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Division I Initial-Eligibility Toolkit

Academic Eligibility

To participate in Division I athletics or receive an athletics scholarship during the first year of college, a prospective student-athlete must:

  • Complete the 16 core-course requirement in eight semesters:
    • 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 the 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, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)
  • Earn a minimum 2.3 core-course GPA. 

If a student-athlete earns nine credits in the first term, he or she can continue to practice the remainder of the year. If not, he or she can remain on aid but can’t practice.

Athletics Eligibility

All college-bound student-athletes, including international students, need to adhere to NCAA athletics eligibility requirements in order to preserve their eligibility for NCAA intercollegiate athletics.

Certification Process

All college-bound student-athletes must have an academic and athletics certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center.

The online registration process that must be completed by all future Division I and II college-bound student-athletes includes a questionnaire relating to the individual’s sports participation history.   

For the staff at the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify athletics eligibility status, college-bound student-athletes must answer a questionnaire during registration.

The questionnaire covers the following precollegiate enrollment activities:

  • Contracts with professional teams
  • Salary for participating in athletics
  • Prize money
  • Play with professionals
  • Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team
  • Benefits from an agent or prospective agent
  • Agreement to be represented by an agent
  • Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition

The Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete contains more detailed information about initial academic and athletics eligibility.

Recruiting Rules

NCAA policies govern how coaches can recruit college-bound student-athletes. The rules specify when and how coaches can contact prospects, what materials can be sent and when student-athletes can visit campus. The rules differ from sport to sport. Additional information can be found here.