NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards

The NCAA initial-eligibility rules have changed.
If you plan to enroll in any Division I or Division II college or university in fall 2005 or after, please read this information carefully.

For students entering any college or university on or after August 1, 2005, your NCAA initial eligibility will be evaluated under the new rules as describes on the sheet.

For students entering a Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008, your NCAA initial eligibility will be evaluated under the 16 core-courses rules as described on this sheet.

The New Rule:
- INCREASES the number of core courses from 13 to 14.  This additional core course may be in any area:  English, math, science, social science, foreign language, or non-doctrinal religion. The breakdown of core courses requirements is listed below.
- CHANGES the Division I initial eligibility index or sliding scale. 
- The 16 core course rule INCREASES the number of core courses from 14 to 16 for Division I only.  Students must compete three years of math, and four years of additional core courses.  The additional core courses may be taken in any area: English, math, science, social science, or  non-doctrinal religion.

Division I Division I Division II 
2005-2007 2008 and after 2005 and after
14 Core Course: 16 core Courses: 14 Core Courses:
4 years of English 4 years English 3 years English
2 years of math 3 years of math 2 years math
2 years of science 2 years of science 2 years science
1 year additional English 1 year of additional course (English, science) 2 years of additional math or English
2 years social science 2 years social science 2 years social science
3 years additional courses 4 years additional course 3 years additional courses

PLEASE NOTE: Computer Science is being eliminated as an acceptable core course area for students first entering any college or university on or after August 1, 2005.  Students entering college on or after August 1, 2005, may not use any computer science courses in meeting the core courses requirements, unless the course receives graduation credit in mathematics or science, and is listed as such on the high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses. 

OTHER IMPORTANT INFO

In Division II, there is no sliding scale. The minimum core grade-point average is 2.000. The minimum SAT score is 820 and the minimum ACT score is 68

Students first entering a Division I or Division II collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005 must meet the new 14 core courses rule.

Students first entering a Division I collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2008, must meet the 16-core courses rule.

State tests, such as those given in Colorado and Illinois, are not acceptable.
For more information regarding the new rule, please go to www.ncaa.org.

DIVISION I CORE GRADE POINT AVERAGE/ TEXT SCORE SLIDING SCALE/ NEW CORE GPA/Test Score Index

Core GPA SAT 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 71
2.400 870 72
2.375 880 73
2.350 890 74
2.325 900 75
2.300 910 76
2.275 920 77
2.250 930 78
2.225 940 79
2.200 950 80
2.175 960 81
2.150 970 82
2.125 980 83
2.100 990 84
2.075 1000 85
2.050 1010 86