NCAA Transfer Rules

Transferring schools isn’t something you should do on a whim. But if you’re unhappy at your current school, transferring may lead to a better experience.  

Below, we’ll go over the NCAA transfer rules and why some student-athletes might transfer.  

Why do college athletes transfer programs?

Some student-athletes transfer because they’re not happy with their program. They might not like their current major and realize their school doesn’t offer what they want to study.

Or maybe they want to transfer because the sport or coach isn’t a good fit. They’ve pushed themselves hard in training and practice only to realize that they don’t love it like they thought they would.

If this sounds like you, that’s OK. College is challenging without the added aspect of playing on a competitive sports team.

But before rushing to transfer, ask yourself a few questions: What don’t you like about your current experience? Is it the classes? The tough practices? The coach?

Once you have the answers to those questions, see if you can get an appointment with your college’s mental health or counseling services. They’ll be able to help you sort through your answers, so you’ll know for sure if transferring is for you.

NCAA transfer rules: Everything you need to know

After you have weighed the options and decided to transfer, it’s time to dig into the NCAA transfer rules. 

Timing and the NCAA Transfer Portal

With new NCAA Division I transfer rule changes set to take effect in the 2024-2025 academic year, the process for transferring will become more flexible and streamlined. Key updates include:

1. Earlier Portal Access: Student-athletes will now have an earlier window to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, allowing for more time to make decisions about transferring.
2. One-Time Transfer Exception: Athletes will be permitted to transfer once without needing to sit out a year, applicable to any sport, providing greater flexibility in their athletic careers.
3. Stricter Academic Standards: New academic requirements will ensure that transferring athletes meet specific GPA and credit-hour benchmarks, upholding academic integrity while facilitating transfers.

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. This portal, introduced in the fall of 2018, has become a central resource for student-athletes and coaches. 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.

The NCAA Division I Council has proposed changes to the transfer windows for student-athletes, set to begin in the 2024-2025 academic year. The key proposals include:

1. Transfer Windows: The introduction of new transfer windows for different sports:
   • Fall Sports: A 30-day window starting from the end of the regular season.
   • Winter Sports: A 30-day window beginning at the end of the regular season.
   • Spring Sports: A 45-day window starting after the end of the regular season.
2. Portal Entry: These changes aim to streamline the process and provide clearer periods for athletes to enter the Transfer Portal.
3. Purpose: The proposals are designed to balance the needs of athletes and schools while enhancing the transfer process’s fairness and efficiency.

The NCAA Division I Council’s proposals to change transfer windows are expected to be finalized by the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The changes would then be implemented starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, following approval by the NCAA’s governing bodies.

Walk-ons

Generally, if you were a walk-on at your previous college, you’re eligible to be a walk-on at your new college. You are eligible regardless of whether your last college recruited you or whether it offers scholarships in your sport. You are also eligible if you fit the traditional definition of walk-on status. This means your previous college offered scholarships in your sport but didn’t offer one to you.   

Redshirting

Redshirting is when a full-time student sits out of competitive gameplay for a year but practices with the team and is still eligible for athletic scholarships.  

As of April 2021, D1 athletes transferring schools for the first time no longer have to redshirt for a year at their new college before competing. But you must meet certain qualifications to play immediately for the new school. And you will have to sit out a season for any subsequent transfers — unless you obtain a waiver from the NCAA. 

Student-athletes may still benefit from a redshirt season, as it allows them to adjust to their new school and coach. 

It’s important to note that you’re eligible to compete in gameplay for four years. You have five years to complete your four years of play. In D1 schools, this five-year clock commences when you become a full-time student, even if you don’t play sports there. It only stops in rare cases. In D2 schools and D3 schools, it also starts once you enroll as a full-time student for the first time, but it’s paused anytime you are no longer a full-time student. 

Transferring between divisions

There are many things to remember if you’re transferring between divisions. If you’re transferring from a D3 school to a D2 or D1 school, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. 

You don’t need to contact the NCAA Eligibility Center if transferring to another D3 school. All you need to do is fill out the NCAA Self-Release form.  

What about National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) students wanting to transfer to an NCAA school? You won’t need to register with the NCAA Transfer Portal. However, you’ll need to be approved by the NCAA Eligibility Center if your new school is D2 or D1. You’ll also need a permission-to-contact letter from your athletic department or compliance office. Without it, NCAA coaches won’t be allowed to contact you. Lastly, while getting a release from your current NAIA school isn’t required, it’s often encouraged. NCAA schools won’t speak to you until it’s done.  

If you’re going the other route and transferring into the NAIA from the NCAA, you’ll need to register with the NAIA Eligibility Center. It’s also a good idea to check out NAIA transfer rules to ensure you meet them.  

How many times can you transfer colleges?

The NCAA has recently enacted legislation to eliminate restrictions on the number of transfers an academically eligible athlete can make during their college career. Athletes can now transfer multiple times without facing penalties, as long as they maintain good academic standing.

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.  

Junior college transfer rules

The rules for transferring between two-year colleges are simple. You don’t need a release for other junior college coaches to contact you.  

Of course, transferring from a junior college to a four-year school is more complicated. You’ll need to meet the NCAA eligibility requirements and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This is on top of meeting the GPA requirements the school has.  

NCAA graduate transfer rules

You can participate in sports as a graduate. Here are some of the requirements to do that: 

1. You must graduate from your current college/university. 
2. Have at least one year of eligibility on your five-year clock. 
3. You must be going to a graduate school that has your sport.  

Assistance

Transfer rules can be complicated. Some sports follow general transfer rules, while others don’t. While you can research the NCAA transfer rules for your sport to know what to expect, we recommend getting assistance with this process. At NCSA, our expert staff can help answer questions you might have about the transfer process and provide further clarity on the NCAA transfer rules. 

Conclusion

NCSA is experienced with NCAA transfer eligibility rules, as well as all steps of the recruiting process. If you’re looking to get recruited, NCSA can help. We are well-versed in management and can show you everything you need to know.

Or check out our college recruiting guide for more information on how the process works.