Campus visits
Official & Unofficial Visits
What to know before you visit a college campus. Rules checked Oct 26, 2026. Rules change, so confirm details on the linked sources and with each school's compliance office. This is general guidance, not legal or eligibility advice.
Official vs. unofficial
- Official visit: paid for in whole or in part by the college.
- Unofficial visit: paid for by your family. College camps are not visits, but you're on campus.
When D1 lacrosse visits can happen
- Official visits and unofficial visits that involve the athletics department: from Sept. 1 of junior year (Bylaws 13.6.2.1.2 and 13.7.1.2), outside dead periods.
D1 official visits: how many, how long, who pays
- How many: no limit on the number of schools since July 1, 2023, but only one official visit to each school while you're in high school. A second is allowed if that school changes head coaches after your visit.
- How long: up to two nights of lodging, plus one extra night before if you arrive too late to start that day.
- Who pays: round-trip travel, meals and lodging for you and up to two family members; on campus, meals, lodging, entertainment and home-game tickets for you and up to four family members.
D1 unofficial visits
- Your family pays. Generally the school can't pay your expenses.
- The school can give you and up to three family members tickets to a home game and drive you to practice and competition facilities; all unofficial-visit activities must stay within one mile of campus.
D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO
- D2: official visits from June 15 before junior year, outside dead periods. One per school.
- D3: official visits from Jan. 1 of junior year.
- NAIA: no grade-based limits.
- NJCAA (men's): from June 1 before junior year; one official visit per recruiting year, up to 48 hours.
Before a D1 or D2 official visit
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (a Certification Account, not just a free Profile Page).
- Send the school a copy of your high school transcript.
Proposal only, not adopted
On Oct. 7, 2026, the Division I Cabinet introduced a proposal to let schools arrange transportation and provide accommodations and entertainment for a recruit and four accompanying people on an official visit. It could be adopted as early as January 2027. Until then, the limits above apply.
Sources (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- NCAA LSDBi: DI Proposal 2026-16 (adopted final June 24, 2026), quoting lacrosse Bylaws 13.1.1.1, 13.1.3.1.2, 13.1.3.2.6, 13.1.5.6, 13.4.1.2, 13.6.2.1.2, 13.7.1.2 and 13.12.1.5.2 (Sept. 1 of junior year)
- NCAA LSDBi: DI Proposal 2022-32, official visit changes (adopted final June 24, 2023)
- NCAA.org: DI Council adopts new official and unofficial visit rules (Apr 2023)
- NCAA: Official and Unofficial Visits 101 (DI educational resource, Feb 2026, PDF)
- NCAA: 2026-27 Division I men’s lacrosse recruiting calendar (updated July 30, 2026, PDF)
- NCAA: 2026-27 Division I women’s lacrosse recruiting calendar (updated July 30, 2026, PDF)
- NCAA Division II 2026-27 recruiting guide (PDF)
- NCAA Division III Bylaw 13 recruiting rules summary (CCIW compliance seminar, PDF)
- NCAA Division III 2025-26 Summary of Key Regulations (visits, Bylaws 13.5-13.7, PDF)
- NAIA Official & Policy Handbook 2026-27 (lacrosse aid limit 12; 18 games; first practice and contest Sept. 1, PDF)
- NJCAA 2026-27 Handbook and Bylaws, Article VI, Section B: official and unofficial visits (PDF)
- NCAA Eligibility Center: Official vs. unofficial visits (PDF)
- NCAA Eligibility Center: register and account types
- NCAA.org: Division I Cabinet introduces legislation to modernize NCAA rules (Oct 7, 2026)