NCAA and NAIA Academic Requirements

Information on Admission Tests and NCAA Eligibility requirements

Standardized Tests You Need to Take

SAT:Globally recognized college admission test; test how well you know reading, writing, and math and how well you can apply that knowledge. Register at www.collegeboard.com

SAT II (Subject Tests): Content-based tests that allow the student to showcase where they excel; only national admission tests where the student chooses the subject matter; Only some schools require or recommend this test for applicants; please check admission requirements for each school. International students may be waived the SAT II test requirement depending on the institution; Domestic students still must take it for required schools. Register at www.collegeboard.com

ACT: National College admissions test with subject area tests in English, Math, Reading, and Science; accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in U.S. Register at www.actstudent.org

TOEFL (PBT or iBT): measures an international student’s ability to use and understand English at the University level; offered as both a paper-based test or internet-based test (depends on location of student). Register at www.ets.org/toefl

NCAA Division I Core Classes

4 years of English
3 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)
1 extra year of English, math, or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy);
Basic Requirements
Graduate from High School
Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses
Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core-course grade-point average and test score sliding scale (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT).
Eligibility Center Requirements
Register with NCAA Eligibility Center
Have test scores sent to Eligibility Center

Division II Core Classes

3 years of English
2 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher)
2 years natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
2 additional years of English, math, or natural or physical science (After Aug 1, 2013 the requirement is 3 years)
2 years of social science
3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy) (After Aug 1, 2013 the requirement is 4 years)
Basic Requirements
Graduate from High School
Earn a 2.00 GPA or better in core courses  Calculate your GPA.
Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68
Eligibility Center Requirements
Register with Eligibility Center
Have test scores sent to Eligibility Center

Division III Academic Requirements

Colleges and Universities at the DIII Level set their own admission standards and there are no eligibility requirements
Student-athletes will need to contact DIII schools to get information on their policies

NAIA Academic Eligibility Requirements

The Standardized Tests You Need to Take

SAT: Globally recognized college admission test; test how well you know reading, writing, and math and how well you can apply that knowledge
Register at www.collegeboard.com

ACT: National College admissions test with subject area tests in English, Math, Reading, and Science; accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in U.S.
Register at www.actstudent.org

TOEFL (PBT or iBT): measures an international student’s ability to use and understand English at the University level; offered as both a paper-based test or internet-based test (depends on location of student)
Register at www.ets.org/toefl

NAIA Eligibility Basic Requirements

Graduate High School or be accepted as a regular student in good standing

Meet two of the three following requirements:
1) Achieve a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT
2) Achieve a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0
3) Graduate in the top half of your high school class
If you do not meet 2 of the 3 requirements, you will not be allowed to participate in athletics for the first full year of attendance

NAIA Transfers

Transfers must “sit out” 16 weeks (112 calendar days) unless they only attended a 2-year college previously or never competed at a previous 4-year institution or have a 2.0 GPA and written release from the previous 4-year institution.

Author: David Frank


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