For middle school and early high school athletes who hope to play in college: how core courses work, why they start counting in 9th grade, and what to do this year.
The basics
NCAA Division I and II look at approved core courses: English, math (Algebra 1 or higher), natural or physical science, social science, and additional academic courses. Divisions I and II each require 16.
Division I also expects 10 of the 16 to be finished before the start of senior year, with 7 of those in English, math or science.
Only courses on your high school's approved list count. Some high school courses taken in 8th grade may count if they appear on the high school transcript.
Grades in core courses matter. A low grade in 9th grade can be hard to make up later.
Division III and NAIA have their own rules; NAIA has its own eligibility center.
General information. NCAA and NAIA rules change; confirm everything at eligibilitycenter.org and with your school counselor.
Want help with this part? Our Athlete eligibility check audits every course against NCAA and NAIA rules, and our recruiting plan maps the contact timeline.
This tool is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.