Which subjects count for US college in Queensland
From the NCAA's guide for Queensland, September 2026
Work out your GPAWorth knowing
- Essential Mathematics counts in Queensland. Maths A and Numeracy don’t.
- Subjects at the General level count as long as the rest of the title is an approved subject. General Science counts; General Art History doesn’t.
- Humanities and SOSE count as social science in Years 9 and 10.
Named as approved in the NCAA's guide for Queensland
Maths
- Essential Mathematics
- Maths B and C
- Mathematical Methods (Years 11 and 12)
- Specialist Mathematics (Years 11 and 12)
- General Mathematics
Science
- Forensic Science
- Investigative Science
- Marine Studies or Marine Science
- Science at Home
- Science in Practice
- Science of Survival
Social science
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (Years 11 and 12)
- Economics and Business (Year 9)
- Humanities (Years 9 and 10)
- Religion and Ethics (Years 11 and 12)
- Study of Religion (Years 11 and 12)
- Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE)
Additional (languages, religion, philosophy)
- Religion and Ethics (Years 11 and 12)
Standard subjects that usually count
The NCAA's guides only name the less common subjects. Standard academic subjects like these usually count from Year 9 to Year 12, as long as your school uses a clear title.
English
- English
- Literature
- English Language
Maths
- Mathematics
- Higher maths such as Methods, Specialist or Extension
Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Earth and Environmental Science
Social science
- History
- Geography
- Legal Studies
- Economics
- Politics
- Psychology
Additional (languages, religion, philosophy)
- Languages (French, Japanese, Chinese and so on)
- Philosophy
- Religion, under an approved title
Named as not approved for Queensland
- Commerce
- Mathematics A
- Numeracy
- Science 21
- Marine Aquatic Practices
Subjects that aren't academic don't count anywhere: art, music, drama and dance, design, technology and food subjects, VET certificates, career and personal development subjects.
Check before you count on it
The NCAA hasn't ruled on these for Queensland, so treat them as not counting until it does:
- Business Management or Business Studies
- Health subjects the NCAA hasn’t named for your state
- Religious Education, unless your state’s list names it
- Vague titles like "Humanities" or "General Studies" where your state’s list doesn’t name them
If your school gives a subject an unusual name, the NCAA may not recognise it. Ask the school to show the proper subject name on your report, for example Forensic Science rather than Forensics.
How your grades convert
| Your grade | Meaning | US grade points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Very High Achievement | 4.0 |
| B | High Achievement | 3.0 |
| C | Sound Achievement | 2.0 |
| D | Limited Achievement | 1.0 |
| E | Very Limited Achievement | 0.0 |
Your NCAA core GPA is the average of these points across your core subjects, from Year 9 onwards. The NAIA uses your overall GPA, so every subject counts there.
What each level needs
NCAA Division I
- 16 core courses from Year 9 to Year 12
- Core GPA of 2.3 or higher
- Proof you finished school, on time (by December of Year 12)
The NCAA Eligibility Center assesses your school reports. NCAA Division I
NCAA Division II
- 16 core courses from Year 9 to Year 12
- Core GPA of 2.2 or higher
- Proof you finished school
The NCAA Eligibility Center assesses your school reports. NCAA Division II
NCAA Division III
- No NCAA minimum. Each college sets its own entry standards, the same as for any student
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before you play (international students need an Athletics Certification account)
The college decides on admission. D3 colleges don’t offer athletic scholarships. NCAA Division III
NAIA
- A final GPA of 2.3 or higher, or two of these three: GPA of 2.0, top half of your class, ACT 18 or SAT 970
- The GPA is your overall GPA, not just core subjects
- Proof you finished school
International students need an InCred evaluation of their results. Class rank has to come from a letter from your school; ATAR doesn’t count. NAIA eligibility
Junior college (NJCAA)
- Finish school. There’s no minimum GPA to start
- Colleges usually ask for your results from Year 9 to have them evaluated
The college checks your results are equal to a US high school diploma. NJCAA
The 16 core courses, in Year 9 to 12 terms
A core course is one year of an academic subject. Each semester counts as half. Year 9 to Year 12 is eight semesters, so taking English every year already gives you four. Here's a typical path that meets Division I:
| Year | Core subjects | Core courses |
|---|---|---|
| Year 9 | English, Maths, Science, History or Geography (all year) | 4 |
| Year 10 | English, Maths, Science, History or Geography (all year) | 4 |
| Year 11 | English, Maths, plus two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Legal Studies, History or a language | 4 |
| Year 12 | English, plus three academic subjects (Maths is a good idea) | 4 |
| Total | 16 |
The traps are dropping maths after Year 10 (Division I needs three years of it), having only one semester of history or geography in Year 9 and 10, and filling Year 11 and 12 with subjects that don't count, like PE or Health.
| Core courses | Division I | Division II |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 3 |
| Maths | 3 | 2 |
| Science | 2 | 2 |
| Extra English, maths or science | 1 | 3 |
| Social science | 2 | 2 |
| Additional (any of the above, a language, religion or philosophy) | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 16 | 16 |
| Minimum core GPA | 2.3 | 2.2 |
Short of 16? Under the NCAA's 2026-27 waiver rules, finishing school with at least 13 core courses and a core GPA of 2.8 or higher earns an automatic waiver for Division I and II, if you meet its other conditions. Your college applies for it, not you.
Proof you finished school
The NCAA accepts:
- QCE and Senior Statement
- Euka Assessed or University Pathway
Not accepted: ATAR, Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA), Euka Assessment-free Pathway.
Where this comes from
The NCAA's guide for Queensland (September 2026), which lists the less common subjects it approves and the ones it doesn't. The NCAA Eligibility Center makes the official decision on your results, so register at eligibilitycenter.org once you're serious about college.