Eligibility made simple

To play college sports you have to meet academic rules, and in most cases amateur rules too. Each group has its own.

NCAA Division I and II

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (eligibilitycenter.org).
Finish a set number of approved core courses in English, math, science, social science and more. Some must be done before senior year. Check before publishing: exact core-course count, the 10/7 rule and the minimum core GPA for D1 vs D2.
Earn a minimum core-course GPA. Check before publishing: current test-score policy, since standardized tests were removed from initial eligibility in recent years.
Stay an amateur. Ask before taking any prize money, pay or name/image/likeness deals.

No Eligibility Center sign-up is needed. Each school decides admission on its own.
D3 schools don't give athletic scholarships, but many give strong academic and need-based aid.

Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center (play.mynaia.org).
Students usually qualify by meeting at least two of three standards: test score, high school GPA and class rank. Check before publishing: the current NAIA standards and the exact numbers.

Generally you must have graduated high school or have an equivalency such as a GED.
JUCO can be a great route to a four-year program later.
NJCAA has Division I, II and III. Scholarship rules are different in each one. Check before publishing: scholarship rules by NJCAA division.

Your school counselor and each college's compliance office have the final word. Rules change, so check the official sites every year.