Eligibility Regulations for Student-Athletes

Freshman Eligibility

A student-athlete who enrolls as an entering freshman with no previous full-time college attendance must meet the following academic requirements to qualify for competition, practice, and financial aid during the first academic year in residence. For students entering any college or university, initial eligibility will be evaluated by the NCAA Eligibility Center process based on the following academic requirements:

1. Standardized test scores are not currently required for initial eligibility certification based on the COVID-19 Automatic Waiver criteria for 2022-23 or 2023-24 enrollment.  However, a prospective student athlete may still use a qualifying standardized test score for the purposes of obtaining initial eligibility.
2. Present a minimum cumulative grade point average as specified in the NCAA Initial Eligibility Index in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 16 academic core courses, including the following:
   • 4 years of English
   • 3 years of Mathematics (Algebra 1 or higher)
   • 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab)
   • 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science
   • 2 years of social science
   • 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non-doctrinal religion/philosophy
   • In addition to the requirement of completing 16 academic core courses, ten (10) core courses must be completed prior to the start of the prospective student athlete’s seventh semester of high school.  Of those ten core courses, seven must be from English, Math and Natural/Physical Science.

3. Finally, the prospective student athlete must successfully graduate from high school. 

Continuing Eligibility

To be eligible to represent an institution in intercollegiate athletics following the completion of one year of competition or residence, a student-athlete must maintain satisfactory progress toward a baccalaureate or graduate degree as determined by the University. A student-athlete must also maintain NCAA progress towards degree requirements which include the following:

• 24 semester hours of academic credit before the student-athlete enters his or her second year of collegiate enrollment;
• 18 semester hours of degree applicable academic credit per academic year (using fall and spring semesters only; and,
• 6 hours of degree applicable academic credit per term.

GPA Requirements:

• 90% of the minimum cumulative GPA necessary for graduation by the start of the second year of enrollment (1.800);
• 95% of the minimum cumulative GPA necessary for graduation by the start of the third year of enrollment (1.900);
• 100% of the minimum cumulative GPA necessary for graduation by the start of the fourth year and thereafter (2.000);

Percentage of course requirements in the student-athlete’s specific degree program that must be completed successfully are based on terms of collegiate enrollment:

• Entering his or her third year of collegiate enrollment: 40% of degree requirements
• Entering his or her fourth year of collegiate enrollment: 60% of degree requirements
• Entering his or her fifth year of collegiate enrollment: 80% of degree requirements
• For student-athletes in five-year degree programs, the percentage of course requirements are 33%, 50%, and 67% respectively (such as a 4+1 program).

*Graduate students must successfully complete six (6) degree applicable credit hours per term; all other requirements listed above apply only to baccalaureate students.

Transfer Eligibility

Transferring is a process unique to each student-athlete and can include a number of eligibility factors based upon whether the student-athlete is a transfer from a four-year school (consisting of NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA institutions) or a two-year school (consisting of junior colleges and community colleges competing in the NJCAA).  In addition, a transfer from another NCAA institution must be entered into the transfer portal prior to communicating with representatives of Campbell University.

Generally, student who transfers to Campbell University from any collegiate institution is required to complete a full year of residence before being able to compete in intercollegiate competition, unless the student satisfies applicable transfer requirements or receives an exception or waiver of NCAA transfer legislation. A student-athlete who seeks to transfer to Campbell should remain in close contact with their respective coach and is encouraged to communicate with the Compliance Office with additional questions or for other assistance.

Institutional Policies

Campbell University complies with all applicable NCAA eligibility legislation as defined by NCAA Bylaw 14. In addition to the minimum requirements for competition established by the NCAA, Big South Conference, Southern Conference and Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, the following policies are in effect:

• No student will be allowed to take part in any intercollegiate contest during a semester if he or she registered later than the seventh calendar day following the opening date of the semester.
• No undergraduate student who is taking less than twelve semester hours of scholastic work shall be permitted to represent the University in any contest or any public performance, unless during their last semester of enrollment and the student is taking classes sufficient to complete the degree.
• Anyone who has been placed on institutional probation may be considered ineligible for representation of the University in any contest or public performance.

The information above is a general summary of the eligibility rules for student-athletes. NCAA eligibility rules are complex and subject to review and change annually. For further information and current interpretations of NCAA legislation, please contact the Department of Athletics or visit Campbell University’s athletics website at www.gocamels.com and click on “Compliance”.