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What Division I Students Need to Know
Division I schools require students to meet both academic and athletics eligibility standards. The NCAA Eligibility Center reviews academic records and athletics-related activities to determine whether students may practice, compete and receive athletics aid during their first year of full-time enrollment.
To start the process, Division I-bound students should create an Academic and Athletics Certification account and work with their high school counselor to make sure they are taking NCAA-approved core courses.
Division I Requirements at a Glance
Create an Academic and Athletics Certification account.
Earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in required subject areas.
While the number of courses is important, the timing of completion is also considered. Ten of your core courses (7 in English, math, or science) must be completed prior to start of the seventh semester (senior year).
Your NCAA core-course GPA is calculated using only NCAA-approved core courses.
Ask your high school counselor to upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation.
The Eligibility Center must complete your Academic and Athletics Certification.
Plan Your Core Courses Early
Division I academic eligibility is based on the NCAA-approved core courses you complete in high school, your core-course GPA and when those courses are completed. Not every high school class counts as an NCAA core course, so it is important to review your school’s NCAA-approved course list and work with your counselor before finalizing your schedule.
The Division I 16 core course requirement, and meeting the 10/7 progression requirement, are the most important parts of Division I academic eligibility. Use the chart below to review the Division I distribution requirements.
Use this worksheet and review the chart below for information about the Division I core course distribution requirements.
Division I: 16 core course distribution requirements
Core-course requirements are for domestic and international student-athletes.
4 units
3 units
2 units
1 unit
2 units
4 units
For Division I, students who graduate on time may be able to use one additional NCAA-approved core course within one year after high school graduation and before full-time college enrollment. Students who do not graduate within the required timeframe may not be able to use courses taken after their expected graduation date for Division I certification.
Division I Reminders
Make sure courses you have taken or plan to take are on your high school’s NCAA-approved core-course list.
Your counselor can help confirm course planning, transcripts and proof of graduation. Ask your counselor to submit your transcripts.
Tasks tell you what information may still be needed.
The compliance office at the NCAA school recruiting you can help explain school-specific next steps.
Staying Eligible at a Division I School
Once enrolled at a Division I school, student-athletes must continue meeting NCAA academic requirements to practice, compete and receive athletics aid. Two-year and four-year transfer student-athletes also are required to meet certain progress-toward-degree benchmarks at the time of transfer. Additionally, transfer student-athletes must have been academically eligible at their previous school to use the one-time transfer exception and be eligible for athletically related financial aid at the school to which they are transferring.
These progress-toward-degree requirements help student-athletes stay on track toward graduation.
40 percent of required coursework for a degree must be complete by the end of the second year, 60 percent by the end of the third year and 80 percent by the end of their fourth year.
Student-athletes are allowed five years of eligibility and athletically related financial aid.
All Division I student-athletes must earn at least six credit hours each term to be eligible for the following term and must meet minimum grade-point average requirements related to the school’s GPA standards for graduation.
Still Need Help?
Contact the Eligibility Center Customer Service team
| Domestic and Canadian students (except Quebec) | 877-262-1492 |
| International and Quebec students | International Contact Form |
| High School Counselors (PIN required) | 877-622-2321 |
| NCAA Compliance Administrators | Membership Portal |