Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility:
Q. How many units must I be enrolled in to participate in a sport?
A. You must be actively enrolled in, and attending 12 units during the semester you are participating in intercollegiate sports. Late-start classes will not count towards the 12-unit minimum until they begin meeting. You may enroll in fewer than twelve units in the semester that you are not participating, but keep in mind that you must complete 24 units from the beginning of your first season of participation before the start of your second season.
Q. What is the minimum G.P.A. requirement for a student athlete?
A. You must maintain at least a 2.0 G.P.A. from the time that you begin to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Q. I am a transfer student athlete from a California community college. What do I need to be eligible?
A. If you participated in intercollegiate athletics at your previous California Community College, you will need to complete 24 units total, 18 units of which must be academic in between seasons of competition with a minimum, overall GPA of 2.0. Twelve units of the 24 units must be completed in residence at Santa Monica College with a limit of eight (8) units in the summer. You may only compete a total of two years at a community college.
Q. I am a transfer student athlete from a community college outside of California (or from a four-year institution). What do I need to be eligible?
A. If you participated in intercollegiate athletics at either a community college outside of California or any four-year institution, you will need to complete 24 units total, 18 units of which must be academic in between seasons of competition with a minimum, overall GPA of 2.0, to be eligible for your second season of competition. In this scenario, there is no resident requirement at Santa Monica College. Please note that you will be only allowed one more season of competition at a community college if you already competed one year at a four-year institution or an out-of-state community college.
Q. Do I need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
A. Yes. If you are planning to transfer to a Division I or Division II institution as a student athlete, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Q. How much eligibility do I have?
A. You are allowed a maximum of four (4) seasons of intercollegiate athletic competition across all four-year levels in a given sport. Only your first two (2) seasons of competition can be at a community college.
Financial Aid and Housing:
Q. Does Santa Monica College provide housing?
A. Santa Monica College’s Athletic Department does not provide housing for prospective student athletes, as it is prohibited by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), in Bylaw 2.11. Important: The student-athlete is responsible for all housing expenses and will not get any financial support from staff or employees of Santa Monica College. Living on your own can be expensive, and financial aid alone typically will not cover the total cost of attending college in Los Angeles. Please plan accordingly.
