NCAA and NAIA Eligibility
These universities/colleges are broken down into 3 divisions. Usually, the larger schools are Division 1 in athletics and include IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana State and Ball State. Some smaller colleges like Butler, Valparaiso, and Evansville are also Division 1 and there are even some colleges that compete at a Division 1 level in some sports and at a lower level in some others. Division 1 members are allowed to give up to a full athletic scholarship to prospective student-athletes. Division 2 would include colleges such as University of Indianapolis here locally. Division 2 colleges can also give up to a full athletic scholarship but usually give a percentage of tuition like 50 percent for example. Division 3 colleges are usually the smaller private schools like Franklin, Hanover, Wabash, Depauw and Rose-Hulman. Division 3 colleges do not give athletic scholarships but will work with their financial aid office to put together a package to help defray the costs.
How to Register with the NCAA to begin the eligibility process:
To register with the eligibility center, you must complete the Student Release Form and amateurism questionnaire at the beginning of your junior year online and send the eligibility center the registration fee ($50 for domestic and $75 for international students). This Student Release Form does two things:
1) It authorizes each high school you have attended to send the eligibility center your transcript, test scores, proof of graduation and other necessary academic information.
2) It authorizes the eligibility center to send your academic information to all colleges that request your eligibility status.
The only method is to register online. Go online to the NCAA Eligibility Center. Select Prospective Student-Athletes and then register as a U.S. or international student. Complete the Student Release Form online and include your credit or debit card information to pay the fee. Then follow instructions to complete the transaction. Print a copy of your completed registration form and both Copy 1 and Copy 2 of the Transcript Release Form. Sign the Transcript Release Forms and give both to your high school guidance office.
Eligibility Requirements:
| Division I |
Division II |
| If you enroll in a Division I college on or after August 1, 2008, and want to participate in athletics or receive an athletic scholarship during your first year, you must: |
If you enroll in a Division II college and want to participate in athletics or receive an athletics scholarship during your first year, you must: |
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A) Graduate from high school
B) Complete these 16 core courses:
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4 years of English
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3 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
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2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
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1 extra year of English, math or natural or physical science
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2 years of social science
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4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)
C) Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses
D) Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core course grade-point average and test score sliding scale. For example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT.
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A) Graduate from high school
B) Complete these 14 core courses:
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3 years of English
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2 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
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2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
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2 extra years of English, math or natural or physical science
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2 years of social science
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3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non doctrinal religion or philosophy);
C) Earn a 2.000 grade-point average or better in your core courses
D) Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
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Note: There is no sliding scale in Division II. Also, Division II will require 16 core courses (similar to NCAA Division I) beginning on August 1, 2013.
Division III
Division III does not use the NCAA Eligibility Center. Contact your Division III College admission office regarding its policies on admission, financial aid, practice and competition.
Note: Always contact your student’s Guidance Counselor and High School Coach when beginning this process; they will be integral pieces of the recruitment and signing decision.
NAIA (National Association of Inter-Collegiate Athletics)
NAIA Colleges and Universities include Marian College, Grace College, St. Francis (Ft. Wayne) and Bethel College to name a few. NAIA member institutions are allowed to give athletic scholarships up to full tuition/room and board.
The
NAIA Eligibility Center will determine your eligibility based on your academic record and additional information you provide.
High School Students
If you will graduate from high school this spring and enroll in college this coming fall, the requirements are simple. High school graduation, plus two out of three of these requirements:
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Achieve a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT.
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Achieve a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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Graduate in the top half of your high school class.
Early Decisions for High School Seniors
Students who have completed their junior year of high school with an overall 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale, plus the minimum test scores required (18 ACT or 860 SAT), may receive an eligibility decision early in the senior year. To receive an early decision, register with the NAIA Eligibility Center, have your high school send official transcripts to the Eligibility Center and contact ACT or SAT to have their test scores sent directly (the NAIA code is 9876 with ACT and SAT).
