If you want to become an NCAA student-athlete, you must first take care of your “student” side.

College-bound student-athletes who want to compete for Divisions I and II programs must be certified academically (and also as an amateur) by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

NCAA Eligibility Center certification does not necessarily mean that a college-bound student-athlete will be accepted for admission at a Division I or II member college or university since institutional admissions requirements often are more restrictive than NCAA initial-eligibility standards. Any college-bound student-athlete should prepare for the academic side of college as though the athletics experience did not exist.

Division III does not require NCAA Eligibility Center certification. To participate in Division III athletics, a student-athlete must have been admitted as a regularly enrolled, degree-seeking student in accordance with the regular, published entrance or admissions policies of that college or university.

Related

Division I Toolkit

A guide for Division I college-bound student-athletes and parents. MORE »

Division II Toolkit

A guide for Division II college-bound student-athletes and parents. MORE »

National Letter of Intent

Important dates and information. MORE »

Non-Eligible High Schools

A list of schools/entities whose courses, grades and graduation cannot be used in the NCAA initial-eligibility process. MORE »