FAQs
According to the NCAA, once a student-athlete enters the transfer portal, their current institution has the ability to cancel or reduce their scholarship for the upcoming academic year. This means that a student-athlete may indeed lose their scholarship if they decide to enter the transfer portal.
Can I enter the transfer portal right now? ›
The Fall/Winter Transfer Portal
The first transfer portal window of the academic year operates in the fall. The most recent fall/winter window officially opened on December 4, 2023, and closed on January 2, 2024, giving athletes 30 days to enter the portal at the end of the regular season.
What happens if you enter the transfer portal and don't get picked up? ›
If you are currently receiving financial aid of any type, make sure you're aware of the terms. If you are on an athletic scholarship when you enter the Transfer Portal and do not get picked up by another school, your scholarship status could be at risk as early as the following term.
How many times can you transfer in the college transfer portal? ›
The NCAA will no longer limit the amount of times that athletes can transfer schools. Previously, athletes were allowed to transfer one time and play immediately, but they had to sit out a full year if they transferred schools a second time without a waiver.
Will my coach know if I enter the transfer portal? ›
YES, coaches will know if they can contact the student-athlete by viewing the student-athlete status. The WITHDRAWN status is defined as the student decided to not transfer and remain at the current institution.
Is entering the transfer portal worth it? ›
So entering the portal is effectively walking out on a pre-existing scholarship in many cases. This makes sense to a degree, that if you quit on the team they shouldn't have to pay for you. But in reality, many portal athletes will not find a great landing spot, and some won't find one at all.
Can you talk to other schools before entering the transfer portal? ›
While it is a violation to speak to a coach from a different school before entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, you are permitted to speak to student-athletes and alumni at any time to gain a better understanding of the prospective program.
How do you tell a coach you are transferring? ›
You first and foremost need to set up a meeting and meet with them in person to talk about the transfer at hand. That is the scariest part, is just putting yourself out there to schedule a meeting. You can tell them what the meeting is about or you can save that for during the meeting.
Can you return after entering transfer portal? ›
Players can ask the school through which they entered the portal to remove them. But once players ask to be entered, their school can cancel or reduce their scholarships for subsequent academic terms and has no obligation to take them back.
What are the downside to the transfer portal? ›
One of the most problematic aspects of the portal is that there is no mandatory orientation session for prospective transfer portal applicants that highlight the pros and cons of their decision and there are few guard rails that protect student-athletes from making impulsive decisions.
Transparency – While the transfer portal is a private database, it should be made public so that all athletes entering their names in the portal can see who else is in the database and make a more informed decision.
How many official visits do you get in the transfer portal? ›
The NCAA allows recruits an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools. Recruits are limited to one per school, unless there is a head coaching change after their visit, in which they are permitted a second visit.
Can you play immediately after transfer portal? ›
A new NCAA transfer rule will allow all undergraduate athletes to transfer and play immediately if they meet specific academic requirements, as the Division I Council on Wednesday approved emergency legislation announced by the NCAA.
Can anyone see the college transfer portal? ›
The NCAA Transfer Portal is only accessible to NCAA Division I (DI), Division II (DII), and Division III (DIII) coaches and administrators. NAIA and two-year colleges do not have access to the NCAA Transfer Portal. For college student-athletes, deciding to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal can be a game-changer.
What is the two transfer rule? ›
27. NCAA rules allow underclassmen to transfer once without having to sit out a year. But an additional transfer as an undergraduate generally requires the NCAA to grant a waiver allowing the athlete to compete immediately. Without it, the athlete would have to sit out for a year at the new school.
Do you have to pay back athletic scholarships if you transfer? ›
After you initiate the transfer process, your current scholarship should remain intact. Your scholarship for the following academic term, however, is not guaranteed.
Can I lose my scholarship? ›
When an organization awards you a scholarship, you're often expected to reflect that organization's standards and ethics. If you don't live up to those standards, there's always the chance that they'll take away your scholarship.
What does it mean when a college athlete enters the transfer portal? ›
The NCAA transfer portal is an online database meant to streamline the first step of an athlete's transfer process. Athletes tell their current school's compliance office they have decided to explore a transfer, and the compliance office then has two business days to enter that athlete's name into the portal.
Can you come back after entering the transfer portal? ›
But once players ask to be entered, their school can cancel or reduce their scholarships for subsequent academic terms and has no obligation to take them back. There have been instances where players return to a team after appearing in the transfer portal, but it has to be a mutual decision.