NIL rules by state
Indiana NIL rules for college and high school athletes
Indiana college athletes can earn NIL money, but Indiana has no state college NIL law, so the rules come from the NCAA, the College Sports Commission and each school's own policy. Indiana high school athletes can earn money from "personal branding activities" starting with the 2026-27 school year, under a rule the IHSAA Board of Directors approved 13 to 5, as long as there is no school affiliation, no school uniform and no recruiting.
The IHSAA rule is summarized from news coverage of the board vote; we could not read the final bylaw text. Check the IHSAA's published rule for reporting deadlines and the collective ban.
| Level | Rule | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| College | No state statute | NCAA and College Sports Commission rules; school policy |
| High school | Allowed with limits | Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) |
Key facts
- Indiana has no state statute on college NIL; we found no Indiana NIL bill enacted through the 2026 session.
- Indiana college athletes follow NCAA and College Sports Commission rules and their school's NIL policy.
- High school: the IHSAA calls it "personal branding activities" (PBA), to set it apart from college NIL.
- The IHSAA Board of Directors approved PBA 13 to 5; it took effect with the 2026-27 school year.
- PBA bans school representation or affiliation and appearing in a school uniform.
- Prohibited PBA includes gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illegal or banned substances, instructional services such as private training or coaching, and anything recruitment-related.
On this page
Indiana college NIL: no state law
Indiana is one of the states that never passed a college NIL statute. When the NCAA's interim policy took effect on July 1, 2021, athletes at schools in states without an NIL law were allowed to take part in NIL activity without breaking NCAA rules, and Indiana schools, including Indiana University, adopted their own NIL policies.
Today, Indiana Division I athletes follow the College Sports Commission's rules: report third-party deals worth $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days, and expect deals with collectives and other associated entities to be reviewed for a valid business purpose and a reasonable range of compensation. Indiana's Big Ten schools take part in House settlement revenue sharing.
Indiana high school NIL: personal branding activities
For years the IHSAA's amateur rules barred athletes from capitalizing on their athletic fame for money or gifts. In 2026 its Board of Directors approved "personal branding activities" (PBA), 13 to 5, effective with the 2026-27 school year. The IHSAA chose the name to make clear the high school model is not the college one.
- Students may take part in non-school, non-athletic personal branding, as long as they do not represent their school and do not perform athletic services.
- No school affiliation, and no school uniform, in any PBA.
- Schools do not arrange or fund deals.
- Prohibited: activities tied to gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or other illegal or banned substances; instructional services such as private training or coaching; and recruitment-related activities. Taking part in them can make a student ineligible.
Before the vote, the proposal also described a ban on PBA collectives and a requirement to notify the athletic director in writing within 48 hours of any deal. Those details may differ in the final rule; read the IHSAA's published bylaw or ask your athletic director.
Frequently asked questions
Can Indiana high school athletes get NIL deals?
Yes, starting with the 2026-27 school year, under the IHSAA's personal branding activities rule: no school affiliation or uniform, no private coaching or training deals, no banned categories and nothing tied to recruiting.
Does Indiana have an NIL law?
No. Indiana has no state college NIL statute. Indiana college athletes follow NCAA and College Sports Commission rules and their school's policies.
Why does the IHSAA call it personal branding?
The IHSAA chose "personal branding activities" to distinguish its high school model, in which schools stay out of deals, from college NIL.
Next steps
Sources
- Board of Directors approves personal branding activities — The Reporter (Indiana)
- IHSAA approves student-athletes to benefit from name, image and likeness — WRTV
- Indiana high school NIL proposal heads to IHSAA board vote — Youth Sports Business Report
- NCAA adopts interim name, image and likeness policy — NCAA
- Indiana High School Athletic Association — IHSAA
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.