core courses.
  • Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale, which balances your test score and core-course GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher core-course GPA to be eligible. If you have a low core-course GPA, you need a higher test score to be eligible. 

How to Register to Play NCAA Div. I or II Sports

College-bound student-athletes who want to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. Students should plan to register during their sophomore year of high school (but can register later).

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