Prospective Student-Athletes
We appreciate your interest in Cornell University and Big Red athletics. Our athletics programs strive to promote personal growth and development in our scholar-athletes and to provide a learning opportunity that is a meaningful and memorable part of the Cornell experience.
This portion of the website has been designed to educate prospective student-athletes and their families and coaches about NCAA recruiting and eligibility rules. It serves as a portal to important information for those who are considering continuing their athletic participation at the collegiate level.
Who is a "prospective student-athlete?"
A prospective student-athlete is any student that has begun the 9th grade.
What is "recruiting?"
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect's relatives by an institutional staff member or by a representative of athletics interest for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
Although you can contact a coach at any time, keep in mind that coaches are limited to when and how they contact you. Please refer to the NCAA website on eligibility and recruiting or specifically to the NCAA Recruiting Chart for more details.
Additional information can be found by clicking on the following links:
- NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
This comprehensive NCAA publication provides everything you need to know if you're considering participation in collegiate athletics.
- NCAA Eligibility Center (previously the NCAA Clearinghouse)
All prospective student-athletes who wish to participate in NCAA Division I or II intercollegiate athletics need to be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse, currently in transition to be known as the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center. This entity certifies academic and amateur status of prospective student-athletes. Prospective student-athletes must be registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse/NCAA Eligibility Center prior to going on an official visit at any Division I institution. Transfer student-athletes who intend on enrolling in a Division I institution for the first time must must also register with the Clearinghouse/NCAA Eligibility Center and have their amateur status certified.
- NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards
This link provides you with a summary of high school academic requirements prospective student-athletes must meet in order to be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. These are also imbedded in the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
- NCAA List of Banned Substances
The NCAA requires that we provide prospective student-athletes with this list of NCAA banned drugs and substances.
- Cornell University Academic Progress and Graduation Rates
Understand and view our published Federal and NCAA graduation rates and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
- Policy for Official Visits for Prospective Student-Athletes
The NCAA requires that all institutions have a written departmental policy for official visits that applies to prospective student-athletes, student hosts, coaches, and administrators. Cornell requires that this policy be provided to prospective student-athletes prior to an official visit to campus. If you are planning an official visit to Cornell, please review the policy and contact us if you have questions.