As a college-bound student-athlete, you are responsible for your eligibility. That means you should be planning ahead, taking high school classes seriously, and protecting your amateur status.

Here's what you need to know to stay eligible to compete in the NCAA:

Division I

1. 16 Core course requirements: 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Social Science, 4 Natural Science 

2. Register with the Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org ($80)

3. Graduate from high school

4. Minimum GPA of 2.3 on core courses

5. Take ACT or SAT test

6. Complete 10 of your Core Courses by the start of your seventh semester

7. Earn a SAT combined score or ACT sum score that matches your GPA on the Division 1 sliding scale  

Division II

1.  16 Core courses

2. Register with the Eligibility Center

3. Graduate from high school

4. 2.0 Minimum GPA on core courses

5.  ACT or SAT combined score on sliding scale

Division 3

1. You do not need to register with the Eligibility Center

2.  They set their own admission and eligibility standards

3. Go to NCAA.org/D3 for details


Amateurism:
To be an NCAA athlete, keeping your amateurism is the key.  You do not want to be paid for playing or accept prize money for anything other than your expenses. You also do not want to hire an agent.


Related:
Recruiting 101: Basic Rules and Regulations
Recruiting 101: Tips for Starting the Process
Recruiting 101: Know Your Options

About Jill Hicks:

I was an elite gymnast and received an athletic scholarship to Oregon State. Because of an injury, I was asked to be one of the coaches, which began my 20-year career in college coaching. After Oregon State, I became the head coach at Cal State Fullerton. After coaching, I went on the Kellogg's Tour of Champions as the chaperone for the Fierce Five. When I returned, I launched my business, JH Consulting, which is an advising business for club gymnasts looking for help during the college recruitment process.