2
Inside
Contents
3 What Is the NCAA?
4 NCAA Sports
5 Scholarships
5 National Letter of Intent
6 Our Three Divisions
7 NCAA Initial-Eligibility Process
8 Registration Checklist
10 Sending Transcripts
10 What Is High School Review?
11 What Is a Core Course?
15 Nontraditional and Online Courses
15 Credit Recovery Programs
15 Test Scores
16 Grade-Point Average
17 Division I Academic Standards
19 Division II Academic Standards
20 Division III Amateurism Standards
21 International Students
21 Home-Schooled Students
22 Role of the High School
24 High School Counselor Resources
25 Important Recruiting Terms
Information
Visit
eligibilitycenter.org
ncaa.org/playcollegesports
Follow
Twitter @NCAAEC
YouTube @NCAAEC
Facebook @NCAAEC
Instagram @playcollegesports
Contact
High school administrators only
877-622-2321, Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time
College-bound student-athletes only
U.S. and Canada (except Quebec):
877-262-1492 (toll free), Monday-Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time
International (including Quebec):
on.ncaa.com/IntlContact
Certification Processing
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
P.O. Box 7110
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7110
Overnight Delivery
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
1802 Alonzo Watford Sr. Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Have a question about
NCAA eligibility?
» Read this guide.
» Search frequently asked questions at
ncaa.org/studentfaq.
» Check the Help section of
eligibilitycenter.org.
» Visit ncaa.org/playcollegesports.
» Contact the NCAA Eligibility Center.
NCAA, Make It Yours and March Madness are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
All other trademarks are property of their respective holders. October 2023.
3
NCAA FACTS
What Is the NCAA?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an organization dedicated to providing a pathway to
opportunity for college athletes. Over 1,000 colleges and universities are members of the NCAA.
Those schools work together with the NCAA national office and athletics conferences across the country to
support more than 500,000 college athletes that make up over 20,000 teams competing in NCAA sports.
The NCAA’s diverse members include schools ranging in size from hundreds of students to tens of
thousands. The NCAA’s current three-division structure was adopted in 1973 to create a fair
playing field for teams from similar schools and provide college athletes more opportunities to
participate in national championships.
Among the three NCAA divisions, Division I schools generally have the biggest student bodies,
manage the largest athletics budgets and offer the highest number of athletics scholarships.
The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement,
learning in high-level athletics competition and a focus on service to the community. The
DivisionIII experience offers participation in a competitive athletics environment that pushes
college athletes to excel on the field and build upon their potential by tackling new challenges
across campus.
To learn more about the pathways, visit ncaa.org/divisions.
Do Schools in All Three Divisions Offer Athletics Scholarships?
NCAA Division I and II schools provide more than $3.8 billion in athletics scholarships annually to
over 195,000 student-athletes. While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 80%
of Division III student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid. For more
information about scholarships, see page 5.
Are Initial-Eligibility Standards Similar in All Three Divisions?
A college-bound student-athlete must receive an academic and amateurism certification from the Eligibility
Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. While Division III schools set their own admissions and
academic requirements, international student-athletes (first-year enrollees and transfers) who are enrolling
at a Division III school after Aug. 1, 2023, and must be certified as an amateur by the Eligibility Center.
1906
Year established
1,080
NCAA member schools
351
Active Division I members
296
Active Division II members
433
Active Division III members
4
NCAA Sports
The NCAA conducts 90 national championships in 24 sports across Divisions I, II and III, with 45 championships for women,
42 for men and three coed national championships. That means almost 54,000 student-athletes participate in NCAA
championships each year.
From signature events like the NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments to rowing, rifle and skiing, the NCAA administers
championships to ensure student-athletes have a first-class experience. But the NCAA is also committed to quality events for
everyone involved, from the coaches to the fans and broadcast audiences.
It is important to the NCAA that our championships have a positive impact on the communities that host them. The NCAA hosts
youth clinics and various fan events to complement the competition — creating what is hoped to be a championship experience for
everyone involved.
SPRING SPORTS
MEN:
Baseball
Golf
Lacrosse
Outdoor Track
and Field
Tennis
Volleyball
WOMEN:
Beach
Volleyball
Golf
Lacrosse
Outdoor Track
and Field
Rowing
Softball
Tennis
Water Polo
WINTER SPORTS
MEN:
Basketball
Fencing
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Indoor Track
and Field
Rifle
Skiing
Swimming
and Diving
Wrestling
WOMEN:
Basketball
Bowling
Fencing
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Indoor Track
and Field
Rifle
Skiing
Swimming
and Diving
FALL SPORTS
MEN:
Cross
Country
Football
Soccer
Water Polo
WOMEN:
Cross
Country
Field Hockey
Soccer
Volleyball
EMERGING SPORTS
WOMEN:
Acrobatics
and Tumbling
Equestrian
(Divisions I and II only)
Rugby
Stunt (Division II only)
Triathlon
Wrestling
5
Scholarships
NCAA Division I and II schools provide more than $3.8 billion in athletics scholarships annually to over
195,000 student-athletes. (Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships.)
Division I schools may provide a student with multiyear
scholarships. Division II schools may only provide a student
with a one-year scholarship. Additionally, Division I and II
schools may provide funding for degree completion to finish a
bachelor’s or master’s degree after the student’s time playing
NCAA sports ends.
If a school plans to reduce or not renew a student’s aid, the
school must notify the student in writing by July 1 before the
start of the impacted school year and provide an opportunity
for the student to appeal. In most cases, the head coach
decides who receives a scholarship, the scholarship amount
and whether it will be renewed.
Many student-athletes also benefit from academic
scholarships, NCAA financial aid programs, and need-based
aid such as federal Pell Grants. A student must report all
financial aid they receive to their NCAA school’s financial aid
office. If the student has questions about what financial aid
can be accepted, they should contact their NCAA school’s
financial aid office or athletics department for more detailed
information about NCAA financial aid rules.
National Letter of Intent
By signing a National Letter of Intent, students agree to attend a Division I or II school for one academic year. NLI-member
schools agree to provide athletics financial aid to students for a minimum of one academic year as long as they’re admitted to the
school and are eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules.
The NLI is voluntary and not required for students to receive financial aid or participate in sports. Signing an NLI ends the recruiting
process because coaches are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have signed NLIs with other NLI member schools.
If students sign an NLI but decide to attend another college, they may request a release, but the school may use its discretion in
granting an NLI release. If students sign an NLI with one school but attend a different school, those students lose one full year of
eligibility and must complete a full academic year at the new school before being eligible to compete. If students have questions
about the NLI, they should visit nationalletter.org.
6
36%
25%
39%
296
(27%)
351
(33%)
433
(40%)
*The number of schools for each division is current as of the 2022-23 academic year. This does not include reclassifying, provisional or exploratory schools.
Student-athlete participation numbers include NCAA championship sports only and are current as of the 2021-22 academic year.
How is each division governed?
NCAA schools develop and approve
legislation for their own divisions. Groups of
presidents and chancellors lead each division
in the form of committees with regularly
scheduled meetings.
What are the eligibility
requirements in each division?
If a student wants to compete at an NCAA
school, they must meet academic and/
or amateurism standards set by NCAA
members. Academic and amateurism
standards are outlined in this guide and can
be found on each division’s page on ncaa.org.
Our Three Divisions
The NCAA’s three divisions were created in 1973 to align like-minded
campuses in the areas of fairness, competition and opportunity.
DIVISION
MEDIAN
UNDERGRADUATE
ENROLLMENT
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
TEAMS PER SCHOOL
STUDENTS WHO
ARE ATHLETES
PERCENTAGE OF NCAA
STUDENTATHLETES
IN EACH DIVISION
ATHLETICS
SCHOLARSHIPS
DID YOU KNOW?
Multiyear, cost-of-attendance
athletics scholarships available
58% of athletes
receive athletics aid
Partial athletics
scholarship model
67% of athletes
receive athletics aid
No athletics
scholarships
80% of athletes
receive nonathletics aid
Division III’s largest
school has 27,642
undergraduates.
The smallest? 228.
Division II is the only
division with schools
in Alaska, Puerto
Rico and Canada.
NUMBER OF
SCHOOLS*
Division I student-
athletes graduate at
a higher rate than the
general student body.
1 in 22 1 in 9 1 in 6
8,449 1,6552,300
19
16
19
7
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER
A-
B
A
NCAA Initial-Eligibility Process
An NCAA school recruits students by placing them on its institutional request list,
which begins a request for certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center.
This chart presents a general overview to help you, students and their families better
understand the components of the initial-eligibility process.
CERTIFIED
AS AMATEUR
Student may
compete in
NCAA sports.
AMATEURISM
NOT
CERTIFIED
Student may
not be eligible
to compete in
NCAA sports.
DECISION
Eligibility Center
certifies a student’s initial
amateurism eligibility with one
of the following statuses:
DI
NONQUALIFIER
Student may not
practice, compete
or receive
athletics aid in
first year.
DI AND DII
QUALIFIER
Student may
practice,
compete
and receive
athletics aid
in first year.
DII PARTIAL
QUALIFIER
Student may
practice
and receive
athletics aid
in first year.
DI ACADEMIC
REDSHIRT
Student may
practice
(in the first
academic term)
and receive
athletics aid in
first year.
NOT APPROVED
NCAA cannot use courses or
programs that are not approved.
APPROVED
NCAA can use high school’s
approved courses or programs.
DECISION
Eligibility Center approves or doesn’t approve
the high school, courses or programs.*
Review of student’s
academic credentials.
Review of student’s
amateurism credentials.
DECISION
Eligibility Center certifies a
student’s academic eligibility with
one of the following statuses:
Eligibility
Center
continues
to review
school’s new
academic
programs and
courses.
Eligibility Center reviews the information.
If the Eligibility Center has not reviewed the student’s high school,
courses or programs, the school provides information.
College Student-Athlete
*Some accounts may be placed on extended evaluation which may require additional academic information for review.
8
Registration Checklist
If students want to compete in NCAA sports, they need to register with
the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org. Students should plan
to register before their freshman year of high school.
Which account type does a student need?
1. Profile Page Account: Students unsure in which division
they want to compete, or domestic students who plan to
compete at a Division III school, should register for a free
Profile Page account (option 1). They can transition their
account to the required certification account if they wish
to pursue a Division I or II path.
2. Academic and Amateurism Certification Account:
Students must receive an academic and amateurism
certification from the Eligibility Center to compete at a
Division I or II school. They must complete the Academic and
Amateurism Certification account (option 2) registration
(including payment or fee waiver) before they go on official
visits, sign a National Letter of Intent, receive an athletics
scholarship or compete at a Division I or II school.
3. Amateurism-Only Certification Account:
If they’re an international student-athlete (first-year
enrollees and transfers), they must receive an amateurism
certification from the Eligibility Center to compete at a
Division III school. They must register with an Amateurism-
Only Certification account (option 3) and receive their final
amateurism certification before they can compete at a
Division III school.
This account may also be right for domestic students
transferring from a two-year school to a Division I or II
school who did not require an Eligibility Center academic
certification. These students should check with the
compliance office at the NCAA school they may attend to
determine their required account type.
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER ACCOUNT TYPES
In which division does the student plan to compete?
Academic and
Amateurism
Certification Account
Amateurism-Only
Certification Account
Profile Page*
Account
Division I
Any recent high school graduate (domestic or international), first-time enrolling at
NCAA school.
Transferring from a two- or four-year college or university. Check with the
compliance office at the school they may attend.
Division II
Any recent high school graduate (domestic or international), first-time enrolling at
NCAA school.
Transferring from a two- or four-year college or university. Check with the
compliance office at the school they may attend.
Division III
Recent high school graduate (domestic only), first-time enrolling at NCAA school.
Recent high school graduate who maintains a permanent residence outside
of the U.S.
Recent high school graduate who attended high school or college outside of the U.S.
for any time (excluding U.S.-based students who study abroad).
Recent high school graduate (international only), first-time enrolling at NCAA school.
Recent high school graduate who competed outside of the U.S.
Transferring from a two- or four-year college or university, attended domestic high
school(s) only.
Transferring from a two- or four-year college or university, attended at least one
international high school (U.S. territories are considered domestic).
Division Undecided/Unknown
Never enrolled full time at a two- or four-year college or university. Best for younger
students or before recruiting begins. Can be transitioned to a certification account
when needed.
OR
OR
OR OR
9
ELIGIBILITY CENTER REGISTRATION ESSENTIALS
Once students have determined the right account for them,
they should visit eligibilitycenter.org to register. A list of
information they will need to complete their account is outlined
on below. For a Profile Page account, allow 15 minutes to
complete. For certification accounts, allow between 30 and 45
minutes to complete. If they need to exit and come back at a
later time, they can save and exit once their account is created.
*Unsure which account type is right for a student? Have all
students start with our free Profile Page account, then check
with the compliance office at the NCAA school they may attend.
If the student needs additional assistance, have them contact
the Eligibility Center’s Customer Service team at 877-262-1492,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday for assistance.
International students (including Quebec) should use the
International Contact Form to submit questions.
Valid Email for Student
To register, students need a valid email address
that they check regularly and will have access to
after high school. The Eligibility Center uses email
to update students about their account throughout
the process. Note: If they have a sibling who has
previously registered, the student will need to
use a different email address than the one in their
sibling’s account.
Basic Student Personal Information
This includes information such as their name,
gender, date of birth, primary and secondary
contact information, address and mobile number
for texting.
Basic Student Education History
We will ask them to provide details about all
secondary and high schools and additional
programs they attend in the U.S. and
internationally. Be sure they include all schools,
regardless of whether they received grades or
credits. If they attended ninth grade at a junior
high school located in the same school system in
which they later attended high school, do not list
the ninth-grade school.
Student Sports Participation History
Students should select the sport(s) they plan to
participate in at an NCAA school. For certification
accounts, we will ask them to provide details for
any expenses or awards they received, any teams
they have practiced or played with, and certain
events in which they participated. We also ask
about any individuals who have advised them or
marketed their skills in a particular sport. This
information helps the Eligibility Center certify
their amateur status once they request their final
amateurism certification.
Payment (Certification Accounts Only)
Registration for the Academic and Amateurism
or Amateurism-Only Certification account is
complete only after their registration fee is paid
(or upon requesting a fee waiver, if eligible).
Students may pay online by debit, credit card
or echeck. For the Academic and Amateurism
Certification account, the fee for college-bound
student-athletes attending a high school in the
U.S., U.S. territories or Canada is $100; the fee
for international students is $160. For students for
which an Amateurism-Only Certification account
is the right choice, the fee for all students is $70.
Profile Page accounts do not have a fee.
All fees are nonrefundable 30 days after the
certification account fee is paid. If a student
completed a duplicate registration and paid their
registration fee twice, they may be eligible for
a refund. To receive a refund, they will need to
complete and submit an NCAA refund form.
Below are some items a student should have with them as they create an account at eligibilitycenter.org:
Unsure if they’ve already created an account?
Encourage the student to contact
Customer Service at 877-262-1492
prior to creating a new account to avoid
duplicate account issues during recruiting.
10
To send a transcript by U.S. mail or through an overnight or express delivery service, use the appropriate address on page 2.
Allow four days for processing from the day of receipt. (Uploading via the High School Portal is considered best practice.)
Sending Transcripts
The primary and secondary contacts in your high school’s Eligibility Center account have the capability to upload transcripts
directly to a student’s account via the High School Portal for free. As with other electronic transcript providers, this
process is much quicker than using the U.S. Postal Service or any overnight delivery method. When transcripts are uploaded
directly to a student’s account, the NCAA Eligibility Center has near real-time access to the transcript. Click here for
instructions on how to use this process.
While electronic transcripts are posted to a student’s Eligibility Center account the same day they are sent, transcripts may take
up to three business days to process. If students have attended more than one high school or taken courses from more than one
program, the Eligibility Center needs an official transcript from all high school(s) or program(s) they attended. You need to send
a student’s sixth-semester transcript for a preliminary academic certification, and their final transcript with proof of graduation
for a final academic certification once they have completed high school. Note: The Eligibility Center does not accept grades from
one high school or program transcribed on another high school’s transcript. Transcripts can be uploaded or sent electronically
through one of the approved e-transcript providers listed below:
What Is High School Review?
High School Review is a unit within the Eligibility Center that determines which high schools, high school programs and high
school courses may be used in the academic certification process. The High School Review staff partners with high schools and
districts, as well as leading secondary education organizations, to stay current with changes in educational policies and practices.
This team is staffed by individuals from the secondary and postsecondary school communities who have served previously as
teachers, administrators, high school counselors and coaches.
For High Schools New to the NCAA
If you would like your high school or program reviewed for use in initial-eligibility certifications and your school does not have
an account with the Eligibility Center (or your school’s account status is “None”), call our high school support line at
877-622-2321, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday. The Customer Service team will take some basic demographic
information from you, including contact names, phone numbers and emails. An email with login and PIN information
will be sent to the contacts you provide to begin the account review process.
Click here to learn more about the account review process.
» Cialfo.
» Credentials/eScrip-Safe.
» National Student Clearinghouse.
» National Transcript Center.
» Naviance (management tool for schools
that use Parchment as the back-end
for delivering e-transcripts).
» NeedMyTranscript.
» Parchment (Docufide).
» SCOIR.
» Scribbles Software.
» State of Georgia comes via DIRECT.
» USMO ET (Speede).
» XAP.
11
What Is a Core Course?
The NCAA core curriculum (core course) requirement ensures college-bound student-athletes are
taking high school courses that prepare them for the academic expectations in college. Note: Not all
high school classes are NCAA-approved core courses and may not count toward their 16 core-course
credit requirement.
What is a Core Course?
An NCAA-approved core course must meet the following requirements:
Is a four-year college preparatory course in one of these subject areas:
Is taught by a qualified instructor.
Is taught at or above your high school’s regular academic level.
Student receives credit toward high school graduation and course appears on an official
transcript with course title, grade and credit awarded.
Is in a noncore area, such as driver education, typing, art, music, physical education or welding.
Prepares students for work or life, or for a two-year college or technical school, such as
personal finance, consumer education or tech prep.
Is taught below grade level, at a slower pace or with less rigor or depth, such as basic, essential,
fundamental or foundational courses.
Is a credit-by-exam course.
What Criteria Are Used to Evaluate Core Courses?
The Eligibility Center staff is working to make the core-course review process more transparent for high schools. The High School
Review Committee’s Policies and Procedures is a publicly available document outlining the criteria used for reviewing core courses.
For a course to be approved, it must meet:
» All applicable NCAA core-course legislation.
» Core-course criteria for review, noted within specific subject area, for both:
⁰
Rigor of performance tasks and assessments.
⁰
Course content.
Philosophy
English
Science
(Including one
year of lab,
if offered)
World
Language
Math
(Algebra I
or higher)
Social
Science
Comparative
Religion
To view criteria specific to each discipline's review, click the related book above. Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core
courses at eligibilitycenter.org/courselist.
NCAA core-course legislation and subject-specific examples of core-course criteria for review are noted in Appendix A of the High
School Review Committee’s Policies and Procedures. NCAA legislation and core-course criteria for review are used to render decisions
for initial core-course submissions and submissions that contain core-course documents for review.
» English
» Math (Algebra I or higher)
» Science (Including one year of lab, if offered)
» Social Science
» World Language
» Comparative Religion
» Philosophy
Submit in the
"additional" area
for review.
12
Maintaining Your School’s NCAA Core-Course List
If you are your school’s primary or secondary contact with the Eligibility Center, and your school is not part of a unified curriculum
NCAA district account, you are responsible for keeping your school’s NCAA core-course list up to date. This includes submitting
updates to your school’s existing list and uploading core-course documentation for review (when applicable).
Add Course Titles
After your school determines new course offerings, you should update your school’s list of courses. If your school determines new
course offerings in January and you promptly update your NCAA course list, course decisions will be made by the NCAA Eligibility
Center in time for you to schedule students for the next academic year. You may update your school’s list of NCAA-approved
courses through the High School Portal, which also includes a tutorial on how to update your list.
Courses submitted through the High School Portal will be reviewed within three to five business days. Your high school’s contacts
will be notified by email of the status of the submitted courses.
Changing Course Titles
If the title of a course is substantively changing, you should update your list in the High School Portal. If it is simply a matter of
word order, there is no need to submit the change. For example, Honors Biology, Biology Honors, H/Biology, HBio, BioH, Bio-H
are all titles used to represent the same honors course in biology.
Archiving Course Titles
You may choose to archive courses that are no longer taught, leaving them visible on your school’s archived list. For example,
if your school stops teaching a class on Shakespeare at the end of the 2023-24 school year, you may archive it, even though
students who took the class may still be working through the NCAA eligibility process. Students who complete the Shakespeare
class in the 2023-24 school year or before would still be able to use the course in their certification.
Some schools prefer to keep courses on their active list until the last students who could have taken the course graduate. Other
schools prefer to archive their courses once they are no longer taught. What difference does it make? A more concise list can help
students, families and coaches find active courses more easily. Archiving your courses and updating your list of courses can be done
via the High School Portal. Note: If you believe your school’s list is accurate, please log in to verify you have no updates. This will
refresh your account and let the Eligibility Center know your school’s core-course list is correct.
What Happens When Courses Are Designated ‘Additional Information Required’?
When a course is designated “Additional Information Required,” it means the review staff needs more documentation about
the course to determine if it meets the criteria for review. The documentation may be uploaded for review via the Submit
Pending Course Documents tab on the High School Portal. Note: These courses are currently on hold. If no action is taken,
courses in this category cannot be used for NCAA initial-eligibility certification at this time.
The following course title changes SHOULD BE updated:
» Freshman Composition to English 1.
» Biology to Living Environment.
» Ancient Cultures to World History I.
The following course title changes DO NOT need to be updated:
» Algebra 1 to Algebra I.
» H Chem to Chem/H.
» Econ to Economics.
What Happens When Courses are Designated ‘Not Approved’?
Courses that do not appear to meet core-course legislation or criteria for review will be designated as “not approved” with an
assigned reason code including decision rationale.
For courses that are not approved and have a specific reasoning code assigned to it (i.e., RC5, RC11, RC12 and RC17), you may
also submit additional information for review (as listed above) if your school believes the course meets the NCAA core-
course legislation and criteria. Make sure you read and understand the criteria for review for core courses before taking the
time to gather and submit documentation. Note: You have 60 days from the decision date to submit all required core-course
documentation. If the upload link has expired, you must resubmit the course(s) via the Submit Updates to My School’s List option in
the NCAA Courses dropdown on the High School Portal.
Audited Courses
There may be times when a course erroneously appears on a high school’s list of NCAA courses. This may be due to changes in
NCAA legislation or a course that was mistakenly submitted or approved.
When it becomes necessary to audit a course from a list, the NCAA Eligibility Center staff works to ensure students who have
taken such a course in the past are not negatively impacted by the removal. For example, if “Health” appeared on a high school’s
list of NCAA courses and was subsequently audited, it would appear as “Not Approved” beginning the next academic year with a
notation that the course may be used through the school year it was audited. Therefore, students who took the course before it
was audited and removed still would be able to use the course in their NCAA academic certification.
College Courses, Dual-Enrollment Courses and Dual-Credit Courses
Dual-enrollment coursework may be used to satisfy NCAA core-course requirements if the courses appear on the student’s high
school transcript with grade and credit and meet all requirements for an NCAA-approved core course. College courses must
be placed on the student’s high school transcript with a designation that the course was completed through a two- or four-
year college. Courses completed at a college should not be submitted for your high school’s list of NCAA courses. However,
dual-enrollment courses that meet core-course requirements and are taught by your high school’s instructors should be
submitted for inclusion on your school’s core-course list.
Courses Taken Before High School
High school classes taken prior to ninth grade may be used to satisfy NCAA core-course requirements if the course
appears on the student’s high school transcript with grade and credit and meets all requirements for an NCAA-
approved core course. For example, if students take a high school class such as Algebra I or Spanish I before high
school, the class may count toward their 16 core-course credits requirement as long as the course title is on the high
school’s list of approved NCAA courses.
13
GUIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
REASON CODE DECISION RATIONALE EXAMPLE COURSES
RC1
The course does not meet graduation requirements in one of
the specified areas.
Excel, band and physical education.
RC5 The course is considered doctrinal in nature. Apologetics, theology and spiritual life.
RC11 The course is taught below standard academic level.
A course taught at the basic, fundamental, foundational or
another designation indicating the course is taught below the
standard academic level.
RC12
The course is not considered a four-year
college preparatory.
Technical math, career prep and writing
for the workplace.
RC17
The course does not meet NCAA core-course criteria noted
within specific discipline.
Accounting, theatre and yearbook.
14
Courses Taken After High School
A college course taken after high school graduation may be used toward a student’s initial eligibility and awarded 0.5 units from
their college transcript (unless awarded one full unit on their high school transcript). It must appear on the student’s high school
transcript with grade and credit and meet all requirements for an NCAA-approved core course.
For Division I, only core courses completed in students’ first eight semesters will be used in their academic certification. If
students graduate from high school on time (in eight semesters) with their incoming ninth-grade class, they may use one core-
course unit completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year) but before enrolling full time at any college
or university. They may complete the NCAA-approved core course at a location other than the high school from which they
graduated as long as the course is taken before to full-time enrollment at any college or university.
» An additional core-course unit taken after on-time high school graduation cannot replace a course used to meet the core-
course progression (10/7) requirement, but an additional core course after on-time graduation may replace one of the
remaining six core-course units necessary to meet core-course requirements.
For Division II, students may use an unlimited number of core courses completed after graduation (summer or academic year)
but before enrolling full time at any college or university. They may complete the NCAA-approved core course at a location other
than the high school from which they graduated.
15
HIGH SCHOOL/DISTRICT INFORMATION
Nontraditional and Online Courses
Nontraditional courses are taught online or through distance learning, hybrid/blended, independent study, individualized
instruction, correspondence or similar means. Generally, for a nontraditional course to count as an NCAA-approved core course,
it must meet all the following requirements:
» Course must meet all requirements for an NCAA-approved core course.
» All students in the course must have regular and ongoing instructor-led interaction for the purposes of instruction, evaluation
and assistance for the duration of the course. For example, exchanging emails, online chats, phone calls, feedback on
assignments and the opportunity for the teacher to engage the student in individual or group instruction.
» Course must have a defined time period for completion. For example, it should be clear how long students are required to be
enrolled and working in the course and how long a school would permit a student to work on a single nontraditional course.
» Student work (e.g., exams, papers, assignments) must be available for evaluation and validation.
» Course should be clearly identified as nontraditional on the student’s official high school transcript.
Note: See Nontraditional and Online Courses (reflecting NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.3.2) for a complete list of requirements.
If a nontraditional course or program at your school/district has not yet been reviewed by the NCAA, contact the Eligibility Center
Customer Service staff at 877-622-2321, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday to begin the review process.
When viewing your school/program’s course list of NCAA-approved core courses, you will find information about any
nontraditional programs or courses in the “High School Information” or “District Information” box as shown below.
Credit Recovery Programs
Many high schools offer credit recovery or credit retrieval programs for students to receive credit for a course they
previously failed. These courses are also reviewed by the High School Review staff.
For a credit recovery program to be approved, the courses must meet the following requirements:
1. The courses must meet NCAA core-course requirements and, in some instances, nontraditional
course requirements.
2. The high school must follow its credit recovery policies, regardless if the student is an athlete.
The Eligibility Center may request the high school’s policy, if necessary.
3. Repeated courses must be substantially comparable, qualitatively and quantitatively,
to the previously attempted course.
Test Scores
In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores from
initial-eligibility requirements. Encourage students to check with the NCAA school they plan to attend
regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements.
Coursework from this school/program meets NCAA nontraditional core-course legislation.
16
Grade-Point Average
The NCAA Eligibility Center calculates students’ core-course
grade-point averages based on the grades they earn in
NCAA-approved core courses. Only the best grades from
the required number of NCAA core courses will be used. This
means that the cumulative GPA listed on the students’ high
school transcripts could be different than the NCAA core-
course GPA used in their certification. Their core-course GPA
is based solely on the grades they received in NCAA-approved
core courses. To find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved
core courses, visit eligibilitycenter.org/courselist.
The student’s core-course GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale.
Numeric grades such as 92 or 87 are converted to letter grades
such as A or B. As part of this calculation, each grade received
is assigned “quality points,” as shown in the scale below.
The Eligibility Center does not use plus or minus grades when
calculating a core-course GPA. For example, grades of B+, B
and B- each will be worth 3 quality points. Weighted honors or
Advanced Placement courses may improve the student’s core-
course GPA, but the high school must notify the Eligibility
Center that it awards weighted grades in these classes.
The high school’s course weighting policy must align with
acceptable NCAA course weight policy.
In “Pass/Fail” grading situations, the Eligibility Center will
assign the high school’s lowest passing grade for a course
in which the student received a “Pass” grade. For most high
schools, the lowest passing grade is a D, so the Eligibility
Center generally assigns a D as a passing grade.
Calculating a Student’s Quality Points
To determine the quality points earned for each course,
multiply the quality points for the grade by the amount of credit earned.
Examples:
» An A grade (4 points) for a trimester course (0.34 unit):
4 points x 0.34 unit = 1.36 total quality points
» An A grade (4 points) for a semester course (0.50 unit):
4 points x 0.50 unit = 2.00 total quality points
» An A grade (4 points) for a full-year course (1.00 unit):
4 points x 1.00 unit = 4.00 quality points
Use the Division I and II Worksheets to help determine
a student’s core-course GPA.
QUALITY POINTS
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
UNITS OF CREDIT
1 quarter unit = 0.25 unit
1 trimester unit = 0.34 unit
1 semester unit = 0.50 unit
1 year = 1 unit
17
4 x 4 = 16
How to plan high school
courses to meet the
16 core-course requirement:
(1) English
(1) Math
(1) Science
(1) Social Science
and/or other
4 CORE COURSES
9
th
GRADE
(1) English
(1) Math
(1) Science
(1) Social Science
and/or other
4 CORE COURSES
11
th
GRADE
(1) English
(1) Math
(1) Science
(1) Social Science
and/or other
4 CORE COURSES
10
th
GRADE
(1) English
(1) Math
(1) Science
(1) Social Science
and/or other
4 CORE COURSES
12
th
GRADE
Semester 1 Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6 Semester 7 Semester 8Semester 2 Semester 3
4 years 2 years 2 years3 years 1 year 4 years
ENGLISH
SCIENCE
(Including one
year of lab,
if offered)
SOCIAL
SCIENCE
MATH
(Algebra I
or higher)
EXTRA
(English, math
or science)
OTHER
Any area listed to the
left or courses listed
in additional discipline
(world language,
comparative religion
or philosophy)
2. Complete 10 of their 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits, including seven in English, math
or science, before the start of their seventh semester. Once they begin their seventh semester,
any course that is needed to meet the 10/7 requirement cannot be replaced or repeated.
3. Complete their 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in eight academic semesters or four consecutive academic years
from the start of ninth grade. If they graduate from high school early, they still must meet core-course requirements.
4. Earn a minimum 2.3 core-course GPA.
5. Ask their high school counselor to upload their final official transcript with proof of graduation to their
Eligibility Center account.
1. Earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in the following areas:
10/7 requirement: 10 of your 16 NCAA-approved core-course
credits must be completed before the start of their seventh
semester, including seven in English, math or science.
» Students with solely international academic credentials (including Canada)
are not required to meet the 10/7 requirement.
The Eligibility
Center will
use the best
combination of
core courses to
meet the 10/7
requirement.
Courses can
be repeated
or replaced
if they are
not needed to
meet the 10/7
requirement.
Division I schools require your student-athletes to meet academic standards.
To be eligible to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in thier
first year of full-time enrollment, students must meet the following requirements:
Division I Academic Standards
18
What if a student doesn’t
graduate on time?
In Division I, if students do not graduate on time (in four
years/eight semesters), the Eligibility Center will still use
their grades and coursework for the first four years/
eight semesters for their certification. They will still need
to provide proof of graduation (once they graduate) but
may not use any coursework taken after their high school
graduation toward their certification.
What if a student doesn’t meet
Division I standards?
If students have not met all the Division I academic
standards, they may not compete in their first year of
full-time enrollment at a Division I school. However, if
they qualify as an academic redshirt, they may practice
during their first term in college and receive an athletics
scholarship for the entire year.
Division I Worksheet
Use the Division I Worksheet to assist you in monitoring
the student’s progress in meeting NCAA initial-eligibility
standards. The Eligibility Center will
determine their academic status after
they graduate. Remember to check your
high school’s list of NCAA-approved core
courses for the classes they have taken or
plan to take.
ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION DECISIONS
Academic certifications are required for all college-
bound student-athletes planning to compete at an
NCAA Division I school. If students are being recruited
by Division I schools, below are the most common
decisions they may receive once a certification has
been completed.
EARLY ACADEMIC QUALIFIER
If they meet specific criteria after six semesters of
high school, they may be deemed an early academic
qualifier for Division I and may practice, compete and
receive an athletics scholarship during their first year
of full-time enrollment.
QUALIFIER
They may practice, compete and receive an
athletics scholarship during their first year
of full-time enrollment.
ACADEMIC REDSHIRT
They may practice during their first
regular academic term and receive an athletics
scholarship during their first year of full-time
enrollment but may NOT compete during their first
year of full-time enrollment. They must pass either
eight quarter or nine semester hours to
practice in the next term.
NONQUALIFIER
They will not be able to practice, compete or receive
an athletics scholarship during their first year of
full-time enrollment.
1919
GUIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
2. Earn a minimum 2.2 core-course GPA.
3. Ask their high school counselor to upload their final official transcript with proof of graduation to their
Eligibility Center account.
ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION DECISIONS
Academic certifications are required for all college-
bound student-athletes planning to compete at
an NCAA Division II school. If students are being
recruited by Division II schools, below are the
most common decisions they may receive once a
certification has been completed.
EARLY ACADEMIC QUALIFIER
If they meet specific criteria after six semesters of
high school, they may be deemed an early academic
qualifier for Division II and may practice, compete
and receive an athletics scholarship during their
first year of full-time enrollment.
QUALIFIER
They may practice, compete and receive an
athletics scholarship during their first year of
full-time enrollment.
PARTIAL QUALIFIER
They may practice and receive an athletics
scholarship, but may NOT compete, during their
first year of full-time enrollment.
What if a student doesn’t meet
Division II standards?
If students have not met all the Division II academic
standards, they may not compete in their first year of full-
time enrollment at a Division II school. However, they will
be deemed a partial qualifier. All Division II partial qualifiers
may practice and receive an athletics scholarship, but may
NOT compete, during their first year of full-time enrollment.
Division II Worksheet
Use the Division II Worksheet to assist you in monitoring
the student’s progress in meeting NCAA initial-eligibility
standards. The Eligibility Center will
determine their academic status after
they graduate. Remember to check
your high school’s list of NCAA-
approved core courses for the classes
they have taken or plan to take.
Division II schools require your student-athletes to meet academic standards.
To be eligible to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in their
first year of full-time enrollment, students must meet the following requirements:
Division II Academic Standards
1. Earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in the following areas:
3 years 2 years2 years 3 years 2 years 4 years
ENGLISH
SCIENCE
(Including one
year of lab,
if offered)
MATH
(Algebra I
or higher)
EXTRA
(English, math
or science)
SOCIAL
SCIENCE
OTHER
Any area listed to the
left or courses listed
in additional discipline
(world language,
comparative religion
or philosophy)
20
Division III Amateurism Standards
Division III schools provide an integrated environment focusing on
academic success while offering a competitive athletics environment.
Division III rules minimize potential conflicts between athletics and
academics and focus on regional in-season and conference play to
maximize academic, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities. While
Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 80% of Division III
student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid.
While Division III schools set their own admissions and academic requirements, international student-athletes (first-year
enrollees and transfers) who are enrolling at a Division III school after Aug. 1, 2023, must be certified as an amateur by the
Eligibility Center. This includes completing the Amateurism-Only Certification account registration before they can compete at
a Division III school. The student should contact the Division III school they plan to attend for more information about its
academic requirements.
21
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
International Students
For Divisions I and II, international students have taken
coursework outside the U.S. (not including Department of
Defense Dependent Schools or American schools abroad)
at any point from the initial start of school year nine through
secondary school graduation. (For student-athletes planning
to enroll at a Division III school, check with the compliance
office to determine status.) International students enrolling at
a Division I or II school, must submit:
» Transcripts for years nine and up in the native language.
» Proof of graduation in the native language, which may
include certificates, diplomas and/or final leaving exams.
» Certified line-by-line English translations of these
documents if they are issued in a language other
than English.
Students enrolling at a Division III school should monitor their
task list for any additional information needed to certify their
amateur status.
In certain situations, the NCAA
Eligibility Center may request
additional documentation to
clarify that students’ academic
information is complete, valid and
accurate. The task list within their
Eligibility Center account is used
to communicate these requests, so be sure they check their
email frequently for task notifications.
» For information on how to submit international
documentation, visit on.ncaa.com/Intl_Docs.
» All documents submitted to the Eligibility Center become
the property of the Eligibility Center and cannot be
returned. This includes any mailed original documents.
Failure to include any of these items will delay the review of
students’ records, so be sure to understand the documents
required for the country in which they attended school by
reviewing the current Guide to International Academic
Standards for Athletics Eligibility or visit your country’s
specific information page at ncaa.org/countries.
Need help? For specific questions that you can’t find the
answer to in our other resources, use our International
Contact Form, found at on.ncaa.com/IntlContact.
For specific details about the documents international
students must submit, refer to the current Guide to
International Academic Standards for Athletics
Eligibility or visit the International Student-Athletes
page at ncaa.org/international. For a list of non-
English-language resources for future student-
athletes, visit on.ncaa.com/Translated.
Home-Schooled Students
Learning at home is not necessarily the same as being home-schooled. Because of ongoing growth
in online and virtual education, a student may be able to learn at home through an online school with
online teachers, which would not be considered a parent-directed tutor.
Home schooling courses are those in which a parent or parent-directed tutor:
» Plans and delivers actual instructional activities such as lectures, discussions, tutorials, feedback or assistance.
» Determines the student’s comprehension of the material by grading and evaluating student performance and achievement on
assignments and assessments and providing appropriate reteaching and feedback.
» Determines the overall grade the student achieved in the course.
» Places the grade on a transcript or grade report, or reports the grade to an approved home school umbrella program.
How to Register
If home-schoooled students want to play NCAA sports at a Division I or II school, they need to register with the
NCAA Eligibility Center and meet the same standards as all other students.
Once they have completed their registration, they can visit ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/home-school-students
and download the Home School Toolkit.
22
Role of the High School
As a high school counselor, you’re pulled in many different directions every day. The Eligibility Center would like to take this
opportunity to say “thank you!” for the effort that you put forth for student-athletes. One of the main tools you will use as a high
school counselor is the High School Portal. Through the portal, your school’s primary or secondary contacts may submit core-
course changes, upload official transcripts, submit fee waivers, search for students from your high school who have registered
with the Eligibility Center and update your school’s contact information. You can find a tutorial on using the portal here.
When working with future NCAA student-athletes, here are some guidelines that can help streamline your efforts:
What Students Need From the High School’s Primary/Secondary Contacts
» Maintain your high school’s account to ensure it’s accurate and up to date. It is best practice to update your high school's list
of NCAA-approved courses after your school determines new course offerings, but before you begin registering students for
those courses.
» Upload official transcripts for all registered students at the end of each academic year and when they graduate high school.
» Maintain your high school’s contact information with the Eligibility Center by logging in to the High School Portal and reviewing
the Update Contact Info section of the High School Info dropdown. If you’re a new contact and need access to
your high school’s account, but the current primary and secondary contacts are no longer at your high school, complete the
High School Contacts Change Form.
» Monitor your high school’s fee waiver report and submit fee waivers for student registrations, when applicable.
» Monitor the Tasks tab on the High School Portal and respond to requests for information within the noted time frames.
How You Can Help Your Students
» Know Division I academic standards, Division II academic standards and Division III amateurism requirements.
» Encourage your college-bound student-athletes to create a free Profile Page account (option 1) at eligibilitycenter.org
before their freshman year of high school (or year nine of secondary school).
» Help students calculate their core-course GPA using the Division I and II Worksheets.
Responsibilities That May Be Delegated to Other Individuals
» Who determines if students should and should not register with the Eligibility Center?
⁰
Student and their family should make the final decision on whether the student should register with the Eligibility Center.
High school counselors should encourage students to create a free Profile Page account. When they are ready to take an
official visit, sign an NLI or are being actively recruited by an NCAA school, they will need to transition their account to a
certification account and pay the registration fee (or request a fee waiver, if eligible).
⁰
Coaches should provide advice on how likely it is that the student will play NCAA sports. Encourage your school's coaches
to sign up for and read the Eligibility Center's coaches newsletter.
» How are students noticed or recruited for college sports?
⁰
Coaches should advise and assist students during the recruiting process.
⁰
Student and their family should contact NCAA schools they're interested in attending to understand the full financial
impact of attendance and other recruiting-related questions.
» Who helps the student and their family understand recruiting rules?
⁰
The NCAA school(s) recruiting the student should ensure the recruiting rules are followed. Rules differ
by sport and division.
» How does a student meet eligibility requirements?
⁰
The ability to meet initial-eligibility requirements is the responsibility of the student.
⁰
When an academic and amateurism certification is requested by an NCAA Division I or II school, the Eligibility
Center will perform a certification based on the academic information provided by the student and high school(s),
as well as the sports participation information provided by the student-athlete.
⁰
When an amateurism certification is requested by an NCAA Division III school for an international student-
athlete (first-year enrollee and transfer), the Eligibility Center will perform a certification based on the
amateurism information provided by the student and high school(s).
⁰
Student-athlete academic achievement begins freshman year of high school (or year nine of secondary
school). Eligibility is a four-year process, and every semester counts.
Want this information in a printable form? Visit on.ncaa.com/HSCounQuickTips.
23
High School Code
PIN
Accessing Your School’s Account
If your high school has an account, log in with your high school’s six-digit CEEB code and password. Your high school will also have
a five-digit PIN. This will be required as validation for contacts who call the Eligibility Center’s Customer Service team.
Note: Each high school account has one unique password that is shared among contacts.
You can keep your code and PIN handy by entering them in the form below:
Forgot Your Password?
» If you’re listed as a current contact in your high school’s account and have forgotten your password, please select “Forgot
Password? Click here to reset it” on the High School Portal login page. A temporary password will be sent to your email. You
will use this temporary password to log in and create a new password. If you do not receive a temporary password, please
contact our Customer Service team at 877-622-2321, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday.
» If you’re a new contact and need access to your high school’s account, but the current primary and secondary contacts
are no longer at your high school, complete the High School Contact Change Form.
» If you have forgotten your PIN, log in to your account, click “High School Info,” then select “View/Update PIN” from
the dropdown.
If you do not yet have an account with courses listed or your account status is “None,” call our Customer Service team
at 877-622-2321, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday-Friday, to start the high school account review process.
24
FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIESFOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
24
GUIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
High School Counselor Resources
As a high school counselor, you play an important role in helping students understand the requirements to study and compete in
college sports at an NCAA school. Below are resources to help answer the most commonly asked questions.
How To Use the High School Portal
Resources for High School Administrators
Division I Academic Standards
Division II Academic Standards
Division III Amateurism Standards
Fee Waiver Submission Tutorial
High School Presentation Resources
High School Counselor Quick Tips
High School Tasks Tutorial
Home School Toolkit
What Is a Core Course?
Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
Initial-Eligibility Flyer
NCAA Eligibility Center Registration
(eligibilitycenter.org)
NCAA Eligibility Center Information
(ncaa.org/playcollegesports)
National Letter of Intent
Our Three Divisions
Student FAQs
25
GUIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Important Recruiting Terms
Celebratory standardized signing form (a form used by
Division III schools): A standard NCAA-provided, nonbinding
athletics celebratory signing form after a student has been
accepted for enrollment at a Division III school.
Contact: Any time a college coach says more than “Hello”
while face-to-face with a student or their family off the
college’s campus.
Contact period: A student’s division, sport and grade level
determine when permissible recruiting activities may occur.
For more information visit on.ncaa.com/RecruitCalendars.
Dead period: A student’s division, sport and grade level
determine when permissible recruiting activities and
non-permissible recruiting activities may occur. For more
information visit on.ncaa.com/RecruitCalendars.
Evaluation: When a college coach observes a student
practicing or competing.
Evaluation period: A student’s division, sport and grade level
determine when permissible recruiting activities and
non-permissible recruiting activities may occur. For more
information visit on.ncaa.com/RecruitCalendars.
Financial aid (scholarship): Any money a student receives
from a college or another source, such as outside loans or
grants. Financial aid may be based on athletics ability, financial
need, scholarships or academic achievement.
Five-year clock: In Division I, students have five calendar
years in which to play four seasons of competition. Their five-
year clock starts when they enroll full-time at any college.
Thereafter, their clock continues, even if they spend an
academic year in residence as a result of transferring, decide to
redshirt, do not attend school or attend school part time.
Full-time student: Each school determines what full-time
status means. Typically, students are full-time student if
they’re enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in a term.
Institutional request list: A list of college-bound student-
athletes who an NCAA school is interested in recruiting. This
informs the Eligibility Center of the school’s interest in having
an academic and/or amateurism certification decision for them.
International student: In Divisions I and II, international
students are enrolled in a secondary school outside the
U.S., U.S. territories or Canada. In Division III, international
students attended high schools outside of the U.S. or U.S.
territories or competed individually or as part of a team based
outside of the U.S. or U.S. territories; or whose permanent
residence is outside of the U.S. This does not apply to U.S.-
based students who study abroad unless they also compete
while living abroad.
Official commitment: When a student signs a NLI, agreeing to
attend a Division I or II school, for one academic year.
Official visit: Any visit to a college campus paid by the NCAA
school a student is visiting.
Quiet period: A student’s division, sport and grade level
determine when permissible recruiting activities and
non-permissible recruiting activities may occur. For more
information visit on.ncaa.com/RecruitCalendars.
Recruited: When a college coach contacts students off campus,
pays their expenses to visit the campus, or (in Divisions I and II)
issues them a NLI or written offers of financial aid.
Recruiting calendar: NCAA Division I and II recruiting
calendars promote student well-being and ensure fairness
among schools by defining certain periods during the year in
which recruiting may or may not occur in a particular sport.
Recruiting shutdown: A period when no forms of recruiting
(e.g., contacts, evaluations, official or Division I unofficial visits,
correspondence, or making/receiving calls) are permissible.
Season of competition/participation: Generally, NCAA rules
say any competition in a season (regardless of the amount of
time) counts as having played one season in that sport. If students
play any time during a season (regardless of the amount of time)
it counts as having played for an entire season in that sport. A
season starts when they spend one second in competition on the
field, court, gym or track. In Division III, students use a season if
they practice or compete after the first contest. NCAA schools
may have sport-specific exceptions to this general rule, so help
students check with the compliance offices at NCAA schools they
may attend before participating.
Ten-semester/15-quarter clock: In Divisions II and III, students
have the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which they’re
enrolled as full-time students to complete their four seasons of
competition/participation. They use a semester or quarter any
time they attend class as a full-time student or are enrolled part
time and compete for the school. They do not use a term if they
only attend part time with no competition or are not enrolled for
a term.
Two-year college: Any school from which students can earn an
Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Applied
Science within two years. (AKA: Community or junior colleges.)
Unofficial visit: Any visit to a college campus paid for by a
student or their family.
Verbal commitment: When students verbally agree to play
sports for colleges before they sign or are eligible to sign a NLI.
The commitment is not binding on the student or the school.
Walk-on: Someone who is not typically recruited by a school to
participate in sports and does not receive a scholarship from
the school, but who becomes a member of one of the school’s
athletics teams.
