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Collegiate Eligibility

Is your athlete college bound? Check out the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) website at www.ncaa.org. Get the latest information on the NCAA Clearing House and other tips for intercollegiate athletes at the National Letter of Intent Website.

Core Courses

  • NCAA Divisions I and II require 16 core courses. See the lists below.
  • Beginning August 1, 2016, NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the start of the seventh semester and cannot be retaken for grade improvement.
  • Beginning August 1, 2016, it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete.

Test Scores

  • Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements is shown on Page No. 2 of this sheet.
  • Division II requires a minimum SAT score 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 following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
  • When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.

Grade-Point Average

  • Be sure to look at your high school’s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA. Use the list as a guide.
  • Division I students enrolling full time before August 1, 2016, should use Sliding Scale A to determine eligibility to receive athletics aid, practice and competition during the first year.
  • Division I GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.000-2.299 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B on Page No. 2 of this sheet).
  • Division I GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.300 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B on Page No. 2 of this sheet).
  • The Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000.
  • Remember, the NCAA GPA is calculated using NCAA core courses only.

DIVISION I 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 comparative religion/philosophy)

DIVISION II 16 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)
3 years 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 comparative religion/philosophy)

Division I

If you want to receive athletics aid (scholarship), practice and compete during your first year, you must:

  • Graduate from high school;
  • Complete these 16 core courses:
    • 4 years of English
    • 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher);
    • 2 years of natural or physical science (including 1 year of lab science if offered by your high school);
    • 1 extra year of English, math or natural or physical science;
    • 2 years of social science; and
    • 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy) Note: Courses with similar content may be deemed duplicative by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
    • Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses and
    • Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core-course grade-point average and test score on the sliding scale (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 combined SAT score).

Time Limitation on Core Courses

  • You must complete the 16 core-course requirement within four consecutive academic years (i.e., eight semesters) from the start of ninth grade.
  • Students graduating early (in less than eight semesters) must still meet core-course requirements.
  • If you graduate on time from high school within four consecutive academic years (i.e., eight semesters) from the start of ninth grade:
    • Prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, you may use one additional core-course unit completed within one year from the date of ontime graduation.
    • You may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which you graduated.
    • You will be required to provide a transcript with grade and credit from this school.

Division I Qualifier

Being a qualifier enables you to be eligible to:

  • Practice and compete for your college or university during your first year of college;
  • Receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of college; and
  • Play four seasons in your sport if you maintain your academic eligibility from year-to-year.

Division I Nonqualifier

As a nonqualifier, you will not be able to:

  • Practice or compete for your college or university during your first year of college; or
  • Receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of college, although you may receive need-based financial aid.

You may not participate in more than three season of competition in your sport. To earn a fourth season, you must complete at least 80 percent of your degree requirements before beginning your fifth year of college.

Students Enrolling on or After August 1, 2016

The initial-eligibility standards for NCAA Division I college-bound studentathletes are changing. Note: College-bound student- athletes first entering a Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2016, will need to meet new academic requirements in order to receive athletics aid (scholarship), practice or compete during their first year.

There will be three possible initial-eligibility outcomes:

  • Qualifier: May receive athletics aid (scholarship), practice and compete in the first year of enrollment at the Division I college or university.
  • Academic Redshirt: May receive athletics aid (scholarship) in the first year of enrollment and may practice in the first regular academic term (semester or quarter) but may not compete in the first year of enrollment. The student-athlete must successfully complete nine semester hours or eight quarter hours in the initial term at his/her college or university to continue to practice in the next term.
  • Nonqualifier: Cannot receive athletics aid (scholarship), practice or compete in the first year of enrollment.

Here are the new requirements:
(For college-bound student-athletes first entering a Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2016.)
Qualifier must:

  • Complete 16 core courses (same distribution as in the past);
  • Ten of the 16 core courses must be completed before the of the seventh semester (senior year) of high school.
  • Seven of the 10 core courses must be English, math or natural or physical science.
  • Have a minimum core-course grade-point average of 2.300;
  • Grades earned in the 10 courses required before the seventh semester are “locked in” for purposes of grade-point average calculation.
  • A repeat of any of the “locked in” courses will not be used to improve the grade-point average if the repeat occurs after the seventh semester begins.
  • Meet the sliding scale of grade-point average and ACT/SAT score; and
  • Graduate from high school.

Academic Redshirt must:

  • Complete the 16 core-course requirement;
  • Have a minimum core-course grade-point average of 2.000;
  • Meet the sliding scale of grade-point average and ACT/SAT score; and
  • Graduate from high school.

Student-athletes who fail to meet the required 10 core courses prior to the start of the seventh semester (seven of which must be in English, math, or natural or physical science), will be allowed to retake core courses in the seventh or eighth semester, which will be used in their academic certification for the purposes of meeting the academic redshirt requirements.

Nonqualifier: Fails to meet the standards for a qualifier or for an academic redshirt.

Division II

Any core courses used toward your initial eligibility must be completed prior to full-time collegiate enrollment. To be eligible to receive athletics aid (scholarship), practice and compete during your first year, you must:

  • Graduate from high school;
  • Complete these 16 core courses:
    • 3 years of English
    • 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher);
    • 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school);
    • 3 additional years of English, math, or natural or physical science;
    • 2 years of social science; and
    • 4 years of additional core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy);
  • Earn a 2.000 grade-point average or better in your core courses and
  • Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68. For individuals enrolling at a college or university in Puerto Rico, earn a combined Prueba de Aptitud Academica score of 730.

Division II Qualifier

Being a qualifier enables you to:

  • Practice and compete for your college or university during your first year of college;
  • Receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of college; and
  • Play four seasons in your sport if you maintain your academic eligibility from year-to-year.

Division II Partial Qualifier

You will be considered a partial qualifier if you do not meet all of the academic requirements listed above, but you have graduated from high school and meet one of the following:

  • The combined SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68; or
  • Completion of the 16 core courses with a 2.000 core-course grade-point average.

As a partial qualifier, you:

  • Can practice with your team at its home facility during your first year of college;
  • Can receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of college;
  • Cannot compete during your first year of college; and
  • Can play four seasons in your sport if you maintain your academic eligibility from year-to-year.

Division II Nonqualifier

You will be considered a nonqualifier if you do not meet qualifier or partialqualifier requirements.

As a nonqualifier, you:

  • Cannot practice or compete for your college or university during your first year of college;
  • Cannot receive an athletics scholarship during your first year of college, although you may receive need-based financial aid; and
  • Can play four seasons in your sport if you maintain your academic eligibility from year-to-year.

Division III

Division III is the Association’s largest membership division, with more than 175,000 student-athletes and 439 member schools. Division III colleges and universities develop student-athlete potential through a holistic, comprehensive educational approach that includes rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and the opportunity to pursue other interests and passions on campus,in the community and beyond. Division III minimizes potential conflicts between athletics and academics through a prohibition on athletics-based financial aid, shorter playing and practicing seasons, a lower number of contests, a ban on redshirting and out- of-season organized activities, and a focus on regional in-season and conference play.

Division III college-bound student-athletes are not certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center because Division III colleges and universities each set their own admissions standards. College- bound student-athletes should contact their Division III college or university of interest regarding policies on admission, financial aid and athletics eligibility.

Remember
Meeting the NCAA academic requirements does not guarantee your admission into college. You must apply for college admission.

High School Contact:
Jenn Edwards
(314) 213-6100 ext 1140
jenn.edwards@kirkwoodschools.org

Principal Contact:
Dr. Seth Harrell
(314) 213-6100 ext 1301
seth.harrell@kirkwoodschools.org