1 of 10

NCAA/NAIA Eligibility:

Playing at the next level

Troy Wagner, Head Counselor

Buchanan High School Counseling Center

2 of 10

NCAA Division 1 Requirements

  • Graduate from high school
  • 2.3 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Complete 16 core courses
  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of Math
  • 2 years of Science (1 year lab)
  • 1 year of additional English, Math or Science
  • 2 years of Social Science
  • 4 years of additional English, Math, Science, Social Science and/or Foreign Language

10 of 16 courses must be completed by the end of 11th grade/junior year

​

3 of 10

NCAA Division 2 Requirements

  • Graduate from high school
  • 2.3 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Complete 16 core courses:
  • 3 years of English
  • 2 years of Math
  • 2 years of Science (1 year lab)
  • 3 years of additional English, Math or Science
  • 2 years of Social Science
  • 4 years of additional English, Math, Science, Social Science and/or Foreign Language

​

4 of 10

5 of 10

NAIA Requirements

​

​

  • Graduate from high school

AND

  • 2.3 cumulative GPA, or
  • Meet two of the following three requirements:
  • Minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 970 on the SAT
  • 2.0 cumulative unweighted GPA
  • Graduate in the top 50% of the graduating class

​

6 of 10

NCAA Division 3 and Junior College Requirements

​

​

  • Graduate from high school
  • For NCAA-D3: Student-athletes must meet admission standards set by the school

​

7 of 10

No one likes surprises!!!

Horror stories involving NCAA eligibility from the Buchanan Counseling Center …

  • Usually involves “D” or “F” grades in 9th and 10th grade
  • Elective choices that aren’t NCAA approved
  • Students that aren’t “A-G Ready” (4-year eligible) won’t be on track for NCAA eligibility

8 of 10

Parents/Student-Athlete Responsibilities

  • Sign up for the NCAA Eligibility Center (NCAA Division 1 and 2) or NAIA Eligibility Center … ideally by the summer after the athlete’s junior year
  • Communicate with the counselor (especially when coaches are contacting the athlete) - the sooner the better! But for sure by senior year.
  • Attend summer school to “fix” a D or F grade whenever possible
  • Student-Athlete: Student comes first!

​

​

​

9 of 10

Role of the Counseling Center

  • Work with the student-athletes to schedule in NCAA approved courses
  • Enroll student-athletes in summer school, especially if a student earns a D or F in a required course
  • Head Counselor: Uploads transcripts to NCAA Portal beginning summer after 11th grade), and a FINAL TRANSCRIPT after students graduate in June
  • Aim for NCAA DIvision 1 eligibility (this covers eligibility for Division 2, NAIA, etc.)

​

​

10 of 10

Things to know

  • Student-athletes that are “A-G Ready” (eligible for a 4-year college) are typically well on their way to being NCAA eligible
  • Most student-athletes are on track to being A-G Ready/NCAA eligible as long as they have earned a “C” or higher in their classes in 9th and 10th grade. 11th grade is when counselors/athletes need to be careful about which electives are chosen
  • Wagner will upload transcripts for students in the NCAA/NAIA portal during the summer after 11th grade. If a student isn’t in the system, Wagner can’t upload a transcript
  • The NCAA is not forgiving when it comes to making “exceptions” or finding “alternatives” … it is an NCAA issue (not a CUSD issue).

​