Recruiting Eligibility
Want to play sports in college?
In order to compete at an NCAA Division I or II program, student-athletes must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the academic eligibility and amateurism status for all Division I and II student-athletes.
In addition, it also sets the recruiting rules via the NCAA Recruiting Calendars.
It is the responsibility of the student-athlete and their parents to understand the academic and amateurism requirements and make sure they are on track to meet those requirements with the help of their high school guidance counselor and school administrators.
Create a Certification Account here
Calculating your GPA
Every year, student-athletes are declared academically ineligible, not because they aren't fully aware of the NCAA GPA requirements. The NCAA does not use the GPA listed on your transcripts; instead, it calculates your GPA using only NCAA-approved core courses.
We recommend sitting with your high school counselor and go through the NCAA GPA Worksheet.
NCAA Core Courses
Only your core courses will be used when determining your GPA with the NCAA. There are 16 core courses, covering the subjects of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy. Each high school has its own list of NCAA approved core courses. Meet with your high school counselor to confirm your classes will meet the NCAA GPA requirements.
Use the core course calculator to determine your core course GPA.
Division I core course requirements
- Graduate high school
- Earn a core course GPA pf 2.3 or higher
- Complete 16 core courses
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
- 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year must be lab science if your school offers it)
- 1 additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
- 2 years of social science
- 4 additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
- You must complete 10 of the core courses by the end of your junior year (before the start of your seventh semester). Seven of the 10 core courses need to be in English, math or natural/physical science. The grades in these seven courses will be “locked in,” meaning you will not be allowed to retake them to improve your grades.
- Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale.
Division II core course requirements:
- Graduate high school
- Earn a core course GPA of 2.2 of higher
- Complete 16 core courses
- 3 years of English
- 2 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
- 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year must be lab science if your school offers it)
- 3 additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
- 2 years of social science
- 4 additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy
- Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching your core-course GPA on the Division II sliding scale.
Connect with the NCAA Eligibility Center
Families with Eligibility questions
Phone number: 877-262-1492 (toll free)
Transcript/Document Mailing Address
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
P.O. Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207
Overnight/Express Mailing Address
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Customer Service Hours
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time (M-F)
Fax number: 317-968-5100
Toll-free phone number (U.S. callers and Canada except Quebec): 877-262-1492
International Students
Phone number: 317-917-6222
Website
High School Administrators