The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently released new transfer guides for student-athletes currently attending a two- or four-year institution and planning to transfer to a four-year NCAA school.

A recent study from the National Student Clearinghouse shows that 39 percent of full-time students who initially start at a four-year institution transfer at least once. However, student-athletes tend to transfer less often than their peers, usually due to more extensive engagement at their institution and the complexity of the transfer process, particularly for scholarship athletes.

In addition to speaking to coaches or athletic compliance officers about transferring, students and counselors should review the NCAA’s Four-Year Transfer Guide or Two-Year Transfer Guide. Both publications include a transfer checklist and important steps for students to consider before transferring.

Transitioning from one institution to another can be costly for student-athletes and non-athletes alike. NACAC offers a Transfer Admission Application Fee Waiver​ to help reduce the cost of transfer for those who need assistance. For more information on the transfer process, visit NACAC’s transfer webpage.

Tiziana G. Marchante is NACAC’s project coordinator for educational content and policy. You can reach her at tmarchante@nacacnet.org.