Athletic Eligibility- NAIA
A.J. GASTON
Central State, O
Dick BARNETT
Tennessee State
Willis REED
Grambling State
John B. McLENDON, Jr.
Tennessee State
Fred HOBDY
Grambling State
Travis GRANT
Kentucky State
Lucious MITCHELL
Kentucky State
Miriam WALKER
Claflin
Elmore SMITH
Kentucky State
Nelson BROWNLEE
Claflin
The National Association Intercollegiate Athletic (NAIA) is the oldest governing body of small athletics programs founded in 1937. More than 60,000 student-athletes participate in sports at NAIA member institutions. the NAIA began in 1937 with the tipoff of a men’s basketball tournament in Kansas City that has become the longest running event in college basketball. Out of the tournament grew the NAIA, an association that has been an innovative leader. The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships.
In 2010, the NAIA Eligibility Center was started with the purpose of evaluating prospective student-athletes are for academic and athletic eligibility. There are 250 colleges and universities with 65,000 student-athletes. There are more than 500 million dollars in athletic scholarships offered. The conference sponsors 25 national championships.
In 2014, the NAIA became the only college athletics association to offer official recruiting events – NAIA Showcases,where prospective student-athletes can showcase their skills and connect with NAIA coaches and admissions staff. (NAIA)
The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the NAIA eligibility of first-time student-athletes. Any student playing NAIA championship sports for the first time must meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have their eligibility determined by the NAIA Eligibility Center, and all NAIA schools are bound by the center’s decisions
Who needs to register?
Every student interested in playing championship sports at NAIA colleges for the first time needs to register and receive an eligibility determination. This applies to:
See NAIA website for all of the details:
Can I receive a final eligibility decision before high school graduation?
Yes. U.S. high school students who complete their junior year with an overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or who have at least a
2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale midway through senior year) and meet the NAIA’s minimum ACT or SAT test score requirements may receive an early eligibility decision from the NAIA Eligibility Center. You must 1) register with the NAIA Eligibility Center, 2) have your high school send an official transcript to the NAIA Eligibility Center, and 3) contact ACT or SAT to have your test scores sent to the NAIA (Code 9876).
At this time we are unable to provide early decisions for transfer, home schooled or international students.
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