It’s extremely important to remember that “student-athlete” starts with the word student. All of the athletic talent in the world doesn’t mean much if you don’t put in the effort in the classroom.
The Importance of an Academic Resume
Academics play a big role in recruiting, and that’s why being able to show a solid academic resume is as important as having a great skills video or impressive stats. Coaches evaluate recruits based on more than just athletic talent. The academic ability of recruits is extremely important to college coaches.
Academics and NCAA Eligibility
The NCAA Eligibility Center clearly outlines the academic requirements that high school athletes need to maintain in order to be eligible for participation in college sports. It’s essential to know the rules of eligibility to ensure that you’re taking the right classes as you build your high school academic resume.
Honing your skills in the classroom is as important as working on your skills on the field or court. Work in the classroom doesn’t end once you’ve been cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center and accepted into college. Student-athletes must maintain certain academic requirements while attending college to remain eligible.
Know Your Academic Requirements
Academic requirements for athletic eligibility vary slightly depending upon which level of college you attend. Every school has academic standards, and you need to be prepared to meet them.
NCAA Division I
- Sliding scale that matches ACT and SAT scores with your core grade-point average
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 in required core courses
NCAA Division II
- Minimum ACT sum score of 68 or an SAT score of 820
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 in required core courses
NCAA Division III
- Academic standards for athletes are not determined by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Athletes in Division III are required to meet the same overall academic standards required by the university or college for all students.
NAIA (Student-athletes must meet two of these three.)
- Minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT
- Minimum overall high school grade point average of 2.0
- Graduate in the top half your high school class