Do You Need the SAT for College Soccer?
If you’re hoping to play college soccer in the United States, you may have been told that you need to take the SAT or ACT before you can become eligible.
For NCAA Division I and Division II, that advice is now outdated.
The NCAA does not currently require an SAT or ACT score for Division I or Division II initial eligibility. Instead, academic eligibility is primarily based on your high school coursework, grades and graduation requirements.
However, that doesn’t mean standardized tests are completely irrelevant.
Individual universities have their own admission policies, academic scholarships may have separate criteria, and organizations such as the NAIA operate under different eligibility rules.
Here’s what soccer players — particularly international players considering the U.S. — need to understand.
Does the NCAA Require the SAT for College Soccer?
No.
For current NCAA Division I and Division II initial eligibility, SAT and ACT scores are not required by the NCAA.
The NCAA removed standardized test scores from its initial-eligibility requirements, meaning players should not assume they need to achieve a particular SAT score simply to compete at an NCAA Division I or Division II college.
This is an important distinction because older articles, videos and advice about U.S. college soccer may still refer to SAT scores and NCAA eligibility.
Those rules have changed.
NCAA Division I Academic Eligibility
For an incoming NCAA Division I student-athlete, the NCAA currently requires academic and athletics certification through the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Academic requirements include completing 16 NCAA-approved core courses and earning at least a 2.3 core-course GPA.
Division I also has requirements relating to when certain core courses must be completed, and players need to submit their final academic records and proof of graduation.
There is no NCAA SAT or ACT requirement within those current Division I initial-eligibility standards.
For international players, the way your qualifications are assessed will depend on the education system in which you studied.
NCAA Division II Academic Eligibility
Division II also no longer requires an SAT or ACT score for NCAA initial eligibility.
Players currently need to complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses and achieve at least a 2.2 core-course GPA, alongside the other academic and athletics certification requirements.
Again, your academic records and proof of graduation need to be submitted as part of the certification process.
So if you’re considering NCAA Division II soccer, don’t rely on old information telling you that a particular SAT score is required to become eligible.
What About NCAA Division III?
Division III works differently.
Division III colleges set their own admissions and academic standards rather than using the same NCAA academic certification process as Divisions I and II. The NCAA Eligibility Center does, however, have a role in athletics eligibility for international Division III student-athletes.
That means players interested in a Division III university should check the admissions requirements of that individual college.
It is also important to remember that NCAA Division III schools do not award athletics scholarships.
Could a University Still Ask for the SAT?
Yes — and this is where players need to understand the difference between:
NCAA eligibility and university admission.
They are not the same thing.
The NCAA determines whether you satisfy its requirements to participate in college athletics.
The university decides whether you satisfy its requirements to be admitted as a student.
So while the NCAA may not require an SAT or ACT score for Division I or II eligibility, you should still check the admissions requirements of every university you’re seriously considering.
Don’t assume that because you’re eligible for NCAA soccer, you’re automatically academically admissible to every NCAA university.
Does the SAT Affect Soccer Scholarships?
Not directly in the way older NCAA eligibility rules suggested.
A college coach isn’t required by the NCAA to award a soccer scholarship based on a particular SAT score.
But academics can still have a major financial impact.
Depending on the university, a player may potentially receive different forms of financial assistance alongside or instead of athletics aid.
Academic or merit-based awards are determined by individual institutions and can have their own criteria.
That means a strong academic profile can still be extremely valuable — even though an SAT score itself isn’t required for NCAA Division I or II initial eligibility.
When comparing offers, players and families should focus on the actual annual cost of attendance after all confirmed financial aid, rather than simply asking whether an offer includes a “soccer scholarship.”
What About the NAIA?
This is where things become slightly different.
The NAIA operates separately from the NCAA and has its own eligibility process.
Current NAIA freshman eligibility can be established through academic criteria, and standardized test scores can still form part of the eligibility routes available in some circumstances.
So don’t apply NCAA SAT rules to every college soccer organization.
If you’re considering NAIA programs, check your individual circumstances through the NAIA Eligibility Center.
Should You Still Take the SAT?
Potentially.
The better question isn’t simply:
“Does the NCAA require it?”
It is:
“Could taking the SAT improve my options?”
For some players, there may be little reason to take it.
For others, a score could potentially be relevant to a particular university’s admissions or financial-aid process.
Before spending months preparing for the test, identify the universities you’re interested in and check their current requirements.
If the colleges you’re targeting don’t require it and there is no obvious financial or admissions advantage, the test may not need to be a priority.
What Should International Soccer Players Focus On?
For international players, academic preparation remains extremely important even without an NCAA SAT requirement.
You should make sure you understand:
- Which academic documents will be required
- How your qualifications are evaluated
- Whether you meet graduation requirements
- The admissions requirements of individual universities
- NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements
- English-language requirements where applicable
- When documents need to be submitted
- How your age and previous enrollment may affect athletics eligibility
For NCAA Division I and II, the Eligibility Center reviews academic records as part of determining initial eligibility.
Starting this process early can prevent academic paperwork from becoming a problem later.
UK and Irish Players Considering College Soccer
For players coming from the UK or Ireland, the U.S. academic system can initially seem confusing.
Terms such as GPA, core courses, transcripts and graduation requirements don’t always translate neatly into GCSEs, A levels, BTECs, Leaving Certificate qualifications or other education systems.
That’s why you shouldn’t try to convert your qualifications yourself using information written primarily for American high school students.
Your academic history needs to be considered within the appropriate international framework.
If you’re considering playing in America, our Football Scholarships USA Guide explains the wider pathway for UK and Irish players.
Academics Still Matter in College Soccer
Removing the NCAA SAT requirement does not mean academics have stopped mattering.
Far from it.
Academic performance can affect:
- University admission
- NCAA eligibility
- NAIA eligibility
- Potential academic financial aid
- Which universities are realistic options
- Your eligibility once you’re enrolled
And once you arrive at college, you’ll need to continue progressing academically while competing as a student-athlete.
You can read more about that in our guide to Life as a College Soccer Student-Athlete in the USA.
Internal link: link that phrase to the article we just completed.
Build Your College Soccer Profile
Academics are only one part of your college soccer journey.
College coaches also need to understand your playing background, position, level, footage and experience.
Locker23 gives soccer players one place to showcase that information.
Players can build a profile, add highlights and full-match footage, include playing and academic information, build college shortlists and make their profile discoverable to college coaches.
If you’re starting the process, read our complete College Soccer Recruiting Guide.
CREATE YOUR FREE PLAYER PROFILE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need the SAT to play NCAA Division I soccer?
No. The NCAA does not currently require SAT or ACT scores for Division I initial eligibility. Players must instead satisfy the NCAA’s current academic and athletics eligibility requirements.
Do you need the SAT to play NCAA Division II soccer?
No. SAT and ACT scores are not part of the current NCAA Division II initial-eligibility requirements.
Do you need the SAT for an NCAA soccer scholarship?
There is no NCAA SAT score requirement for receiving athletics aid in Division I or II. However, the individual university’s admissions and other financial-aid requirements still matter.
Does the NAIA require the SAT?
NAIA eligibility is different from NCAA eligibility. Standardized test scores can still be relevant as one route within NAIA freshman eligibility, depending on the student’s circumstances.
Should an international soccer player take the SAT?
It depends on the universities you’re targeting. Check each institution’s current admissions and financial-aid requirements before deciding whether taking the SAT would benefit you.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing to remember is simple:
You do not currently need an SAT or ACT score to satisfy NCAA Division I or Division II initial-eligibility requirements.
But academics still matter.
Your grades, qualifications and academic records can influence your NCAA or NAIA eligibility, university admission and potential financial package.
So don’t prepare for the SAT simply because an old college soccer article tells you it’s mandatory.
Understand which colleges you’re targeting, which governing body they compete under and what requirements actually apply to you.
