NCAA Divisions I and II no longer require an SAT or ACT for initial eligibility. You still may need a score for the college's own admissions office, scholarships, or a coach's academic review. Eligibility Center rules and campus admissions rules are two different checklists.
What the NCAA actually checks now
For Division I and II, the Eligibility Center looks at core courses, core GPA, and amateurism—not a sliding-scale ACT. Older blog posts that still quote SAT/ACT cutoffs for NCAA eligibility are out of date. Create an Eligibility Center account early, keep your counselor involved, and make sure the classes you take are on your high school's NCAA approved list.
Division III schools set academic standards on campus. International amateurism certification can still run through the Eligibility Center.
When you still need an ACT
- The college requires SAT/ACT for all applicants. Recruited athletes are not automatically exempt. See colleges that require SAT or ACT.
- The coach or admissions office asks for a score even if the NCAA does not.
- Merit or athletic-package academics still list a test number. Compare scholarships by score.
What score to send if you test
Send your strongest sitting or superscore according to that campus policy, the same as any other applicant. Walkthrough: how to send ACT scores. Aim at the 75th percentile of that school's admits so you look like a typical student, not only a recruit— average ACT scores by college.
Do not skip the transcript
Core GPA is the NCAA academic gate now. Protect English, math, science, social science, and additional core credits. An ACT 32 will not unlock Division I eligibility if the core GPA is short. Broader academic balance: GPA vs ACT.
The bottom line
You do not take the ACT for the NCAA Eligibility Center anymore. You take it if the campus, the scholarship grid, or the coach still wants it. Read NCAA.org for eligibility and the college admissions page for testing.
Start practicing
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This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.