NCAA Sliding Scale

NCAA sliding scale

Impact of COVID-19 on NCAA eligibility: The NCAA Eligibility Center loosened standards for students who initially enroll full-time during the 2021–22 academic year and intend to play D1 or D2 sports. Students won’t be required to take the ACT or SAT by the NCAA. Additionally, the use of pass/fail grades for core course requirements has been extended through the 2020–21 academic year. To keep track of updates that will impact eligibility for current and future recruiting classes, NCSA will continue to share information on our coronavirus resources page.

NCAA D1 sliding scale
NCAA D2 sliding scale for partial qualifiers
NCAA D2 sliding scale

What is the NCAA sliding scale?

When you are trying to determine the GPA or SAT/ACT test scores you need to be NCAA eligible, you must reference the NCAA sliding scale. The NCAA sliding scale is designed so that if you have a higher GPA, you can have lower SAT/ACT scores. If you have really strong test scores, you can have a lower GPA.

Insider Tip: The NCAA uses the “core course GPA.” This is different than the GPA on your high school transcripts. Each year, a small group of student-athletes will assume that because they are on track to graduate high school, they are on track to be NCAA eligible, but they are different things. Go here to calculate your core course GPA.

Academics are very important when it comes to earning a roster spot and securing scholarship money. College coaches do not want to worry about how athletes are doing in the classroom and whether they are staying eligible to compete. That’s why they recruit good students. Check out this video to see how the NCAA factors in both grades and test scores in eligibility requirements.

What is a Good SAT and ACT score?

The most common question that athletes and families ask us about the ACT and SAT tests is regarding what score qualifies as good. The national average on the ACT is a 21 and the national average on the SAT is a 1070. With that said, these are relative scores and you’ll have to gather more information when applying to colleges. In this video, Tom Ehlers, President and Founder of Method Test Prep, breaks down what you need to know.

NCAA SAT requirements: How to send your SAT scores to the NCAA

The NCAA uses what is called a “combined SAT” test score. This means you add the math and reading scores and do not use the written score when determining your NCAA eligibility. You can take the SAT as many times as necessary during high school. The NCAA will use your highest single math and reading score and add them together for your best SAT combined score.

How to send your SAT scores to the NCAA: The NCAA only accepts test scores sent directly from the College Board.

Sending test scores when registering: When you are registering for the SAT, enter the code “9999” in the area identifying the schools you would like your test scores sent.
Sending test scores after you have taken the SAT: If you have already taken the SAT, you have two options. You can send your scores to the NCAA for free up to nine days after the test date. However, if it’s been more than nine days, you will need to go to the college board website to have test scores sent. Be advised this will cost $12, but there are fee waivers available.

SAT Concordance Score: The College Board organization changed the SAT test in the spring of 2016. If you took the SAT before then, you likely took the old version and will need to use the concordance table to convert those scores into the ones now used by the NCAA.

NCAA ACT requirements: How to send your ACT scores to the NCAA

The NCAA sliding scale uses your “ACT sum score.” This is calculated by adding together your English, math, reading and science scores. You can take the ACT a total of 12 times during high school, and your top scores in each subject will be used to create your highest ACT score.

How to send your ACT scores to the NCAA: The NCAA will only accept ACT scores sent directly from the ACT organization.

Sending ACT scores when registering: When you register for the ACT, enter the code “9999” in the area identifying the schools you would like your test results shared with.
Sending ACT scores after you’ve taken the test: If you have already taken the ACT and need to send scores, go to the ACT website. Be advised, this will cost $38 per test date per report if you tested before 9/1/2016, and $13 per test date per report if you tested after that date.

NCAA D1 Sliding Scale

Core GPA	New SAT	Old SAT	ACT
3.550	400	400	37
3.525	410	410	38
3.500	430	420	39
3.475	440	430	40
3.450	460	440	41
3.425	470	450	41
3.400	490	460	42
3.375	500	470	42
3.350	520	480	43
3.325	530	490	44
3.300	550	500	44
3.275	560	510	45
3.250	580	520	46
3.225	590	530	46
3.200	600	540	47
3.175	620	550	47
3.150	630	560	48
3.125	650	570	49
3.100	660	580	49
3.075	680	590	50
3.050	690	600	50
3.025	710	610	51
3.000	720	620	52
2.975	730	630	52
2.950	740	640	53
2.925	750	650	53
2.900	750	660	54
2.875	760	670	55
2.850	770	680	56
2.825	780	690	56
2.800	790	700	57
2.775	800	710	58
2.750	810	720	59
2.725	820	730	60
2.700	830	740	61
2.675	840	750	61
2.650	850	760	62
2.625	860	770	63
2.600	860	780	64
2.575	870	790	65
2.550	880	800	66
2.525	890	810	67
2.500	900	820	68
2.475	910	830	69
2.450	920	840	70
2.425	930	850	70
2.400	940	860	71
2.375	950	870	72
2.350	960	880	73
2.325	970	890	74
2.300	980	900	75
GPA's Below 2.3 Are Redshirt only
2.299	990	910	76
2.275	990	910	76
2.250	1000	920	77
2.225	1010	930	78
2.200	1020	940	79
2.175	1030	950	80
2.150	1040	960	81
2.125	1050	970	82
2.100	1060	980	83
2.075	1070	990	84
2.050	1080	1000	85
2.025	1090	1010	86
2.000	1100	1020	86

NCAA D2 Sliding Scale

*Use for Division 2 FULL QUALIFIER* *after August 1, 2018*				*Use for Division 2 PARTIAL QUALIFIER* *after August 1, 2018*
Core GPA	New SAT	Old SAT	ACT	Core GPA	New SAT	Old SAT	ACT
3.300 & above	400	400	37	3.050 & above	400	400	37
3.275	410	410	38	3.025	410	410	38
3.250	430	420	39	3.000	430	420	39
3.225	440	430	40	2.975	440	430	40
3.200	460	440	41	2.950	460	440	41
3.175	470	450	41	2.925	470	450	41
3.150	490	460	42	2.900	490	460	42
3.125	500	470	42	2.875	500	470	42
3.100	520	480	43	2.850	520	480	43
3.075	530	490	44	2.825	530	490	44
3.050	550	500	44	2.800	550	500	44
3.025	560	510	45	2.775	560	510	45
3.000	580	520	46	2.750	580	520	46
2.975	590	530	46	2.725	590	530	46
2.950	600	540	47	2.700	600	540	47
2.925	620	550	47	2.675	620	550	47
2.900	630	560	48	2.650	630	560	48
2.875	650	570	49	2.625	650	570	49
2.850	660	580	49	2.600	660	580	49
2.825	680	590	50	2.575	680	590	50
2.800	690	600	50	2.550	690	600	50
2.775	710	610	51	2.525	710	610	51
2.750	720	620	52	2.500	720	620	52
2.725	730	630	52	2.475	730	630	52
2.700	740	640	53	2.450	740	640	53
2.675	750	650	53	2.425	750	650	53
2.650	750	660	54	2.400	750	660	54
2.625	760	670	55	2.375	760	670	55
2.600	770	680	56	2.350	770	680	56
2.575	780	690	56	2.325	780	690	56
2.550	790	700	57	2.300	790	700	57
2.525	800	710	58	2.275	800	710	58
2.500	810	720	59	2.250	810	720	59
2.475	820	730	59	2.225	820	730	60
2.450	830	740	60	2.200	830	740	61
2.425	840	750	61	2.175	840	750	61
2.400	850	760	62	2.150	850	760	62
2.375	860	770	63	2.125	860	770	63
2.350	860	780	64	2.100	860	780	64
2.325	870	790	65	2.075	870	790	65
2.300	880	800	66	2.050	880	800	66
2.275	890	810	67	2.025	890	810	67
2.250	900	820	68	2.000	900	820 & above	68 & above
2.225	910	830	69
2.200	920	840 & above	70 & above

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