NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse – Clemson Admissions

In the-mid 1990’s the NCAA established the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (IEC). To ensure that uniform standards were applied in determining the eligibility of incoming freshman to Division I and II schools. All Division I and Division II schools in the state of South Carolina must have their freshmen cleared by the Clearinghouse.

The Clearinghouse is located in the same building in Iowa City, Iowa that houses the ACT National Testing Agency, but the work of the two agencies are separate. To better understand its function, let’s look at a few key words:

Core Course: Every high school annually submits a list of college-preparatory or “core” courses to the IEC. The NCAA requires successful completion of 13 core course: four in English, two in Math (at Algebra I or higher), two in science (at least one must be a lab science), an additional course from the three sections above, two social sciences and two additional courses such as foreign language. A this time, the NCAA membership is considering an increase of core courses.

Initial Eligibility Index: The NCAA uses a sliding scale to determine freshman eligibility. The overall grade-point-average (GPA) in the core courses is compared to a test score from SAT or ACT. This sliding scale is shown in the table below. At this time, the NCAA membership is considering extending the sliding scale.

Initial Eligibility Index

Core G.P.A.	SAT	Sum ACT
2.500 and above	700	68
2.475	710	69
2.450	720	70
2.400	740	71
2.375	750	72
2.350	760	73
2.325	770	74
2.300	780	75
2.275	790	76
2.250	800	77
2.225	810	78
2.200	820	79
2.175	830	80
2.150	840	80
2.125	850	81
2.100	860	82
2.075	870	83
2.050	880	84
2.025	890	85
2.000	900	86

Qualifier: For Division I, the student is a high school graduate, their test score and core GPA meet or exceed the NCAA index.

Non-Qualifier: For Division I, a student who either did not graduate from high school, or whose core GPA and test scores did not meet the Index. The ACC prohibits its member schools from allowing nonqualifiers to enroll as first-time, full-time students. To be eligible in the ACC, a nonqualifier must graduate from a junior college or attend a four-year school for three semesters. In addition, the nonqualifier must present 48 transferrable hours and at least a 2.0 in transferrable credit.

Partial-Qualifier: For Division I, a student who graduated from high school and did not meet the Index, but fall in a narrow category of SAT/GPA criteria. Partial qualifiers typically have a high core GPA but present SAT or ACT test scores that are below 820 and 68. The ACC limits the number of partials that may enroll each year. Each ACC member is allowed two for men’s sports and two for women’s sports, with no more than one in a given sport. For exceptions to this rule, the member must appeal to the faculty athletic representatives at the nine ACC schools. Since 1998, only six Clemson athletes have entered as a partial qualifier. They are eligible for athletic aid and practice but may not travel or compete with the team.

Core G.P.A.	SAT	Sum ACT
2.750 and above	720	59
2.725	730	59
2.700	730	60
2.675	740-750	61
2.650	760	62
2.625	770	63
2.600	780	64
2.575	790	65
2.550	800	66
2.525	810	67

While the NCAA Clearinghouse certifies eligibility status, it remains the responsibility of the member school to ensure compliance with NCAA Bylaw 14.1.2 Validity of Academic Records. Consequently, we are obligated to ensure the validity of the student’s academic credentials and test scores. Clemson requests that the testing agency review any test results for a potential student that jumps from one test to the next 150 in a single area or 300 overall. Research provided by the testing agencies confirms that less than 1% of the testing population gains 140 points in an area.

NCAA schools also must scrutinize high school and junior college transcripts to confirm valid academic records. Failure to do so could result in a charge of academic fraud. The NCAA Committee on Infractions has dealt seriously with schools that committed academic fraud. For more detail, go to http://www.ncaa.org, click on enforcement, click on major infractions database and enter “academic fraud” in the search area, scroll to “the phrase” in The case must contain… and hit “Go Search”.

If you have questions about this article or compliance issues in general, refer to COMPLIANCE-L@CLEMSON.EDU or call 864-656-1580. Don’t forget to visit our website at http://clemsontigers.fansonly.com/compliance.