IBCA E-Newsletter

Reminder: NCAA Division I academic requirements for Class of 2016 and beyond

The NCAA has released an SAT/ACT sliding scale that corresponds with the increased GPA requirements for the class of 2016 and beyond. Any current high school freshman or sophomore who is even remotely considering the possibility of playing a sport collegiality needs to pay attention. The wiggle room to correct academic shortcomings has been greatly reduced.

Here is a summary if the NCAA Division I academic requirements for a Full Qualifier that take effect for the class of 2016 and beyond:

• The minimum core course GPA has increased from 2.00 to 2.30.
• 10 of the 16 core course requirements must be satisfied prior to the start of the senior year.
• 7 of those 10 core courses must be from English, Math and Science subsections.
• Grades earned in the 10 core courses are “locked in” for the purposes of calculating the final core course GPA.
• Any retakes of the first 10 core courses must be completed prior to senior year.

The NCAA also has introduced a new status for the class of 2015 – the “Academic Redshirt.” An “Academic Redshirt” may receive a scholarship and practice with his/her team, but he/she may not participate in game competition as a college freshman. Students with a GPA of 2.30 or above may achieve either “Academic Redshirt” or “Full Qualifier” status, depending on their SAT/ACT test scores. Students with a core course GPA between 2.00 and 2.29 cannot attain “Full Qualifer” status but may achieve “Academic Redshirt” status by meeting minimum sliding scale test score requirements.

The new sliding SAT/ACT scale results in significant changes in minimum test score requirements. The minimum SAT score required to compete as a college freshman increased by 180 points while the minimum ACT score increased by an average of 14 points (sum score).

Here are two examples of changes to the new sliding scale:

Example 1

• Prior to 2016: 2.00 core course GPA + 1010 SAT or 86 ACT = Full Qualifier
• 2016 and after: 2.00 core course GPA + 1020 SAT or 86 ACT = Academic Redshirt

Example 2

• Prior to 2016: 2.50 core course GPA + 820 SAT or 68 ACT = Full Qualifier
• 2016 and after: 2.50 core course GPA + 1000 SAT or 85 ACT = Full Qualifier

Remember, the NCAA does not include the writing component of the SAT or ACT and the ACT score is a sum score (not average) of the English, math, reading and science sections.

Finally, just because a student-athlete meets the minimum NCAA academic standards, it does not mean they will be admitted to play sports at the college of their choice. Many universities have academic standards for incoming freshman athletes that are higher than the NCAA minimum requirements.

What does all this mean? Student-athletes must start tracking courses early. A student-athlete should calculate his/her initial core course GPA at the conclusion of his/her first semester in high school and continue to do so each semester thereafter.

Now more than ever, every semester counts.

The NCAA initial eligibility sliding scale (class of 2016 and beyond)