NCAA Transfer Rules (2025 Update)

Updated August 2025

Considering transferring schools as a college athlete? You’re not alone.

Whether you’re chasing a better fit academically, athletically, or personally, navigating the NCAA transfer process can feel overwhelming. With recent rule changes, new transfer portal timelines, and eligibility questions at every turn, it’s more important than ever to understand how the system works and what it means for your future.

In this comprehensive guide, we break down everything student-athletes and parents need to know about NCAA transfer rules, division-specific rules, how to use the NCAA transfer portal, scholarship implications, and more.

Why Do College Athletes Transfer?

College athletes transfer for a variety of reasons: academic fit, coaching changes, limited playing time, or personal well-being. Some realize their school doesn’t offer their preferred major, while others feel the team or coaching style isn’t the right match. It’s a big decision, but recent NCAA rule changes have made transferring easier for those who remain academically eligible. Before entering the portal, it’s important to reflect on your reasons, talk to a counselor or advisor, and make sure the move supports both your athletic and academic goals.

NCAA Transfer Rules: What Changed?

In 2024, the NCAA enacted a landmark rule eliminating restrictions on the number of times academically eligible student-athletes can transfer during their college careers. This means athletes can now transfer multiple times without losing eligibility, if they maintain good academic standing and enter the portal within their sport’s designated windows.

Key highlights of the updated NCAA transfer rules as of 2025:

Unlimited transfers now allowed: Athletes who remain academically eligible can transfer as many times as they choose without sitting out a season. This gives student-athletes more control over their college experience.
No more penalties for multiple transfers: Previously, athletes who transferred more than once needed to apply for a waiver or sit out a year. Now, they can move freely, if they follow compliance procedures and academic standards.
Academic standing still matters: Students must maintain academic eligibility at each institution to take advantage of the rule. Failing to do so can still result in transfer delays or loss of eligibility.
Transfer windows still apply: While the number of transfers is no longer restricted, athletes must still enter the portal during official windows for their sport.

Concerns and why this matters

While the new policy increases flexibility for athletes, it also raises questions about long-term academic progress and program continuity. Read more about how the changes to the transfer portal have impacted some college sports, especially college basketball and football.

Many coaches worry that frequent transfers could slow or disrupt a student-athlete’s path toward graduation. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning reflected this concern in a 2024 interview with ESPN:

One of the questions we have to ask ourselves is, at what point does the degree still matter? … If somebody’s changing schools three times, I’m wondering what their progress towards a degree really looks like.”

Why does this matter? For some athletes, transferring multiple times is a strategic decision to find the right program fit, gain more playing time, or pursue graduate opportunities. But it’s important to weigh each move against:

Academic impact
Scholarship continuity
NCAA eligibility requirements
Personal and athletic goals

Remember: Transferring may open doors, but too many moves without a clear academic plan can jeopardize long-term success.

For official NCAA updates, check the NCAA Transfer Resource Center.

Transferring Between NCAA Divisions

Transferring between NCAA divisions, whether from Division I to III or vice versa, used to come with strict eligibility and sit-out rules. But in 2024, the NCAA passed legislation removing most restrictions for academically eligible athletes. Student-athletes may now transfer between divisions multiple times and remain eligible immediately as long as they meet academic requirements and enter the transfer portal during the designated window.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common scenarios:

D1 to D2 Transfer Rules

Immediate eligibility is allowed if the athlete is in good academic standing and the transfer is made during the official portal window
A release from the D1 program is still recommended for scholarship and roster continuity.
D2 schools may offer partial scholarships (and fewer full rides than D1 programs).

D1 to D3 Transfer Rules

Athletes are immediately eligible upon transfer
NCAA recommends using a Self-Release Form to notify your D1 school of your intention to transfer
D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but academic or need-based aid may be available

D2 to D1 Transfers

Athletes may now transfer without sitting out if they maintain academic eligibility and enter the portal during the approved window
Must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet D1 academic standards
Scholarship opportunities vary by sport and institution

D3 to D1 Transfers

Now eligible to compete right away under the new rule, without needing a waiver
Must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet D1 academic standards
Scholarship opportunities may be available depending on sport and program needs

D3 to D2 Transfers

Athletes moving between D2 and D3 divisions are now eligible immediately
Academic standards must still be followed

D2 athletes moving to D3 lose athletic scholarship eligibility (D3 prohibits them)

Table of division-specific transfer rules with eligibility information

Looking to transfer to a junior college or NAIA? Read on for more information.

Junior College Transfer Rules

Transferring between junior colleges is simple, no release is required, and coaches are free to contact you directly. However, transferring from a JUCO to a four-year NCAA school is more complex. You’ll need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (for Division I or II), meet GPA and credit requirements, and maintain full-time academic status.

JUCO can be a valuable stepping-stone for athletes looking to improve academically or gain more recruiting exposure.

Learn more in our full guide: Junior College Sports Explained
Also read: Does JUCO count against NCAA eligibility?

NAIA to NCAA Transfers

If you’re transferring from the NAIA to the NCAA, you don’t need to use the NCAA Transfer Portal. However, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center for D1 or D2 schools. You’ll also need a permission-to-contact letter from your current athletic department since most NCAA coaches won’t speak with you until that’s in place. While a release isn’t required, it’s strongly encouraged.

NCAA to NAIA Transfers

Going the other way, from the NCAA to the NAIA, you’ll need to register with the NAIA Eligibility Center. Make sure to review NAIA-specific transfer rules to ensure you’re eligible before making the move.

For complete guidance, see our additional transfer guides:

Minimum GPA Requirements to Transfer

A GPA of 2.0 is needed at most colleges to be able to play a sport. It’s best to hit that mark at your current school and then aim for it at your future school, too. However, four-year schools typically have higher GPA requirements for students transferring from a two-year school. Be sure you know what they are. 

How the NCAA Transfer Portal Works

The NCAA Transfer Portal is the centralized database student-athletes use to officially declare their intent to transfer.

What is the NCAA Transfer Portal?

The portal allows athletes to explore opportunities at other schools while signaling to programs that they are available. Think of it as a college sports version of the “free agent” market.

Initiating the Transfer Process

You should start the transfer process only when you are fully certain about your decision.

Once you initiate the process, your current scholarship should remain intact for the current term, but future scholarships are not guaranteed.

If you decide to stay after initiating the transfer, your scholarship could be at risk, as your current school may rescind future scholarship offers or allocate them to other student-athletes.

To access the NCAA Transfer Portal, you will need to provide written notice to your college’s designated administrator. Without written notice, NCAA coaches are not allowed to contact you.

You can choose whether to allow coaches to contact you or not. If you have a specific program in mind, you might prefer to reach out to coaches directly. Alternatively, if you are exploring options, allowing coaches to contact you can help you discover opportunities.

How to Enter the Transfer Portal

Notify your school (compliance office or coach).

The school has 48 hours to enter your name into the portal.

Once listed, you can be contacted by other coaches.

Can You Enter Any Time?

No. Each sport has official transfer windows. See the transfer portal windows section for more information.

Can You Play Immediately After Entering the Portal?

Yes, if you are academically eligible and enter the portal during the official window, you can compete immediately, even if it’s not your first transfer. Unless you enter outside the window, in which case you’ll need a waiver to compete right away.

What If You Don’t Get Picked Up?

You can return to your current school, but they’re not obligated to keep your scholarship or roster spot. Always talk to your coach before entering, it’s a one-way street in many cases.

Insider Tip: Confirm your school’s specific policies on scholarship retention before entering the portal.

Can You Talk to Coaches Before Entering the Portal?

No. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from discussing transfer opportunities with athletes not in the portal. Doing so can lead to tampering violations. A notable example occurred in May 2024, when the Southern Utah football head coach was penalized for contacting athletes who had not entered the portal.

Can Your Coach See If You’ve Entered?

Yes. Once your name is officially entered into the transfer portal, your current institution’s coaches and compliance staff are notified. At this point, any NCAA coaches can legally contact you. That’s why it’s crucial to have a conversation with your coach or compliance office before entering, not only as a courtesy, but because your scholarship and team role could be impacted immediately.

transfer portal checklist of things to do before entering the transfer portal

2025 NCAA Transfer Portal Dates & Windows

The NCAA has implemented official transfer portal windows across all sports to regulate when student-athletes can declare their intent to transfer.

The NCAA Division I Council made changes to the transfer windows for student-athletes in 2024. The NCAA shortened transfer windows in football and basketball from 45 days to 30 days (spread over two windows for football) and restructured transfer portal windows to bring more consistency and promote roster stability.

Fall sports have a 30-day window starting at the end of their regular season.
Spring and winter sports windows vary, ranging from 30 to 45 days based on championship timelines.
Revenue sports like football and basketball have more precise dates decided annually.

NCAA Transfer Portal Windows by Sport

When do the transfer window portals open and close? The transfer windows vary by sport. See below for a high-level overview of official portal windows by sport for the 2024–2025 academic year:

NCAA Division I Football Transfer Portal Windows (2024–2025)

For the 2024–2025 academic year, NCAA Division I football student-athletes have two official windows to enter the transfer portal:

Winter Transfer Window

Dates: December 9 – 28, 2024

Opens: The Monday after the FBS conference championship weekend

Closes: December 28, 2024

Spring Transfer Window

Dates: April 16 – 25, 2025

Closes: April 25, 2025

NCAA Division I Basketball Transfer Portal Windows (2025)

Below are the official windows to enter the transfer portal for NCAA Division I Basketball for the 2024-2025 academic year:

Men’s Basketball

Dates: March 24 – April 22, 2025

Opens: The day after the men’s NCAA Tournament second round concludes

Closes: April 22, 2025

Women’s Basketball

Dates: March 25 – April 23, 2025

Opens: The day after the women’s NCAA Tournament second round concludes

Closes: April 23, 2025

Other Sports (Baseball, Softball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, etc.)

NCAA has defined sport-specific windows based on the season and championship selection timelines.
For example, spring sports like baseball typically have a 45-day window beginning the day after championship selections.

Sport	Winter Window	Spring Window
Football (FBS/FCS)	Dec 9 – Dec 28, 2024	Apr 16 – Apr 25, 2025
Men’s Basketball	N/A	Mar 24 – Apr 22, 2025
Women’s Basketball	N/A	Mar 25 – Apr 23, 2025
Other Sports	45 days after championship selections	Varies by season end

Graduate Transfers & Coaching Changes

Graduate transfers may enter the portal at any time, regardless of the defined windows.
A 30-day portal window opens for players immediately following a head coach’s departure at their current school.

It’s important to know exactly when the NCAA transfer portal opens and closes for your sport to ensure you’re eligible to compete immediately.

FAQs

Do You Lose Your Scholarship by Entering the Portal?

Yes. In many cases, schools are allowed to cancel your scholarship once you’re in the portal. Some may honor it until the end of the term, others may not.

What Happens to Your Scholarship If You Leave Mid-Year?

If you transfer mid-year, you may forfeit part of your scholarship. Additionally, not all schools will offer aid immediately.

What About Partial Scholarships?

Partial scholarships do not transfer automatically; you must re-earn aid at your new school.

Can You Walk-On as a Transfer?

Yes. Transfer athletes can walk on to a new team, even if they weren’t on scholarship at their previous school. You’ll need to meet NCAA eligibility requirements (for D1 or D2), and it’s up to you to contact coaches with your interest, highlight video, and transcripts. While walk-ons don’t receive scholarships initially, you may earn one later based on your performance.

Can a Walk-On Enter the Transfer Portal?

Yes. Even if you’re not on scholarship, you can enter the transfer portal just like any other athlete. The same rules and deadlines apply, including coach notification and official compliance approval. Some programs hold open tryouts, while others add walk-ons by invitation so check with the coaching staff early, especially with new D1 roster caps in place.

Final Thoughts: Your Transfer, Your Future

Transferring can be one of the most pivotal decisions of your college career. With the right information, timing, and support, it can lead to new opportunities both athletically and academically. Just remember:

Talk to your coach first
Understand the scholarship risks
Know your transfer windows
Be prepared to advocate for yourself

Make sure your NCSA profile is up to date, including recent videos showcasing your skills, as college coaches use NCSA to discover potential transfers to add to their team!