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NCAA Eligibility Center

If you want to play football at any NCAA Division I or II university as a freshman you must register and be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. So, it is very important that you understand what the NCAA Eligibility Center is and how it works.

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? Is there an easier way to calculate my Core Course GPA?
What are the Eligibility Center standards I must meet? What SAT/ACT test scores do I need?
What is a Core Course? When and how do I register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
What courses at my high school are Core Courses? Summary
How many Core Courses do I need to complete? Related Materials
How do I calculate my Core Course GPA?

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

The Eligibility Center was created to bring academic and amateurism certifications under one roof. Its purpose is to ensure that college-bound student-athletes, as well as coaches and administrators, understand the requirements to participate in NCAA Divisions I and II athletics.

To play as a freshman at any NCAA Division I or II university you MUST register with the Eligibility Center, meet all academic and amateurism requirements and be certified by the Eligibility Center.

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What are the Eligibility Center standards I must meet?

The standards issued by the Eligibility Center are slightly different for Divisions I and II, but are based on the same four principles:

  1. You must graduate from high school;
  2. You must successfully complete all core courses;
  3. You must have a minimum 2.000 GPA in core courses; and
  4. You must have a minimum qualifying score on the ACT or SAT.

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What is a Core Course?

This is a very important topic for you to understand. Core courses are the foundation of the Eligibility Center's standards. The more you know about core course requirements and the sooner you know it, the better prepared you will be to monitor your progress throughout your high school career.

A core course is any course at your high school that has been reviewed and approved by the Eligibility Center as a course that meets its academic standards. In other words, core courses are courses "approved" by the Eligibility Center.

The Eligibility Center approves courses in four categories; English, Math, Natural/Physical Science and Social Science.

You must complete a minimum number of core courses in each category as part of the Eligibility Center certification process.

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What courses at my high school are Core Courses?

The Eligibility Center maintains a list of approved core courses for every high school in the country that has registered with the Eligibility Center. There are two ways for you to get the list for your high school.

  1. You may obtain the list from your high school counselor; or
  2. You may get the list online at the Eligibility Center website.
    1. Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
    2. From the main page click on "Prospective Student-Athletes."
    3. Click on "The List of Approved Core Courses."
    4. Enter your school's name and state in the search form.

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How many Core Courses do I need to complete?

Students in the class of 2008 and beyond must complete 16 core courses for Division I and 14 core courses for Division II.
(NOTE: Division II will require 16 core courses beginning August 1, 2013.

Division I Core Course Requirements Division II Core Course Requirements
Subject Requirement Subject Requirement
English 4 years English 3 years
Math 3 years Math 2 years
Natural/Physical Science 2 years Natural/Physical Science 2 years
Additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science 1 year Additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science 2 years
Social Science 2 years Social Science 2 years
Additional from any category above 4 years Additional from any category above 3 years
Total 16 Courses Total 14 Courses

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How do I calculate my Core Course GPA?

The Eligibility Center requires that you complete your core courses with a minimum GPA of 2.000. This is NOT the same as your overall high school GPA, since your high school GPA includes all of the courses you have taken, whether or not they are approved as core courses. Your core course GPA is calculated using only the core courses you have completed that are listed on your high school's list of approved core courses.

Calculating your core course GPA by hand involves the following steps:

  1. List the title of your core courses, the grades earned, credits earned and weighted points for each course.
    • Be sure to only include courses on your school's List of Approved Core Courses.
  2. Assign each course a unit value based on the credits earned.
    1. 1 year = 1.0 units
    2. 1 semester = .50 units
    3. 1 trimester = .33 units
  3. Each grade earned has a specific value.
    • "A" = 4 points.
    • "B" = 3 points.
    • "C" = 2 points.
    • "D" = 1 point.
    • Note: The Eligibility Center does not use plus or minus grades.
  4. Each honors course has an additional weighted point value between ".05" and "1.0".
  5. Calculate the quality points earned for each course.
    • Add the grade value to the weighted point to get your total grade value for that course.
    • Multiply the total grade value by the unit value (credit earned). This is your quality point for that course.
    • For example: You received a "B" in a one-semester honors course with a weighted point value of ".80".
      • Your quality point calculation for that course would be: (3 + .80) * .50 = 1.9
  6. Calculate your Final GPA.
    • Add up the total quality points earned.
    • Add up the total units completed (credits earned).
    • Divide the total quality points by the total units to get your Core Course GPA.
    • For example: 42 quality points / 14 core course units = 3.00 GPA.

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Is there an easier way to calculate my Core Course GPA?

YES! Part of the educational services provided to all registered NATS players is a personal TeamMate Core Course Calculator.

The Core Course Calculator is a unique tool developed by NATS to allow you to quickly and easily calculate your Core Course GPA and track your progress towards completion of your Core Course requirements.

Your Core Course Calculator is saved on the NATS website for your entire high school career so that you may return each semester and update your classes without having to start over from the beginning.

Watch a Core Course Calculator Demo
(includes audio)
Core Course Calculator

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What SAT/ACT test scores do I need?

The test score requirements vary between Divisions I and II.

In Division I, a sliding scale is used based on core course GPA. The higher your GPA, the lower your test scores need to be to qualify. The Test Score Index for Division I is listed below.

In Division II, the test score requirements are the same for every student-athlete, regardless of GPA. To meet Division II requirements, you must achieve at least an 820 on the SAT or a sum score of 68 on the ACT.

Note: Test scores will be calculated using the math and verbal subsections of the SAT and the sum of the math, science, English and reading subsections of the ACT. The writing component of the ACT or SAT will not be used to determine your qualifier status.

Division I Core GPA/Test Score Index
Core GPA SAT Score ACT Score*
3.550 & above 400 37
3.525 410 38
3.500 420 39
3.475 430 40
3.450 440 41
3.425 450 41
3.400 460 42
3.375 470 42
3.350 480 43
3.325 490 44
3.300 500 44
3.275 510 45
3.250 520 46
3.225 530 46
3.200 540 47
3.175 550 47
3.150 560 48
3.125 570 49
3.100 580 49
3.075 590 50
3.050 600 50
3.025 610 51
3.000 620 52
2.975 630 52
2.950 640 53
2.925 650 53
2.900 660 54
2.875 670 55
2.850 680 56
2.825 690 56
2.800 700 57
2.775 710 58
Division I Core GPA/Test Score Index
Core GPA SAT Score ACT Score*
2.750 720 59
2.725 730 59
2.700 730 60
2.675 740 61
2.650 760 62
2.625 770 63
2.600 780 64
2.575 790 65
2.550 800 66
2.525 810 67
2.500 820 68
2.475 830 69
2.450 840 70
2.425 860 70
2.400 860 71
2.375 870 72
2.350 880 73
2.325 890 74
2.300 900 75
2.275 910 76
2.250 920 77
2.225 930 78
2.200 940 79
2.175 950 80
2.150 960 80
2.125 960 81
2.100 970 82
2.075 980 83
2.050 990 84
2.025 1000 85
2.000 1010 86
*ACT Score is a sum of English, Math, Reading and Science scores.


Note: Once you are a registered NATS player, your personal Core Course Calculator will automatically determine your minimum test scores at the same time it calculates your Core Course GPA.

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When and how do I register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?

You should apply for Eligibility Center certification at the beginning of your junior year in high school. You may register online. For all registration information, visit the Eligibility Center website at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or contact the Eligibility Center at the address and phone listed below:

NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
(877) 262-1492
Call Center Hours: 8am - 6pm EST Monday-Friday

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Summary

You should now understand the importance of the Eligibility Center and the critical role that core courses play in your eligibility as a college freshman. Core Course requirements cover your entire high school career; therefore, you should not wait until your junior or senior year to become aware of them.

You should begin tracking your core courses with the first semester of your freshman year. By registering with NATS you may take advantage of a one-of-kind tool, the Core Course Calculator, to easily calculate your core course GPA and track your progress each semester towards meeting your course requirements.

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Related Materials

The NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete provides extensive details about the Eligibility Center and other very useful information for college-bound student-athletes.

2008-2009 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pdf file)


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