Do you need a driver’s license to legally drive a car? Yes. Do you need a passport to travel to foreign countries? Yes, it would be virtually impossible to get on a plane much less clear customs on the other side if you don’t have one. In the same way, you MUST COMPLETE THIS STEP if you want to play NCAA Division I, II, or III sports!
The NCAA Eligibility Center is the pathway for you to play college sports. The NCAA is primarily concerned with two things: academic eligibility and amateurism. Once you start the process by creating an account, you’ll be assigned a number, and you can access your task list each time you log in. One item that will be required is an official report from the SAT or ACT testing center. When registering for the ACT or SAT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 so that your scores are sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the testing agency. Every item must be completed from your task list before you start your career on campus. Register for the NCAA Eligibility Center here. The cost for Division I and II registration is $90 for US and Canada residents and $150 for all other international students. If you intend to play Division III sports or you’re undecided, you can create a free profile page.
Did you know that the NCAA has a podcast? In addition to features on the NCAA’s divisions, sleep, mental health and other topics, there is an ENTIRE EPISODE on the NCAA Eligibility Center featuring the Vice President of the Eligibility Center! Listen here.