NCAA Eligibility

NCAA schools require college-bound student-athletes to build a foundation of high school courses to prepare them for college coursework. Students who plan to compete in NCAA sports at Division I or II schools must pass a certain number of NCAA core courses.

What are core courses?

For a high school class to be used in the initial-eligibility process as an NCAA-approved core course, it must meet these conditions:

• Be an academic, four-year college preparatory course receiving high school graduation credit in one or more of these areas:
  • English
  • Math (Algebra I or higher)
  • Natural/physical science
  • Social science
  • Foreign language
  • Comparative religion or philosophy
• Be at or above your high school’s regular academic level
• Be taught by a qualified instructor

Not all high school classes are NCAA core courses. Some examples of courses that are not NCAA core courses include:

• Courses in non-core areas, fine arts or vocations such as driver education, typing, art, music, physical education or welding.
• Courses that prepare students for the world of work or life, or for a two-year college or technical school, such as personal finance, consumer education or tech prep.
• Courses taught below grade level, at a slower pace or with less rigor or depth, such as basic, essential, fundamental or foundational courses.
• Courses which are not academic in nature such as film appreciation, video editing or greenhouse management.