NCAA Academic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to represent Stanford University in intercollegiate athletics competition, Stanford student-athletes must meet NCAA academic requirements and maintain satisfactory progress towards degrees as detailed below.
To see these requirements in PDF form, click here
ALL STUDENTS - At All Times*
*Includes requirements for Coterm Student-Athletes and Baseball/Football/Basketball Student-Athletes
- You must be enrolled in at least 12 units at all times – be sure to add classes before you drop
- Do not withdraw from a class or change the grading option without checking with your UAD for Student-Athletes first
- Check with your Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD) for Student-Athletes when planning to repeat a class
- EACH quarter: you must pass 6 degree-applicable units
- CUMULATIVELY during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters: you must pass 27 degree-applicable units
What are degree-applicable units?
- Frosh & Sophomores: All units are degree-applicable
- Juniors & Seniors: degree-applicable units are a combination of GER, major, and elective classes. Contact your UAD for Student-Athletes if you are not registered for at least 6 GER and major units. For other exceptions, please contact your UAD for Student-Athletes.
Required Progress by Year
Note: Unit totals outlined below are "degree-applicable" units:
By the START of Sophomore Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 1.8
- have completed 36 units
By the END of Sophomore Year you must:
- declare a major
By the START of Junior Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 1.9
- have completed 72 units (40% of your total degree requirements)
By the START of Senior Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
- have completed 108 units (60% of your degree requirements)
By the START of a 5th Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
- have completed 144 units (80% of your degree requirements)
Coterms - Required Progress by Year
In addition to the standard Sophomore year requirements listed above:
By the START of Junior Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 1.9
- have completed 33% of your degree requirements
By the START of Senior Year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
- have completed 50% of your degree requirements
By the START of your Coterm year you must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
- have completed 67% of your degree requirements
Sport-Specific Requirements
BASEBALL
Must be eligible in the Fall Quarter in order to be eligible in the Winter and Spring Quarters
FOOTBALL
Must pass 8 degree-applicable units in the Fall Quarter to be eligible for the next season (Fall Quarter of the following year)
MEN & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
In order to participate in summer practices, must be enrolled in summer courses at Stanford or be on 4-year academic plan (25% of total degree requirements by the start of sophomore year, 50% total degree requirements by the start of junior year, 75% of total degree requirements by the start of senior year)
WRESTLING
In addition to the progress requirements listed in the "Required Progress by Year" section above, men’s wrestling student-athletes must maintain a cumulative or term GPA of 2.0 after their first quarter of initial college enrollment