Multiple Transfers Linked to Lower Athlete Graduation

College athletes who transfer more than once face noticeably lower six-year graduation rates than peers who stay at one school.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in College Applications

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a single athlete crossing an open track in navy and cream, carrying a duffel bag, with warm golden light. — The NCAA's six-year data shows college athletes who transfer more than once graduate at notably lower rates than peers who stay at one school. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think college sports transfer rules are helping or hurting student-athletes' graduation?

The NCAA released data showing six-year graduation rates are lower for college athletes who transferred more than once than for those who never transferred. The findings come as the organization faces lawsuits over fifth-year eligibility and as federal legislation to limit such suits remains uncertain.

Why it matters

For student-athletes weighing a transfer, the data shows that multiple transfers are associated with meaningfully lower degree completion, which bears directly on the value of a scholarship year. The findings arrive as courts keep ruling against NCAA eligibility rules, leaving the rules that govern transfers in flux.

The gap is measured against athletes who never transferred, with the Bowl Subdivision football figure 27% lower and multiple-transfer rates 15 to 20 percentage points below non-transfers across sports. The cohort covers around 36,000 athletes who enrolled in the 2018-19 school year, with redshirts and other factors weighed in.

The players

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body for college sports, overseeing eligibility rules, scholarships, and athlete welfare across its member schools.

Charlie Baker

Charlie Baker is the NCAA President, who said Congress is closer than ever to passing a bill to reverse the trend.

The details

The NCAA provided the six-year graduation statistics to The Associated Press, which analyzed the rates for around 36,000 athletes who enrolled in 2018-19 and accounted for redshirt years and other factors. The analysis compares graduation outcomes by transfer history, showing the steepest declines for athletes who moved between schools more than once. The NCAA is also being sued in multiple jurisdictions by players seeking a fifth year of eligibility, and courts have ruled against its eligibility rules in several cases.

The athletes in the study enrolled in college during the 2018-19 school year.
The NCAA released the transfer and graduation rate data on November 11, 2026.

Education Landscape

The debate over the Protect College Sports Act centers on whether eligibility lawsuits, rather than the transfer patterns themselves, are shaping athlete outcomes. The new graduation data reframes that debate by linking multiple transfers to lower completion rates across several sports.

Athletes considering a transfer should ask their athletic and financial-aid offices how a move would affect credit transfer and scholarship continuity before deciding. Those weighing a fifth year of eligibility should check with their school's compliance office, since rules are currently being contested in court.

The takeaway

Repeated transfers appear linked to lower graduation rates across many sports, a pattern worth weighing alongside any eligibility decision. Before changing schools, ask an academic advisor how the credits and scholarship would carry over.