NCAA Division II Academic Eligibility

Division II Academic Eligibility

Historically, Division II schools have given high school prospects a little bit more leeway than Division I schools concerning academic eligibility. This will change for athletes entering college any time after Aug. 1, 2013. Because the NCAA is changing its academic requirements in 2013, both the current and future set of academic requirements will be included here.

Current Academic Eligibility Rules

Between now and July 31, 2013, students enrolling in college will have the following academic eligibility standards:

1. Graduate from high school
2. Complete these 14 core classes:
• Three years of English
• Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• Two years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered at your high school)
• Two additional years of English, math or natural/physical science
• Two years of social science
• Three years of extra core courses from any category above or of a foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy


3. Earn a 2.000 GPA or better in your core classes
4. Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68

Future Academic Eligibility Rules (Aug. 2013 & After)

Beginning Aug. 1, 2013, academic eligibility for Division II programs will change to mirror those of Division I schools and you will be required to:

1. Graduate from high school
2. Complete these 16 core courses:
• Three years of English
• Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• Two years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
• Three additional years of English, math or natural/physical science
• Two years of social science
• Four years of additional core courses from any of the above categories or from a foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy
3. Earn a 2.000 GPA or better in your core classes
4. Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68

Regardless which year you plan on starting at a Division II school the academic eligibility qualifications are still going to be less strict than at the Division I level. Instead of being either eligible or ineligible, you can also have partial eligibility. The distinction between the three is that full qualification allows you to practice/play for your first year, receive an athletic scholarship for your first year and to play four seasons if you maintain academic eligibility through ever year of college.

A Division II partial qualifier is any person who does not meet all of the academic requirements listed above but did graduate from high school and have met either of the following: a combined SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68; or completion of the 14 (16) core courses with at least a 2.000 GPA. If you are a partial qualifier then you can practice with your team at its home facility during your first year of college, you can receive an athletic scholarship for your first year but you cannot compete during your first year of college. However, if you meet eligibility standards each year while in college you can play for four seasons.

You will be considered a non-qualifier if you do not graduate from high school, or if you graduated from high school but did not have a core course GPA of over a 2.000 or did not have the minimum required core courses and did not have the minimum score requirements on the SAT or ACT. Being considered a non qualifier means you cannot practice or play during your freshman year, you cannot receive an athletic scholarship for your first year, but you can still gain eligibility from year to year if you maintain the academic requirements in college.