Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Bellevue Big Bend Blue Mountain Centralia Chemeketa Clackamas Clark Columbia Basin Douglas Edmonds Everett CC Gray Harbor Green River Highline Lane Linn Benton LCC MHCC North Idaho Olympic Peninsula Pierce Portland Rogue Shoreline Skagit Valley South Puget Sound SW Oregon Spokane Tacoma Treasure Valley Umpqua Walla Walla Wenatchee Valley Whatcom Yakima Valley
The Official Website of the Northwest Athletic Conference

Athletic Eligibility Requirements

NWAC Rules & Requirements

  • Athletes must be registered in a minimum of 12 credit hours.
  • Athletes must have passed a minimum of 10 credit hours the last quarter of enrollment.
  • A student-athlete may participate in more than one sport for a NWAC institution during any sport season.
  • Athletes must be registered within 20 days from the beginning of the quarter. 
  • To qualify for eligibility to participate in a second (2nd) season of any sport, you must have earned a minimum of 36 credit hours and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 during any quarter of participation. See pages 26 and 27 of the NWAC codebook for more information.
  • Athletes must be a high school graduate or the class of which you were a member has graduated. 
  • A student-athlete will be charged with one year of eligibility in that sport if they represent a member institution in any athletic contest (excluding scrimmages).
  • Athletes may be declared ineligible if during the sport season you represent any club, organization or team other than your college team. 
  • Student-athletes who are a participant and/or signed to a current Letter of Intent (LOI) must sit out three terms (exclusive of summer) after separation from the athletic program.
  • If convicted for the use or sale of legend drugs, including anabolic steroids, you will be disqualified from participation in a NWAC sponsored athletic event or activity for a period of one year

Compliance and Eligibility Standard for 2023-2024

Academic Eligibility Note: Compliance and Eligibility Standard Update for 2023-2024 (Reduced Enrollment)

  • For student-athletes enrolled who have amassed a large number of credits due to extra years in the NWAC due to COVID-19 or other reasons, the following policy will be in effect for the 2023-2024 year.
  • For those participants who meet the following criteria, for 2023-2024 academic year will be exempt from the NWAC academic standards:
  • Earned AA degree.
  • Earned 90 credits.
  • Or have earned a minimum of 70 degree bearing credits are allowed to enroll less than full-time and compete. SA's and member colleges must be fully aware of transfer and participation implications which, among other things, may result in a term/year of participation at the 4-year level. SA’s should be aware of financial aid impacts of enrolled less than full-time. All sophomores must meet the second-year requirements of 36 credits/2.0 GPA.
  • No 10-credit previous quarter requirement.
  • If taking a reduced class load, classes taken should be core classes that would count toward a degree at the four-year level. There are classes at our institutions that meet these criteria.
  • If the SA is wishing to transfer and compete at the four-year level, they should be having discussions with an academic advisor at the four-year school. Taking less than a full load during a quarter while competing, may be interpreted at the next level as a full term. Any time a student-athlete represents their institution in intercollegiate competition, regardless of level (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, or Community College), the student-athlete is responsible for that quarter for progress-toward-degree. They also use a season of competition.
  • All other participants adhere to the traditional (pre-COVID) academic standards for eligibility.
  • Student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of five credits at the NWAC institution in they compete.

For more information on compliance and eligibility please visit nwacsports.com/rulesandcompliance.