2
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Inside
Contents
3 What Should You Consider Before Transferring?
4 Focus on Your Degree
4 Learn as Much as You Can
5 Transfer Checklist
6 How Do Transfer Rules Apply to You?
8 Our Three Divisions
10 When Can You Play?
11 Planning to Go Division I
13 Planning to Go Division II
17 Planning to Go Division III
18 Transfer Exceptions
22 Eligibility Clock
23 Important NCAA Terms
Information
Visit
eligibilitycenter.org
ncaa.org/transfer
Follow
Twitter @NCAAEC
YouTube @NCAAEC
Facebook @NCAAEC
Instagram @playcollegesports
Contact
NCAA legislative line:
877-917-6008, Monday-Friday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time
International (including Quebec):
on.ncaa.com/intlcontact
Have a question about
transferring?
» Read this guide.
» Search frequently asked questions at
ncaa.org/studentfaq.
» Review the Two-Year Transfer Best
Practices flyer.
» Visit ncaa.org/transfer.
» Contact the NCAA.
Other Resources
» National Association
of Intercollegiate Athletics
» NCAA Division I
» NCAA Division II
» NCAA Division III
NCAA and Make It Yours are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
All other trademarks are property of their respective holders. November 2023.
3
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
What Should You Consider
Before Transferring?
Student-athlete success on the field, in the classroom and in life is at the heart of the NCAA’s mission. Your college experience
gives you the opportunity to receive a quality education and take your place among the student-athletes who have attended
college, played sports, received their degrees and gone on to make important contributions to society.
The decision to transfer to another school involves important and sometimes difficult choices. Make sure you understand the
rules, the options and the potential consequences of your decision. You do not want to risk your education or your chance to play
NCAA sports.
This guide is for student-athletes transferring from a two-year school (junior or community college) to a four-year NCAA
member school. Students currently attending a four-year school should refer to the Guide for Four-Year Transfers, available at
ncaapublications.com.
4
2022-23 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Focus on Your Degree
More than 500,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA sports but few move on to compete at the professional or Olympic level.
For the rest, the experiences of college athletics and the life lessons they learn along the way will help them as they pursue
careers in business, education, athletics administration, communications, law, medicine and many more fields.
Professional opportunities are extremely limited and the likelihood of a college athlete becoming a professional athlete is low. The
likelihood of an NCAA student-athlete earning a college degree is much greater: The graduation success rate for student-athletes
attending a Division I school is 89%. The academic success rate for Division II is 76%; the rate for Division III is 88%.
Learn as Much
as You Can
If you decide to transfer, the NCAA wants to help
your education and sports participation continue as
smoothly as possible. But you have a responsibility
as well. Learn as much as you can to protect your
athletics eligibility and ensure that you will graduate on
time. While staff at the NCAA and its member schools
can give you advice, you need to understand how
transfer rules apply to you before you decide to move
to a new school.
This guide introduces you to the key issues involved
in transferring. Before you transfer, you may need
more information. Key people, including your coach or
compliance administrator, can help you successfully
work through the process. Take advantage of all the
information available to you.
» Visit ncaa.org/transfer for FAQs and resources on
key topics.
» Talk to people at your current school,
including staff in the athletics department,
compliance office or your academic advisor.
» Call the conference of the school you
are considering.
» Call the NCAA at 317-917-6008,
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Percentage of College Athletes Who Become Professional Athletes
Men’s
Basketball
Women’s
Basketball Football Baseball
Men’s Ice
Hockey
High School Student-Athletes 540,800 399,100 1,006,000 482,700 35,300
NCAA Student-Athletes 18,800 16,500 73,700 36,000 4,300
NCAA Student-Athletes Drafted 52 31 254 791 71
*Percentage High School to NCAA 3.5% 4.1% 7.3% 7.5% 12.3%
*Percentage NCAA to Professional 1.2% 0.8% 1.6% 9.9% 7.4%
*Percentages of NCAA to major professional figures are based on the number of draft picks made in the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB and NHL drafts.
5
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Transfer Checklist
ADMISSIONS
Have you applied to the admissions department at the school you are transferring to?
INITIAL ELIGIBILITY
Have you registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
» To play at a Division I or II school (or Division III school if you are
an international student-athlete), you must register with the
Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org.
» See page 9 for more information.
ELIGIBILITY CLOCK
Do you have any remaining eligibility to compete in your sport after transferring?
» Student-athletes have four seasons to compete in each sport.
» See Eligibility Clock for more information.
TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY
In some cases, student-athletes who transfer to an NCAA school must sit out of
competition for an academic year of residence at their new school.
» You may be able to compete immediately if you meet division-specific
two-year transfer criteria and/or a transfer exception.
» See transfer exceptions for more information.
OTHER TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS
Do you meet other transfer requirements?
» After initiating the proper transfer protocol with your current school, you may ask the
compliance staff at your new school if you meet all transfer requirements.
6
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
CASE STUDY
How Do Transfer Rules
Apply to You?
Note: This following information is for student-athletes transferring from a two-year school (junior or community college) to a
four-year school. Students currently attending a four-year school should refer to the Guide for Four-Year Transfers, available at
ncaapublications.com.
You may be wondering how soon you can compete after you transfer. Before you can answer that question, you need to follow
these steps to understand how the transfer rules apply to your situation:
1. Determine if you are a transfer student-athlete.
2. Decide where you are going.
3. Understand your initial-eligibility status.
4. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, if needed.
The rules also depend on whether you currently attend a two- or four-year school. For instance, if you attend a two-year
school (community college or junior college) and want to transfer to an NCAA Division I or II school, you may need to graduate
first from your two-year school before you can compete at your new school. If you transfer before you graduate, you may have
to sit out of competition for an academic year of residence before you can compete.
The following information will help guide you through the process to determine if you qualify to
transfer and what you must do to transfer.
1. Determine if You Are a Transfer Student-Athlete
To learn which transfer rules apply to your situation, you first need to determine
whether your situation meets the common definition of a transfer.
Ask yourself if you have met any of the conditions — called ‘‘transfer triggers” —
of a typical transfer situation:
1. Have you been a full-time student at a two- or four-year school during a
regular academic term?
2. Have you practiced or competed with a college team? This includes during
any full- or part-time enrollment and includes reporting to any practice
that occurred prior to the start of an academic term.
3. Have you received athletics aid from a college while attending
summer school?
4. Have you received financial aid while attending an NCAA Division I school
during the summer?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you are likely a transfer
student-athlete because you have met conditions that trigger your transfer
status. Now you need to learn how to meet the transfer rules so you can play
your sport at a new NCAA school.
If you answered “no” to all the above questions, you probably are not a
transfer student-athlete and the transfer rules may not apply to you. Contact the
compliance staff at your new school and ask them to certify your eligibility status.
Jaylon was recruited to play
basketball at a two-year school. He
enrolled in classes as a full-time
student and attended class on the
first day of the semester.
On the fourth day of class, Jaylon
went to the registrar’s office and
dropped from 12 credit hours to nine,
making him a part-time student for
the rest of the semester.
At the end of the semester, Jaylon
decided that he wanted to transfer to
an NCAA school.
Is Jaylon a transfer student-athlete?
Yes. The transfer rules applied to
Jaylon the minute he became a full-
time student and went to class on
the first day of the semester.
7
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
2. Decide Where You Are Going
Now that you know if you are a transfer student-athlete, you need to decide which school you want to attend. As you think
about new schools, keep in mind academics are just as important as athletics. Your new school should help you meet all your
goals – on the field, in the classroom and in life.
Each NCAA school is part of a division and a conference, and has its own admission policies. Transfer rules are different
for each NCAA division and may be more restrictive for some conferences.
Learn more about your new school’s division
As you research schools, take time to learn more about each NCAA division. Schools in Divisions I and II may offer
athletics scholarships to cover tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Division III schools do not award athletics
scholarships but do offer financial aid based on academics or need.
» See page 8 for more on the NCAA’s three divisions.
Learn more about your new school’s conference
In some cases, conference transfer rules can be more restrictive than NCAA rules, so you need to have a clear
picture before you make a move. For instance, conferences may differ on how long you must attend a new school
before you may compete.
Learn more about your new school’s admission policies
Meeting the NCAA transfer rules does not guarantee you will be admitted to a new school. You also need to
meet the school’s admission requirements — including academic standards — before you can play NCAA sports.
» Visit on.ncaa.com/MemberMap for a full list of NCAA schools, sorted by
division, sport and conference, and a database with contact information for
each school's athletic department.
» Talk to the academic, admissions and financial aid offices at the school you
wish to attend to make sure the school will be a good fit for you.
8
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
1 in 22 1 in 9 1 in 6
36%
25%
39%
DIVISION
*The number of schools for each division is current as of the 2022-23 academic year. This does not include reclassifying, provisional or exploratory schools.
Student-athlete participation numbers include NCAA championship sports only and are current as of the 2021-22 academic year.
8,449 1,6552,300
19
16
19
293
(27%)
351
(33%)
433
(40%)
How is each division governed?
NCAA schools develop and approve
legislation for their own divisions. Groups of
presidents and chancellors lead each division
in the form of committees with regularly
scheduled meetings.
What are the eligibility
requirements in each division?
If you want to compete at an NCAA school,
you must meet academic and/or amateurism
standards set by NCAA members. Academic
and amateurism standards are outlined in
this guide and can be found on each division’s
page on ncaa.org.
Our Three Divisions
The NCAA’s three divisions were created in 1973 to align like-minded
campuses in the areas of fairness, competition and opportunity.
MEDIAN
UNDERGRADUATE
ENROLLMENT
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
TEAMS PER SCHOOL
STUDENTS WHO
ARE ATHLETES
PERCENTAGE OF NCAA
STUDENT-ATHLETES
IN EACH DIVISION
ATHLETICS
SCHOLARSHIPS
DID YOU KNOW?
Multiyear, cost-of-attendance
athletics scholarships available
58% of athletes
receive athletics aid
Partial athletics
scholarship model
67% of athletes
receive athletics aid
No athletics
scholarships
80% of athletes
receive nonathletics aid
Division III’s largest
school has 27,642
undergraduates.
The smallest? 228.
Division II is the only
division with schools
in Alaska, Puerto
Rico and Canada.
NUMBER OF
SCHOOLS*
Division I student-
athletes graduate at
a higher rate than the
general student body.
9
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
3. Understand Your Initial-Eligibility Status
Once you know whether you are a transfer student-athlete and have identified the school you want to attend, you need to find out
what your initial-eligibility status is for your new school.
Why do you need to know your initial-eligibility status?
In part, your initial-eligibility status determines which transfer rules apply to you and how many seasons of competition you may
have remaining to play at your new school.
What is your initial-eligibility status?
High school student-athletes who want to compete in NCAA sports during their first year at a Division I or II school need to meet
certain division-wide academic standards. Your initial-eligibility status indicates whether you meet the academic standards to
compete in your first year at a Division I or II school.
The NCAA Eligibility Center will determine your initial-eligibility status based on the NCAA-approved core courses you took in high
school, the grades and number of credits you earned in those courses. If you do not have an academic initial-eligibility status, talk
to the compliance office at your new school.
Division III schools set their own admissions and academic requirements. If your first college enrollment was at a Division III
school, you probably were not assigned an academic initial-eligibility status by the Eligibility Center. However, international
student-athletes (first-year enrollees and transfers) enrolling at a Division III school after Aug. 1, 2023, must be certified as an
amateur by the Eligibility Center. If you are transferring to a Division III school, you need to meet the admission requirements of the
school you plan to attend.
4. Register With the NCAA Eligibility Center, if Needed
By now you should know if you are a transfer student-athlete, which school you want to attend and what your initial-eligibility
status is. If you want to transfer to a Division I or II school and you have never registered with the Eligibility Center, you need to
visit eligibilitycenter.org to register before you continue the transfer process.
If you have not registered with the Eligibility Center, your initial-eligibility status is “nonqualifier.” Schools cannot assume you are
a qualifier or partial qualifier.
Visit ncaa.org/student-athletes/future to
learn more about initial-eligibility statuses.
10
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
When Can You Play?
There are several aspects of your college experience that determine when
you may compete after transferring. Find the chart on the following pages
that applies to you to figure out when you may compete.
Depending on your college experience, you may be able to compete as soon
as you transfer or you may need to spend one academic year as a full-time
student at your new school before you are eligible to compete.
For your academic year of residence to count, you must attend classes only
at the school where you plan to compete and be a full-time student (at least
12 credit hours). You cannot meet this requirement by attending your new
school part time or by not attending school at all.
Each school determines its own full-time status, so check with the
compliance office at your new school to find out how many credit hours
you need to take.
» For a semester or quarter to count toward your academic year of
residence, you must enroll before the 12th day of that academic term.
Additional progress-toward-degree rules from the NCAA, your new school
or your new school’s conference may affect when you can play. For more
information, talk to the compliance office at your new school.
If you are an international student and attend a two-year school outside of
the United States, use the rules for student-athletes at four-year schools in
the Four-Year Transfer Guide.
Jackson transferred to an NCAA
school before the beginning of the
school year and is sitting out a year.
He completed 12 credit hours in the
fall and 12 credit hours in the spring.
At his new school, students who
take 12 credit hours are considered
full-time students.
Did Jackson complete his
academic year of residence?
Yes. Since Jackson completed two
full-time semesters (12 + 12), he
satisfied the full-time requirement
for the year.
Sydney transferred to an NCAA
school and is sitting out a year. At
her new school, students with 12
credit hours are considered full-
time students.
Sydney completed 12 hours in the
fall. In the spring, she enrolled for
nine hours and was considered a
part-time student.
Did Sydney complete her
academic year of residence?
No. Sydney did not complete two
semesters as a full-time student.
She must still complete a second
semester as a full-time student
before she has fulfilled her
academic year of residence.
11
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Planning To Go Division I 2-4 TRANSFER
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses to fulfill
the transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a degree
program requiring physical education activity courses. Remedial English and math classes
may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
** If you are a baseball, softball or basketball student-athlete who transfers to a new school in
the middle of the academic year, you may not compete until the fall term.
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND A DIVISION I SCHOOL.
YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME.
You are a qualifier: You are a nonqualifier or academic
redshirt (or qualifier who does not meet
criteria listed on the left side of this page):
At your two-year school, did you:
At your two-year school, did you:
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses to fulfill
the transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a degree
program requiring physical education activity courses.
** If you are a baseball, softball or basketball student-athlete who transfers to a new school in
the middle of the academic year, you may not compete until the fall term.
1. Complete at least one semester or quarter as a full-time
student? Summer school does not count.
2. Complete an average of 12 transferable credit hours in each
term you attended full time?*
3. Earn a GPA of 2.5 in those transferable credit hours?
1. Graduate from your two-year school? You must have earned
25% of your credit hours at the two-year school awarding
your degree.
2. Complete at least three semesters or four quarters as a full-
time student? Summer school does not count.
3. Complete 48 transferable credit hours if your school uses
semesters or 72 transferable credit hours if your school
uses quarters? *Your transferable credit hours must include
all the following subjects:
» English: Six hours if your school uses semesters or eight
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Math: Three hours if your school uses semesters or four
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Science: Three hours if your school uses semesters or
four hours if your school uses quarters.
4. Earn a GPA of 2.5 in those transferable credit hours?
If YES to all If NO to any
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship and
compete as soon
as you transfer.**
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you sit out for
an academic
year of
residence.
If YES to all If YES to questions 1-3, NO to
question 4, and your GPA
is 2.00–2.49
If NO to any
You can practice,
compete and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.**
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you sit out for
an academic
year of
residence.
You cannot
practice, get
an athletics
scholarship or
compete until
you sit out for an
academic year of
residence.
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
12
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND A DIVISION I SCHOOL.
YOU ATTENDED A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME AND NOW ATTEND A TWO-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME.
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses to fulfill
the transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a degree
program requiring physical education activity courses.
Remedial English and math classes may not be used to satisfy this requirement. Transferable
English, math and natural/physical science courses earned at previous four-year college may
be used.
** If you are a baseball, softball or basketball student-athlete who transfers to a new school in
the middle of the academic year, you may not compete until the fall term.
You are a nonqualifier or
academic redshirt:
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses to fulfill the
transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a degree program
requiring physical education activity courses.
** If you are a baseball, softball or basketball student-athlete who transfers to a new school in
the middle of the academic year, you may not compete until the fall term.
A qualifier can also use the nonqualifier standard to avoid the year in residence.
1. Graduate from your two-year school? You must have earned
25% of your credit hours at the two-year school awarding
your degree.
2. Complete an average of 12 transferable credit hours for
each term you attended full time?*
3. Earn a GPA of 2.5 in those transferable credit hours?
4. Before competing for your new NCAA Division I school, has
one calendar year elapsed since your last day of enrollment
at your original four-year school?
1. Graduate from your two-year school? You must have earned
25% of your credit hours at the two-year school awarding
your degree.
2. Complete an average of 12 transferable credit hours for
each term you attended full time? *Your transferable credit
hours must include all the following subjects:
» English: Six hours if your school uses semesters or eight
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Math: Three hours if your school uses semesters or four
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Science: Three hours if your school uses semesters or
four hours if your school uses quarters.
3. Earn a GPA of 2.5 in those transferable credit hours?
4. Before competing for your new NCAA Division I school, has
one calendar year elapsed since your last day of enrollment
at your original four-year school?
You can
practice, get
an athletics
scholarship
and compete
as soon as you
transfer.**
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you sit out for
an academic
year of
residence.
You can
practice, get
an athletics
scholarship
and compete
as soon as you
transfer.**
You can practice
as soon as you
transfer if you
completed one
academic year at
all your colleges
combined.
You can get
an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer if you
completed one
full-time academic
term at your two-
year school.
You can practice
and get an athletics
scholarship, but
cannot compete
until one calendar
year has elapsed.
You cannot
compete until
you sit out for
an academic
year of
residence.
You can practice and get an athletics
scholarship, but cannot compete until one
calendar year has elapsed.
If YES to all If NO to any
If NO to question 4 only
If NO to question 4 only
You are a
qualifier:
At your two-year school, did you: At your two-year school, did you:
If NO to anyIf YES to all
Planning To Go Division I 4-2-4 TRANSFER
13
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Additional DII 2-4 transfer information on page 14
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education activity courses to fulfill
the transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a degree
program requiring physical education activity courses.
Remedial courses may not be used to satisfy these requirements.
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
You have never attended a four-year
school full time, are a qualifier and
have attended only one semester or
quarter at a two-year school full time:
1.
Complete only one semester or quarter as a full-time student?
Summer school does not count.
2. Complete at least 12 transferable credit hours for the
semester or quarter you attended full time?*
3. Earn a GPA of 2.2 in all transferable credit hours?
4. Earn at least nine-semester or eight quarter hours during your
last full-time term.
If NO to any
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship and
compete as soon as
you transfer.
Please refer to the
right-hand column
of this page.
If YES to all
At your two-year school, did you:
You have never attended a four-year
school full time, have been enrolled for
more than one full-time term in a
two-year school but have not graduated
and are a qualifier or partial qualifier:
1. Complete at least two semesters or three quarters as a
full-time student? Summer school does not count.
2. Complete an average of 12 transferable credit hours for
each term you attended full time, earning a GPA of 2.2 in all
transferable credit hours? *Your transferable credit hours must
include all the following subjects:
» E nglish: Six hours if your school uses semesters or eight
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Math: Three hours if your school uses semesters or four
hours if your school uses quarters.
» Science: Three hours if your school uses semesters or four
hours if your school uses quarters.
3. Earn at least nine-semester or eight quarter hours during your
last full-time term.
If YES to all
If NO to question 3 only
If NO to question 1 or 2
You can
practice, get
an athletics
scholarship
and compete
as soon as you
transfer.
At your two-year school, did you:
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you successfully
complete nine
credit hours toward
a degree during a
full-time term.
Planning To Go Division II 2-4 TRANSFER
You can practice and get
an athletics scholarship as
soon as you transfer but
cannot compete.
14
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
If NO to question
2 only
Planning To Go Division II
Continued from page 13
YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME.
YOU GRADUATED FROM YOUR TWO-YEAR SCHOOL.
If you are a qualifier or partial qualifier and
graduated from your two-year school:
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship and
compete as soon
as you transfer.
Please refer to
the right-hand
column on
page 13 for the
transfer option
more closely
related to your
situation.
You can
practice
and get an
athletics
scholarship
as soon as
you transfer.
You cannot
compete
until you
successfully
complete nine
credit hours
toward a
degree during
a full-time
term.
At your two-year school, did you:
If NO to question
3 only
If YES to all
2-4 TRANSFER
1. Complete at least two
semesters or three quarters as a full-time
student? Summer school does not count.
2. Earn at least 25% of the credit hours needed to fulfill the degree
requirement at the two-year school awarding your degree?
3. Earn at least nine-semester or eight-quarter hours during your
last full-time term.
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
15
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
If you attended only one semester or
quarter at a two-year school full time
and graduated and are a qualifier or
partial qualifier:
If you did not graduate from
the two-year school and are a
qualifier or partial qualifier:
1. Graduate from your
two-year school?
2.
Complete only one semester or quarter as a full-time student?
3. Earn at least nine-semester or eight-quarter hours during
your last full-time term.
1. Com
plete at least two semesters or three quarters as a
full-time student? Summer school does not count.
2. Complete an average of 12 transferable credit hours for
each term you attended full time, earning a GPA of 2.2 in all
transferable credit hours? *Your transferable credit hours
must include all the following subjects:
» English: Six hours if your school uses semesters or
eight hours if your school uses quarters.
» Math: Three hours if your school uses semesters or
four hours if your school uses quarters.
» Science: Three hours if your school uses semesters or
four hours if your school uses quarters.
3. Earn at least nine-semester or eight-quarter hours during
your last full-time term.
At your two-year school, did you:
At your two-year school, did you:
YOU ATTENDED A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME AND
NOW ATTEND A TWO-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME.
Planning To Go Division II
Additional DII 4-2-4 transfer information on page 16
4-2-4 TRANSFER
* You may not use more than two credit hours of physical education-activity courses to
fulfill the transferable degree credit and GPA requirements unless you are enrolling in a
degree program requiring physical education-activity courses.
Remedial English and math classes may not be used. Transferable English, math and
natural/physical science courses earned at previous four-year college may be used.
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship
and compete
as soon as you
transfer.
Please refer to the
right-hand column of
this page.
Please refer to page
16 for the transfer
option more closely
related to your
situation.
You can practice and get
an athletics scholarship
as soon as you transfer.
You cannot com
pete
until you successfully
complete nine-
semester or eight-
quarters hours toward
a degree during a full-
time term.
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship and
compete as soon as
you transfer.
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you complete
nine-semester
or eight-
quarters hours
toward a deg
ree
during a full-time
t
erm.
If NO to question
1 only
If NO to question
2 only
If NO to question
3 only
If NO to
question 3 only
If YES to all
If YES to all
If NO to question 1 or 2
You can practice and get
an athletics scholarship as
soon as you transfer but
cannot compete.
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
16
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
YOU ATTENDED A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME AND NOW ATTEND A TWO-YEAR SCHOOL FULL TIME.
YOU ATTENDED THE TWO-YEAR SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST TWO SEMESTERS OR THREE QUARTERS
FULL TIME AND GRADUATED.
1. Complete at least two
semesters or three quarters as
a full-time student?
2. Graduate and earn at least 25% of the credit hours needed
to fulfill the degree requirement at the two-year school
awarding your degree?
3. Earn at least nine-semester or eight-quarter hours during
your last full-time term.
You can practice,
get an athletics
scholarship and
compete as soon
as you transfer.
Please refer to the
right-hand column
on page 15
for the transfer
option more closely
related to your
situation.
You can
practice and
get an athletics
scholarship as
soon as you
transfer.
You cannot
compete until
you complete
nine-semester
or eight-quart
er
hours toward a
degree during a
full-time term.
At your two-year school, did you:
If you are a qualifier or partial qualifier:
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
If NO to either
question 1 or 3
If NO to question
3 only
If YES to all
Planning To Go Division II
Continued from page 15
4-2-4 TRANSFER
17
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
If you have never attended a
four-year school:
If you attended a four-year school and
now attend a two-year school:
At your two-year school, did you practice or compete in
intercollegiate sports?
1. At the time of transfer from your previous four-year school,
would you have been athletically and academically eligible
had you remained at your previous four-year school without
ever attending the two-year school?
2. At your two-year school, did you complete at least two full-
time semesters or three quarters (summer school does not
count) AND complete 24 transferable credit hours if your
school used semesters or 36 transferable credit hours if
your school used quarters?
You can compete
immediately after
your transfer ONLY
IF you would have
been academically and
athletically eligible to
compete had you stayed
at your two-year school.
You are immediately
eligible to compete
upon transfer to the
Division III school.
If YES to either
question 1 or 2
If NO to both questions
1 and 2
You can compete
immediately upon
transfer to the
Division III school.
You are not eligible
to compete for a
Division III school
until you have served
an academic year of
residence at the
Division III school.
A 4-2-4 transfer can become
eligible after a term(s) in residence
at the certifying Division III
school provided the student has
enrolled full time for at least
two semesters or three quarters
between the two-year school and
the certifying Division III school,
AND the student has earned a
total of 24 semester or 36 quarter
hours while enrolled at the two-
year school and Division III school.
Hours at the two-year school must
be transferable-degree credits.
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND A DIVISION III SCHOOL.
If NOIf YES
Disclaimer: Your academics and athletics eligibility must be certified by the compliance office at the NCAA school you are transferring to.
Planning To Go Division III
18
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Transfer Exceptions
There are a number of transfer exceptions that could allow you to practice, compete or receive an athletics scholarship during
your first year at your new school. Remember, other school or conference rules also may affect your timeline. Talk to the
compliance office at your new school about whether you qualify for a transfer exception. Your new school will decide if you
qualify. If you don't meet a transfer exception, you will need to meet all transfer criteria listed within the 2-4 or 4-2-4 sections
outlined previously in this guide.
Basic Restrictions for Transfer Exceptions
There are several basic restrictions for transfer exceptions:
» An individual who was not a qualifier for Division I shall not be permitted to use the following exceptions as a 2-4 transfer.
» An individual who was not a qualifier for Division II shall not be permitted to use the following transfer exceptions.
» If you signed a National Letter of Intent and transfer during your first year as a full-time college student, you may not be able
to compete at your new school for a certain period of time. Learn more about the NLI program on page 23.
» You may not use an exception if you are completing a year of residence at your current school.
» If you are a baseball, softball or basketball student-athlete and transfer to a Division I school at the start of winter or spring
term, you will not be eligible to compete until the next fall term.
19
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
If You Have Never Attended a Four-Year School
1. Your sport is dropped or not sponsored at your two-year school but you plan to attend
a Division I or II school.
If your current school drops your sport, or if it did not sponsor your sport while you were a
student, you may use an exception to compete immediately after transferring to a
Division I or II school.
» You may use this exception only if you transfer after your current school publicly
announces it will drop your sport.
» To qualify for this exception, you must have a GPA of at least 2.5 for Division I
or 2.2 for Division II.
2. You plan to attend a Division II school but have not been recruited by that school.
If you have never been recruited by the Division II school you plan to attend, you may use an
exception to compete immediately after transferring to a Division II school. To qualify for this
exception, you must meet all the following conditions:
» You have not received an athletics scholarship.
» You have not competed for any previous school, and you have not participated in any
countable athletically related activities beyond a 14-consecutive-calendar period at any
previous school.
3. You have not participated in your sport for two years and plan to attend
a Division I or II school.
If you have not participated in your sport for two years, you may use an exception to compete
immediately if you meet one of the following conditions:
» You have not competed with an intercollegiate sports team for two years before
practicing or competing with your new school.
» You have not practiced for more than a 14 consecutive calendar day period
with an intercollegiate sports team for two years before practicing or competing
with your new school.
» You did not practice or compete in noncollegiate amateur competition for two years while
you were a full-time student.
4. You plan to attend a Division III school.
If you plan to attend a Division III school, you may be eligible to compete immediately if you
meet an exception. To qualify, you must meet any of the following conditions:
» You have never practiced nor competed in intercollegiate athletics.
» You would have been academically and athletically eligible at the time of transfer.
» You have not practiced or competed with an intercollegiate sports team for two
consecutive years.
20
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
CASE STUDY
If You Have Attended a Four-Year School
and Now Attend a Two-Year School
If you have attended a four-year school but now attend a two-year school and want
to transfer to an NCAA school, you may use an exception to compete immediately if
you meet one of the following conditions:
1. You want to return to your original school.
2. Your sport was not sponsored at your first four-year school.
3. You have not participated in your sport for two years.
4. You plan to attend a Division II school but have not been
recruited by that school.
5. You plan to attend a Division III school.
1. You want to return to your original school.
If you attend a two-year school but want to transfer back to the Division I or II
school you previously attended, you may use an exception to compete
immediately, provided you were eligible at the time you transferred
from your Division I or II school.
2. Your sport was not sponsored at your first four-year school.
If the first four-year school you attended did not sponsor your sport while you
were a student, you may be able to use this exception to compete immediately
after transferring to a Division I or II school if you meet all the following conditions:
» You have not attended another four-year school that offered your sport.
» You completed an average of 12 transferable credit hours at your
two-year school.
» You earned a GPA of at least 2.5 for Division I or 2.2 for Division II in those
transferable credit hours.
» If you are transferring to a Division I school, this exception only applies if you
were a Division I qualifier.
» If you are transferring to a Division II school, this exception only applies if
you were a Division II qualifier and your current two-year school also never
sponsored your sport at the intercollegiate level.
3. You have not participated in your sport for two years.
If you have not participated in your sport for two years, you may use an exception
to compete immediately if you meet one of the following conditions:
» You have not competed with an intercollegiate sports team during the two
years prior to practicing or competing with your new school.
» You have not practiced for more than a 14 consecutive calendar day period
with an intercollegiate sports team during the two years prior to practicing or
competing with your new school.
» You did not practice or compete in noncollegiate amateur competition for two
years while you were a full-time student.
Ryan enrolled at a Division I
school, was a qualifier and
was on the swimming and
diving team.
He then transferred to a two-
year school and was on the
swimming and diving team there
as well. He did not receive an
Associate of Arts (AA) degree.
Now, Ryan wants to return to his
original Division I school.
Must Ryan serve an academic
year of residence at the
Division I school?
No. Even though he does not
meet the requirements because
he did not earn his AA degree
from the two-year school,
Ryan does not have to serve an
academic year of residence at
the Division I school because
he is returning to his original
school and was not sitting out an
academic year of residence when
he transferred.
21
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
4. You plan to attend a Division II school but have not been recruited by that school.
If you have never been recruited by the Division II school you plan to attend, you may use an exception to
compete immediately after transferring to a Division II school. To qualify for this exception, you must meet all
the following conditions:
» You have not received an athletics scholarship.
» You have not competed for any previous school nor participated in any practice activities beyond a 14
consecutive calendar day period at any previous school.
5. You plan to attend a Division III school.
If you plan to attend a Division III school, you may be eligible to compete immediately if you meet an exception.
To qualify, you must meet any of the following conditions:
» You have never practiced nor competed in intercollegiate athletics.
»
You would have been academically and athletically eligible at the time of transfer if you stayed at your original
four-year school.
» If you were not academically and athletically eligible at your original four-year school, then you must have
been enrolled full time for at least two semesters (three quarters) at your current two-year college and
have successfully completed at least 24-semester or 36-quarter transferable-degree credit hours.
» You have not practiced or competed with an intercollegiate sports team for two consecutive years.
22
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Eligibility Clock
Each division has different academic standards for maintaining academic eligibility. All the standards are designed to
move the student-athlete toward graduation in a timely manner. As a transfer student, certification of your academic
eligibility will happen once you are enrolled at your new school and includes an evaluation of your transfer credits. The
compliance office at your new school can assist with this.
If you compete at a Division I school, you have five calendar years to play four seasons of competition. Your five-
year clock starts when you enroll as a full-time student at any two- or four-year school. Your clock continues to tick
down, even if you spend an academic year of residence as a result of transferring, redshirting, not attending school
or enrolling part time during your college career.
If you compete at a Division II or III school, you have 10 full-time semesters or 15 full-time quarters to play four
seasons of competition. You use a semester or quarter when you attend classes at a two- or four-year school as
a full-time student or when you enroll part time and compete for your school. You do not use a term if you are not
enrolled or if you attend part time without competing.
23
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Important NCAA Terms
Academic year of residence (commonly referred to as “sitting
out”): You may need to spend an academic year of residence
without competing at your new school unless you qualify for
a transfer exception. For an academic year of residence to
count, you must complete a full-time program of studies for
two semesters or three quarters. Summer school and part-time
enrollment do not count toward an academic year of residence.
Certifying school: The new school you want to attend
determines whether you are eligible to play.
Continuing-eligibility rules (rules affecting how long you may
compete in a certain sport):
» Division I: If you play at a Division I school, you have
five calendar years to play four seasons of competition.
Your five-year clock starts when you enroll as a full-time
student at any college. Your clock continues to tick down,
even if you spend an academic year of residence as a
result of transferring, redshirting, not attending school or
enrolling part time during your college career.
» Divisions II and III: If you play at a Division II or III school,
you have the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which
you attend as a full-time student to complete your four
seasons of participation. You use a semester or quarter
any time you attend class as a full-time student or enroll
part time and compete for the school. You do not use a
term if you only attend part time with no competition or
are not enrolled for a term.
Financial aid (commonly referred to as “scholarship”): Any
money for school you receive from a college or another source.
Financial aid may be based on athletics, financial need or
academic achievement.
Full time: Each school determines what “full-time” status
means. Typically, you are a full-time student if you are enrolled
for at least 12 credit hours in a term. Some schools define a full-
time student as someone who takes fewer than 12 credit hours
in a term.
Initial-eligibility rules: Initial-eligibility rules determine
whether you may practice, compete and receive an athletics
scholarship during your first year at a Division I or II school.
International students: An international student is any
student who attends a two- or four-year school outside the
United States.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA):
The national governing body for over 1,100 colleges, universities,
conferences and organizations.
NCAA Eligibility Center: The NCAA Eligibility Center evaluates
your high school academic record and/or amateurism history to
determine if you are eligible to participate during your first year
at a Division I, II or III school.
National Letter of Intent: NCAA schools that are part
of the NLI program may send an NLI to a college-bound
student-athlete they have recruited to participate in their
intercollegiate sports program.
The letter is a legally binding contract. It explains what athletics
financial aid the school agrees to provide the student-athlete
for one full academic year, only if the student is admitted to the
school and eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. If you sign
an NLI, you agree to attend that school for one academic year
and other schools that are part of the NLI program can no longer
recruit you. For more information, visit nationalletter.org. The
NLI program is not administered by the NCAA.
Nonqualifier: A student-athlete planning to attend a Division I
school who has not met academic requirements to be a Division I
qualifier will be deemed a nonqualifier. If you are a nonqualifier, you
may not practice, compete or receive an athletics scholarship from
a Division I school during your first year of full-time enrollment.
(Division II does not have nonqualifiers.)
Partial qualifier: Any Division II student has not met the
requirements necessary to be a qualifier. If you are a partial
qualifier, you can practice on campus and receive financial
aid from a Division II school, but you cannot compete for one
academic year. Division I does not have partial qualifiers.
Qualifier: A student who, for purposes of determining eligibility
for financial aid, practice and competition, has:
» Graduated from high school.
» Earned the required number of core-course credits in the
required subject areas.
» Earned a minimum GPA in the required subject areas.
» For information on Division I and II initial-eligibility
requirements, visit on.ncaa.com/IE_Flyer.
Recruited: If a college coach contacts you off campus, pays
your expenses to visit the campus, or (in Divisions I and II)
issues you an NLI or a written offer of financial aid, you are
considered recruited. Prospective student-athletes will also
be considered as recruited if a school initiates or arranges a
telephone contact on more than one occasion for the purposes
of recruitment.
Transfer exception: A transfer exception allows you to
practice, compete or receive an athletics scholarship during your
first year at your new school. Your new school decides if you
qualify for a transfer exception.
24
2023-24 TWO-YEAR TRANSFER GUIDE
Transfer trigger: A condition that can affect your transfer
status. A student who triggers transfer status is
a student who:
» Has been a full-time student at a two- or four-year school
during a regular academic term. Classes taken during
summer terms do not count.
» Practiced with a college team.
» Practiced or competed while enrolled as a
part-time student.
» Received athletics aid from a college while attending
summer school.
Note: This is not a complete list for Divisions I, II or III.
Please consult with your NCAA school's compliance office
for a complete review.
Transferable credit hours: Credit hours earned at your
previous school that your new school will accept toward your
degree. Each school determines how many and which credit
hours are acceptable for transferring.
Two-year college: A school where students can earn an
Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of
Applied Science degree within two years. Also referred to as
“community” or “junior” colleges.
Waiver: An action that sets aside an NCAA rule because a
specific, extraordinary circumstance prevents you from meeting
the rule. Only an NCAA school may file a waiver on your behalf;
you cannot file a waiver for yourself. The school does not
administer the waiver; the conference office or NCAA does.
Walk-on: Someone who is not typically recruited by a school
to participate in sports and does not receive an athletics
scholarship from the school, but who becomes a member of one
of the school’s athletics teams.
