NCAA Freshman Eligibility — Quick Reference Sheet

The NCAA initial-eligibility rules have changed. Please read this information carefully.

For students entering any college or university on or after August 1, 2005, your NCAA initial-eligibility will be evaluated under the new rules as described on this page.

For students entering a Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008, your NCAA initial-eligibility will be evaluated under the 16 core-course rule as described on this page.

The new rule:

Division I 2005–2007:
14 Core Courses—
  • 4 years of English.
  • 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
  • 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school).
  • 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science.
  • 2 years of social science.
  • 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).
 Division I 2008 and after:
16 Core-Course Rule (16 Core Courses)—
  • 4 years of English.
  • 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
  • 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science.
  • 2 years of social science.
  • 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).
 Division II 2005 and after:
14 Core Courses—
  • 3 years of English.
  • 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
  • 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school).
  • 2 years of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science.
  • 2 years of social science.
  • 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).

Please note: Students entering college on or after August 1, 2005, may not use any computer science courses in meeting the core-course requirements, unless the course receives graduation credit in mathematics or natural/physical science and is listed as such on the high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses.

Other important information
  • In Division II, there is no sliding scale. The minimum core grade-point average is 2.000. The minimum SAT score is 820 (Verbal and Math sections only) and the minimum ACT sum score is 68.
  • Students first entering a Division I or Division II collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005, must meet the new 14 core-course rule.
  • Students first entering a Division I collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2008, must meet the 16 core-course rule.
  • The SAT combined score is based on the Verbal and Math sections only. The new writing section will not be used.

For more information regarding the new rule, please go to www.ncaa.org. Click on “Student-Athletes & Parents” in the “Custom Home Pages” section. You may also visit the clearinghouse Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

If you have questions about NCAA Eligibility, please call the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse toll-free at 877-262-1492. You may also call the NCAA at 317-917-6222.

 Division I
Core GPA / Text-score sliding scale
New Core GPA / Test score index
Core GPA SAT* ACT
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
2.750 720 59
2.725 730 59
2.700 730 60
2.675 740–750 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
2.450 840–850 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

*Verbal and Math