NIL Knowledge Hub
NIL for high school athletes
Yes, in most states high school athletes can earn NIL money under rules set by their state high school association, but in a handful of states, including Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming, they still cannot sign deals with businesses. Where it is allowed, the rules almost always ban school logos and uniforms, deals tied to athletic performance, and any deal used to recruit a student to a school.
High school NIL rules are changing quickly. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Louisiana changed in the last year, and bills are pending in several states, including Ohio HB 661 (which would ban high school NIL) and Georgia HB 383.
Key facts
- Of the 50 states and DC, 42 allow high school NIL in some form, 5 do not (Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Wyoming), and 4 are unconfirmed, by our October 2026 review.
- Almost every state that allows it bars school names, logos, mascots and uniforms in NIL deals.
- Texas: UIL rules let athletes 17 and older sign NIL agreements only with colleges; deals with businesses must wait until the athlete's UIL eligibility in that sport ends.
- Ohio allowed high school NIL in November 2025; athletes report each deal to the OHSAA within 14 days.
- Indiana's "personal branding activities" rule took effect with the 2026-27 school year.
- A high school athlete who enrolls at an NCAA Division I school must report deals worth $600 or more made after the later of July 1, 2025 or the first day of junior year, within 14 days of enrolling or before their first game.
On this page
Is high school NIL allowed in my state?
It depends entirely on your state. Each state high school athletic or activities association decides whether its athletes may earn NIL money without losing amateur status, and some states add a law or a state board of education rule on top.
Our state-by-state review of all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that 42 allow high school NIL in some form, 5 do not, and in 4 we could not confirm the current rule.
- Not allowed: Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Wyoming. (Texas lets athletes 17 and older sign NIL agreements only with colleges; Mississippi holds any money in escrow until graduation; South Carolina's ban follows a state budget provision.)
- Allowed only narrowly: Arkansas and Missouri, mainly for athletes who have committed to a college.
- Could not confirm: Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, Vermont.
- Recent changes: Ohio (November 2025), Michigan (expanded January 2026), Indiana (2026-27 school year) and Louisiana (state law effective August 1, 2026).
Look up your state under NIL rules by state before you agree to anything. Rules change, sometimes in the middle of a school year.
The rules that show up almost everywhere
States that allow high school NIL tend to use the same guardrails:
- No school marks: you cannot use your school's name, logo, mascot or uniform, or wear school gear, in a deal. Most states also bar the state association's own marks.
- No school facilities for NIL activity.
- No pay for performance: a deal cannot pay you for winning, scoring or making a team.
- No recruiting: a deal cannot be used to get you to enroll at, transfer to or stay at a school.
- No school, coach or booster arranging the deal, in many states; several also ban collectives outright (Florida and Georgia, for example).
- Banned categories: commonly alcohol, tobacco and vaping, cannabis, gambling, weapons, adult entertainment and controlled substances.
- Notice to the school or association within a set time: for example, seven calendar days in Georgia, 72 hours in Pennsylvania and 14 days in Ohio.
| State | Association | High school NIL |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AHSAA | Not allowed |
| Alaska | ASAA | Allowed with limits |
| Arizona | AIA | Allowed with limits |
| Arkansas | AAA | Allowed with limits |
| California | CIF | Allowed with limits |
| Colorado | CHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Connecticut | CIAC | Allowed with limits |
| Delaware | DIAA | Allowed with limits |
| District of Columbia | DCSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Florida | FHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Georgia | GHSA | Allowed with limits |
| Hawaii | HHSAA | Unconfirmed |
| Idaho | IDHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Illinois | IHSA | Allowed with limits |
| Indiana | IHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Iowa | IGHSAU | Allowed with limits |
| Kansas | KSHSAA | Unconfirmed |
| Kentucky | KHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Louisiana | LHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Maine | MPA | Allowed with limits |
| Maryland | MPSSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Massachusetts | MIAA | Allowed with limits |
| Michigan | MHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Minnesota | MSHSL | Allowed with limits |
| Mississippi | MHSAA | Not allowed |
| Missouri | MSHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Montana | MHSA | Allowed with limits |
| Nebraska | NSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Nevada | NIAA | Unconfirmed |
| New Hampshire | NHIAA | Allowed with limits |
| New Jersey | NJSIAA | Allowed with limits |
| New Mexico | NMAA | Allowed with limits |
| New York | NYSPHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| North Carolina | North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and State Board of Education | Allowed with limits |
| North Dakota | NDHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Ohio | OHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Oklahoma | OSSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Oregon | OSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Pennsylvania | PIAA | Allowed with limits |
| Rhode Island | RIIL | Allowed with limits |
| South Carolina | SCHSL | Not allowed |
| South Dakota | SDHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Tennessee | TSSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Texas | UIL | Not allowed |
| Utah | UHSAA | Allowed with limits |
| Vermont | VPA | Unconfirmed |
| Virginia | VHSL | Allowed with limits |
| Washington | WIAA | Allowed with limits |
| West Virginia | WVSSAC | Allowed with limits |
| Wisconsin | WIAA | Allowed with limits |
| Wyoming | WHSAA | Not allowed |
How high school NIL affects college
NIL deals you sign in high school can follow you to college. Under the NCAA bylaws enforced by the College Sports Commission, a prospect who enrolls at a Division I school must report every third-party NIL deal worth $600 or more that was signed, agreed to or paid after the later of July 1, 2025 or the first day of the prospect's junior year of high school.
Those deals must be reported to NIL Go within 14 days after first enrolling at the Division I school, or before the first game, whichever comes first. Keep copies of every contract and payment record from high school for this reason.
NIL deals can also affect need-based financial aid. Ask the financial aid office at any college you are considering how NIL income is treated.
What parents need to know
Most high school athletes are minors, and a contract signed by a minor can be hard to enforce or easy to cancel, so businesses usually want a parent or guardian to sign too. Some states build parents in: Ohio, for example, requires a notarized affirmation signed by the student and a parent.
- Read the whole contract, especially the length, what happens to photos and videos after the deal ends, and any exclusivity clause that could block other deals.
- Keep records of payments and products received; NIL income is taxable. See NIL taxes.
- Check the school's and association's notice rules and calendar them.
See NIL for parents for a full checklist.
How to get started the right way
- Confirm your state's rule and your school's policy.
- Build a simple profile that says who you are, what you play and what you are good at outside the game.
- Start local: businesses in your town are often the best first partners.
- Put every deal in writing, even small ones, and report it where required.
- Never use school logos or your uniform, and never let a deal be tied to where you go to school.
Frequently asked questions
Can high school athletes get NIL deals?
In most states, yes, under the state high school association's rules. Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Wyoming do not allow it, and Texas allows athletes 17 and older to sign NIL agreements only with colleges.
Can I wear my school uniform in an NIL ad?
Almost never. Nearly every state association that allows NIL bans school uniforms, logos, names and mascots in NIL activity.
Can a booster or collective pay a high school athlete?
Many states bar boosters, coaches and schools from arranging deals, and several, including Florida and Georgia, ban NIL collectives for high school athletes. Any payment tied to recruiting is banned everywhere NIL is allowed.
Do high school NIL deals have to be reported?
Often, yes, to your school or association: within 7 calendar days in Georgia, 72 hours in Pennsylvania and 14 days in Ohio, for example. If you later enroll at a Division I college, deals of $600 or more made after the later of July 1, 2025 or your junior year must be reported to NIL Go.
Will high school NIL hurt my college eligibility?
Not if the deals followed your state's rules and NCAA rules, and you report the ones the NCAA requires. Deals that were really recruiting inducements or pay for play can cause problems.
Next steps
Sources
- Rules and Policies (high school prospective student-athletes) — College Sports Commission
- NIL Information — University Interscholastic League (UIL)
- NIL Resource Center — Ohio High School Athletic Association
- Appendix N: Guidelines Regarding Name, Image and Likeness (2025-26) — Georgia High School Association
- Commissioner's Message No. 2: NIL (CIF Bylaw 212) — CIF Southern Section
- Board of Directors approves personal branding activities — The Reporter (Indiana)
- Ohio high schools vote to allow student-athletes to strike NIL deals — WYSU
This is general information, not legal advice. NIL rules differ by state, school, association and sport, and they change often. Check the official sources linked on this page and talk with your school's compliance office, your state association or a licensed attorney before you sign anything.