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NCAA Athletic Eligibility

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA as it is most commonly referred to as, is an organization dedicated to providing students with a pathway to opportunity for future and current college athletes. As a national U.S. organization, the NCAA works with over 1,000 colleges and universities to support more than 500,000 college athletes across the country.

 

Athletic eligibility is determined through a students registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center, amateurism, certification,and division-specifc academic requirements.

NCAA Athletic Eligibility

Within the NCAA there are three divisions. Each division has a different set of standards and requirements when it comes to intitial academic and athletic elibility. However, regardless of which division, students will need to create a profile account.

 

Click below to learn more about each of the three divisions and their requirements.

Division I (DI) accounts for approximately 34% (361) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 36% (199K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

 

70% of college athletes playing at the DI level recieve athletic based financial aid.

 

DI colleges and universities require a student’s initial academic and athletic eligibility to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

 

Eligibility

  1. Students must register for an Academic and Athletics Certification account
  1. Students will need to earn 16 NCAA-approved core-courses in the following areas:
    • English: 4
    • Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 3
    • Science: 2
    • Extra English, Math, or Science: 1
    • Social Science: 2
    • Additional course course or world language: 4
  2. Complete the 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in four consecutive academic years from the intiail start of 9th grade. Students who choose to graduate early must still meet the coure-course requirements.
  3. Students must meet the 10/7 requirement which entails completing 10 of the 16 NCAA core-course credits (7 in English, math, and science) before the start of their senior year (seventh semester).
  4. Must earn a minimum core-course GPA of 2.3 or higher.
  5. Have your final high school transcript with proof of graduation upladed to your Eligbility Center account by your high school school counselor.
  6. Recieve academic and atjletic certifications from the Eligibilty Center.

 

Division II (DII) accounts for approximately 28% (296) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 25% (140K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

 

77% of college athletes playing at the DII level recieve athletic based financial aid in the form of partial scholarships.

 

DII colleges and universities require a student’s initial academic and athletic eligibility to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

 

Eligibility

  1. Students must register for an Academic and Athletics Certification account
  1. Students will need to earn 16 NCAA-approved core-courses in the following areas:
    • English: 3
    • Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 2
    • Science: 2
    • Extra English, Math, or Science: 3
    • Social Science: 2
    • Additional course course or world language: 4
  2. Must earn a minimum core-course GPA of 2.2 or higher.
  3. Have your final high school transcript with proof of graduation upladed to your Eligbility Center account by your high school school counselor.
  4. Recieve academic and atjletic certifications from the Eligibilty Center.

Division III (DIII) is the largest division in the NCAA and accounts for approximately 39% (416) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 38% (210K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

 

While there are not athletic based scholarships available at the DIII level, 80% of college athletes recieve nonathletic financial aid.

 

DIII colleges and universities set their own academic standards on campus and certifies students on campus with the exception of internation students who are certified by the NCAA Eligibilty Center. 

 

Eligibility

As DIII colleges and universities set their own academic standards, students will need to research and inquire with each school they are interested in playing a sport/s for, as to what academic criteria they must meet to be deemed eligible to play.

  • Division I (DI) accounts for approximately 34% (361) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 36% (199K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

     

    70% of college athletes playing at the DI level recieve athletic based financial aid.

     

    DI colleges and universities require a student’s initial academic and athletic eligibility to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

     

    Eligibility

    1. Students must register for an Academic and Athletics Certification account
    1. Students will need to earn 16 NCAA-approved core-courses in the following areas:
      • English: 4
      • Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 3
      • Science: 2
      • Extra English, Math, or Science: 1
      • Social Science: 2
      • Additional course course or world language: 4
    2. Complete the 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in four consecutive academic years from the intiail start of 9th grade. Students who choose to graduate early must still meet the coure-course requirements.
    3. Students must meet the 10/7 requirement which entails completing 10 of the 16 NCAA core-course credits (7 in English, math, and science) before the start of their senior year (seventh semester).
    4. Must earn a minimum core-course GPA of 2.3 or higher.
    5. Have your final high school transcript with proof of graduation upladed to your Eligbility Center account by your high school school counselor.
    6. Recieve academic and atjletic certifications from the Eligibilty Center.

     

  • Division II (DII) accounts for approximately 28% (296) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 25% (140K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

     

    77% of college athletes playing at the DII level recieve athletic based financial aid in the form of partial scholarships.

     

    DII colleges and universities require a student’s initial academic and athletic eligibility to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

     

    Eligibility

    1. Students must register for an Academic and Athletics Certification account
    1. Students will need to earn 16 NCAA-approved core-courses in the following areas:
      • English: 3
      • Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 2
      • Science: 2
      • Extra English, Math, or Science: 3
      • Social Science: 2
      • Additional course course or world language: 4
    2. Must earn a minimum core-course GPA of 2.2 or higher.
    3. Have your final high school transcript with proof of graduation upladed to your Eligbility Center account by your high school school counselor.
    4. Recieve academic and atjletic certifications from the Eligibilty Center.

  • Division III (DIII) is the largest division in the NCAA and accounts for approximately 39% (416) of the NCAA’s participating colleges and universities with approximately 38% (210K) of their student athletes participating at this level.

     

    While there are not athletic based scholarships available at the DIII level, 80% of college athletes recieve nonathletic financial aid.

     

    DIII colleges and universities set their own academic standards on campus and certifies students on campus with the exception of internation students who are certified by the NCAA Eligibilty Center. 

     

    Eligibility

    As DIII colleges and universities set their own academic standards, students will need to research and inquire with each school they are interested in playing a sport/s for, as to what academic criteria they must meet to be deemed eligible to play.

NCAA Approved Courses at NHS

The following courses here at Newfane High School have been approved by the NCAA and count towards your students’ NCAA Athletic Eligibility.

    • English 9
    • English 10
    • AP English 10
    • English 11
    • AP English 11
    • English 12
    • College English
    • ELA12: College and Career Readiness

    • Global Studies 1
    • Global Studies 2
    • AP World History
    • United States History & Government
    • AP US History
    • Government & Economics
    • AP Government & Economics
    • AP Psychology
    • College Business Law
    • Media & Propaganda

    • Algebra 1
    • Algebra 1A
    • Algebra 1B
    • Geometry
    • Algebra 2
    • College Pre-Calculus
    • College Calculus
    • College Statistics
    • UB Gifted Math Algebra 1
    • UB Gifted Math Algebra 2
    • UB Gifted Math Calculus 1 & 2
    • UB Gifted Math Geometry

    • Living Environment
    • Earth Science
    • Chemistry
    • Environmental Science
    • AP Environmental Science
    • College Biology
    • College Physics

    • Spanish 9
    • Spanish 1
    • Spanish 2
    • Spanish 3
    • College Spanish

Additional guidelines and more details for the college-bound student-athlete can be found on the NCAA Eligibilty Center site.