1. PREPARING FOR ATHLETICS
HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

2. Overview Steps to Achieving Your Eligibility
Initial-Eligibility Requirements

3. Steps to Achieving Your Eligibility

4. Grade 9: PLAN
You should start planning now by working hard to earn the best grades possible.
Ask your counselor for a list of your school’s NCAA core courses to make sure you are taking NCAA-approved courses.
Your school’s list of NCAA courses can be found at

5. Grade 10: REGISTER
Register at at the beginning of your sophomore year, but no later than your junior year.
There is a fee; however waivers are available your junior year IF you:
Receive an ACT or SAT fee waiver
Based on Free/Reduced lunch, Upward Bound, AVID
School counselor confirms waiver status online
If you fall behind on courses, do not take shortcuts to catch up. Your counselor can help you by finding approved courses or programs that you can take.

6. Grade 11: STUDY
Students should check with their counselor to make sure they are on track to graduate on time.
Students should register to take the ACT, SAT or both. Use the NCAA Eligibility Center code “9999” as a score recipient. The Eligibility Center will not accept scores from the high school.
At the end of the year, upload your students’ official transcripts or ask your counselor.

7. Grade 12: GRADUATE
Take the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, and make sure to send your scores by using code 9999.
Complete all academic and amateurism questions in your NCAA Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org.
After you graduate, ask your counselor to upload your transcript with proof of graduation.

8. Initial-Eligibility Requirements & Academic Requirements

9. What Is a Core Course?
A course that qualifies for high school graduation in one or more of the following: English, mathematics, natural or physical science, social science, foreign language or comparative religion or philosophy;
Is considered four-year college preparatory;
Is taught at or above the high school’s regular academic level;
For mathematics courses, is at the level of Algebra 1 or higher; and
Is taught by a qualified instructor.

10. Academic Requirements
Graduate from high school
Complete NCAA-approved courses
Earn a minimum required core-course grade-point average (GPA)
2.3 or take a knee
Earn a required SAT or ACT sum score

11. Determining GPA A’s equal 4 B’s equal 3 C’s equal 2 D’s equal 1
Note that Honors and AP courses receive 1 additional point
Only core courses are used in the calucation

12. Why a High GPA?
Eligibility is determined by an individual’s core GPA and Test Scores from either the ACT or SAT
The higher an individual’s GPA is means the test scores can be lower. This is important if the student is not a good test taker.

13. Learn More www.ncaa.org www.eligibilitycenter.org
Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
Initial Eligibility Brochure
NCAA Division I Academic Standards Guide
NCAA Division II Academic Standards Guide
Contact the NCAA Eligibility Center customer service at (toll free)