Athletes who plan to attend a junior college and then transfer to an NCAA university to be immediately eligible must satisfy specific academic requirements while attending the junior college.
These academic requirements will vary depending upon a number of factors. Those factors include:
- Was the athlete an NCAA Qualifier based on their academic record in high school?
- Is the athlete starting at the junior college as a freshman, or as a transfer from another college – especially if coming from a four-year college to do a 4-2-4 transfer back to another four-year college?
- How many years or semesters is the athlete planning to attend the junior college? Will the athlete be considered a part-time student for any of those semesters?
- Is the athlete thinking about attending the junior college beyond their second year of college enrollment?
Academic Eligibility Considerations for Current JUCO Athletes
Current junior college athletes who choose to stay at the junior college level for a second season of playing eligibility next year in their 3rd year of college attendance should keep a few points in mind:
- Academic eligibility upon transfer to an NCAA program often depends upon the number of semesters that an athlete attended a junior college as a full-time student. Attending a two-year college for an additional year or semester beyond the normal two years could possibly have negative consequences on academic eligibility when a junior college athlete transfers to join an NCAA athletic program.
- Eligibility upon transfer to an NCAA program also depends upon the number of credit hours earned during the last semester of full-time attendance at the junior college, as well as how many of those credit hours will be accepted as transferable credit at the NCAA university.
Do You Have Questions or Need Objective Advice?
If you have questions or need objective advice regarding your student-athlete’s academic eligibility situation, we can help. Schedule your confidential Eligibility Issues Consultation online, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.
