NCAA Core GPA Calculator
Student-athletes: Calculate your NCAA Core Course GPA to ensure you meet the strict Division I and Division II academic eligibility requirements.
NCAA Core Courses
NCAA Core GPA
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What Counts as a Core Course?
The NCAA explicitly rejects electives, physical education, health, and vocational classes from their calculation. You should ONLY enter classes from the following categories:
Division I Breakdown (16 Total)
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher)
- 2 years of Natural/Physical Science
- 1 additional year of English, Math, or Science
- 2 years of Social Science
- 4 additional years of any core courses (often Foreign Language)
The 10/7 Rule (Div I Only)
Before you start your senior year (7th semester), you MUST have completed 10 of your 16 core courses. Furthermore, 7 of those 10 courses must be from the English, Math, or Science categories. Once your senior year starts, the grades in those 10 courses are "locked in" for eligibility purposes and cannot be retaken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my NCAA Core GPA different from my High School GPA?
Yes. Your high school calculates a cumulative GPA using all your classes (including PE, Art, Health, and electives). The NCAA ONLY uses 'Core Courses' (English, Math, Natural/Physical Science, Social Science, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion, or Philosophy) to calculate your eligibility GPA. This means your NCAA GPA is usually lower than your high school GPA.
What is the minimum GPA to play Division I sports?
To compete in your first year of Division I, you must have a minimum 2.3 NCAA Core Course GPA. If your Core GPA is between 2.0 and 2.299, you may be considered an 'Academic Redshirt', meaning you can practice and receive a scholarship, but you cannot compete in games your first year.
What is the minimum GPA to play Division II sports?
To compete in your first year of Division II sports, you must have a minimum 2.2 NCAA Core Course GPA. Similar to DI, if your GPA is between 2.0 and 2.199, you are a 'Partial Qualifier' and can practice but not compete.
How many core courses do I need?
For both Division I and Division II, you must complete exactly 16 approved core courses. For Division I, 10 of these 16 courses must be completed before the start of your 7th semester (senior year) of high school, and 7 of those 10 must be in English, Math, or Science.