There are three major organizations that govern academic requirements and eligibility for students to participate in

intercollegiate athletics: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate

Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association NJCAA. Requirements are posted in detail. 

                                                                                 NCAA

Students who hope to participate in college athletics at a NCAA Division I or Division II  college or university must

register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Division III colleges and universities set their own admissions standards

and there are no initial eligibility requirements). 

To register:

• Students should register at the end of their junior year. 
• An application must be completed on-line: www.eligibilitycenter.org
• Submit registration fee of $65.  Students who qualify for an ACT/SAT waiver may have this fee waived. 
• ACT or SAT scores must be reported directly from ACT or SAT to the Eligibility Center. The code is 9999. 
• Request an official transcript that includes academic record up to junior year to be mailed.

The following requirements must be met in order for a student to be able to practice, play and receive a scholarship

at an NCAA Division I or II college or university.

                                                                       Division I:

1. Graduate from high school on time (by May)

2. Complete a minimum of 16 core courses approved by the NCAA

3. Present the required GPA

4. Qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT

5. Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification.

                                                                        Division II

1.  Graduate from high school on time (by May)

2.  Complete a minimum of 14 core courses (16 core courses for Class of 2013)

3.  A minimum 2.000 core course GPA

4.  A minimum 68 sum ACT score (calculating each sub score of the ACT) or 820 SAT score

     (critical reading and math only)

5.  Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification.

                                NCAA Core Approved Courses for Opelika High School

These courses have been approved by NCAA to meet the 16 core curriculum for athletic eligibility. 

 Please note:  Meeting Opelika High School graduation requirements does not necessarily mean that a student

will qualify academically for NCAA.  Since Algebraic Connections only counts as a ½ credit for NCAA Core,

students taking Algebraic Connections, are highly encouraged to take a Foreign Language,

Psychology or Sociology. 

                                       NCAA Division I Scale for Academic Qualifying 

                                                                     NAIA

Recently, an eligibility registration process was implemented for students who plan to compete

athletically at a NAIA college or university.  

To register:

• Apply on-line at www.playnaia.org
• Submit $60 payment.  
• Have scores ACT (or SAT) submitted.  Use the Eligibility Code of 9876. 

To be eligible, students must meet two of the following three requirements:

• Have a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Graduate in the top 50% of the graduating class.