Collegiate Esports Eligibility White Paper 2024

White Paper from VOICE Explores Eligibility in Collegiate Esports: A Call for Standardization, Integrity, and Academic Alignment

As collegiate esports enters its second decade, the lack of a consistent eligibility framework has emerged as one of its most pressing issues. In response, VOICE (Voice of Intercollegiate Esports) has released the Collegiate Esports Eligibility White Paper—a comprehensive exploration of eligibility practices across the ecosystem. This paper provides landscape study looking at where we are and where we must go.

Drawing on rulesets from top collegiate leagues—including Riot Games’ CLoL/CVAL, Blizzard’s ABC/CCL, NACE, NECC, ECAC, and others—the report identifies seven core eligibility standards used across esports and compares them with best practices from traditional athletics and STEAM-based collegiate activities. These criteria include requirements around GPA, full-time enrollment, degree-seeking status, ethical conduct, and more.

To ground its findings in the lived experience of the field, VOICE conducted a national survey of over 70 program directors, faculty, and coaches. The results were clear: stakeholders across the board recognize the need for clearer definitions, more consistent enforcement, and standards that align with both academic and competitive excellence. At the same time, concerns around player mobility, the inclusion of professional players, remote vs. in-person competition, and equity in access surfaced as ongoing points of debate.

The paper offers a detailed picture of the current landscape as well as charting a way forward. VOICE presents ten concrete policy recommendations, from enforcing GPA minimums and verifying enrollment to regulating transfer windows and professional involvement. The goal is not rigid control, but rather a structured foundation that supports fairness, accountability, and student success.

“Eligibility is more than a rulebook—it is a commitment to integrity, equity, and the academic mission of higher education.”

This white paper is the first of its kind, offering the most extensive policy research and recommendations on collegiate esports eligibility to date.

Download the full Collegiate Esports Eligibility White Paper above.