Academic Eligibility Standards

A student-athlete is allowed 4 seasons of eligibility within 5 calendar years from the time he or she first enrolls full-time at a collegiate institution. In general, when a student-athlete competes in any competition (including scrimmages with outside competition), whether it is for one minute or the entire contest, he or she has used a season of competition and one of his or her 4 years of eligibility.

Student-athletes must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per term to practice, receive financial aid and compete in intercollegiate athletics (exception if enrolled in final semester). If a student-athlete drops below 12 credit hours, he or she is immediately ineligible to practice or compete with the team.

ACADEMIC CLASS
(Semester of Full-time Enrollment)		 Big Ten & NCAA Continuing
Academic Eligibility Requirements
Freshmen (1st Semester)
  • Must be certified by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse as a Qualifier.
  • Must have a cumulative GPA requirement of 1.65 for 2nd semester.
Sophomore (3rd Semester)
  • Must have earned at least 24 credits hours during the previous year with at least 18 earned during the regular academic year (Fall and Winter terms) and 6 earned per term (Football- 9 earned in the fall).
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 1.8.
Junior (5th Semester)
  • Must have at least 18 degree applicable credits during the previous regular academic year and 6 degree applicable credits per term (Football- 9 earned in the fall).
  • Must have declared a major; cumulative GPA of 1.9.
  • 40% of degree must be completed.
Senior (7th Semester)
  • Must have at least 18 degree applicable credits during the previous regular academic year and 6 degree applicable credits per term (Football- 9 earned in the fall).
  • Must have declared a major; cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • 60% of degree must be completed.
5th Year Senior (9th Semester)
  • Must have at least 18 degree applicable credits during the previous regular academic year and 6 degree applicable credits per term (Football- 9 earned in the fall).
  • Must have declared a major; cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • 80% of degree must be completed.

Any student-athlete with a GPA under 2.0 is subject to an institutional review. If a student-athlete is a transfer student from a two-year or four-year college, he or she is not eligible during his or her first academic year in residence at U of M unless he or she meets the provisions of one of the NCAA's transfer exceptions.