What is the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association — the organization that regulates college athletics and sets eligibility rules for student-athletes.
The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is the primary governing body for college athletics in the United States. It oversees more than 1,100 member colleges and universities and sets the rules for academic eligibility, recruiting, financial aid, and competition for approximately 500,000 college student-athletes across 24 sports.
History
The NCAA was founded in 1906 in response to widespread concern about injuries and fatalities in college football. President Theodore Roosevelt called for reform, and a group of college and university representatives formed what would become the NCAA to create standardized rules and safety guidelines for college sports.
NCAA Divisions
Member institutions are classified into one of three divisions based on the size of their athletic programs and the level of scholarships they offer:
- Division I — The highest level; further divided into Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Schools offer the most scholarships and compete at the highest level.
- Division II — Schools offer partial scholarships and compete at a high but slightly lower level than Division I.
- Division III — Schools do not offer athletic scholarships; student-athletes participate purely for the love of the sport.
Academic Eligibility Requirements
To compete in NCAA athletics, student-athletes must meet academic eligibility requirements, including:
- Initial eligibility — High school students must complete a minimum number of core courses, achieve a minimum GPA in those courses, and meet ACT/SAT score thresholds
- Continuing eligibility — College athletes must maintain a minimum GPA, complete a certain percentage of degree requirements each year, and remain on track for graduation
- The NCAA Eligibility Center — High school athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify their academic and amateur status before competing at the college level
Amateurism and NIL
Historically, NCAA rules prohibited student-athletes from receiving payment for their athletic performance to preserve "amateurism." In 2021, the NCAA changed its rules to allow student-athletes to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) — meaning athletes can now be paid for endorsements, autographs, social media posts, and other activities.
The NCAA and Scholarships
Division I and II schools can offer athletic scholarships that cover tuition, room, board, and books. Full scholarships are known as "full rides." The number of scholarships per sport is capped by NCAA rules.
High school athletes who want to pursue college sports must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify their academic and amateur status — this is a required step before competing at any Division I or Division II school.