If you’re a high school athlete thinking about NIL deals, the rules now depend heavily on where you live and what kind of school you attend. As of late 2025, 45 states plus Washington, D.C. allow some form of high school NIL, while a small group of states still ban it or heavily restrict it. This guide breaks down what NIL means, the most common rules you’ll face, and gives you an easy-to-scan table of all 50 states + D.C. so you can quickly see whether NIL is permitted where you play.

What is NIL for high school athletes – and why should you care?

NIL in plain language

“Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) is your personal brand:

• Name – what you’re known by on a roster or social media
• Image – photos and videos of you
• Likeness – anything that represents you (cartoons, graphics, signatures, etc.)

An NIL deal is any agreement where you get something of value (cash, free gear, travel, etc.) in exchange for using your NIL – often through:

• Social media posts or UGC for brands
• Appearances at camps, clinics, or signings
• Content subscriptions or digital products
• Promo codes, affiliate links, or referral bonuses

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How NIL turns high school athletes into “athlete influencers”

In permissive states, high school athletes can now operate like athlete influencers:

• Brands (local and national) can pay you for influencer marketing campaigns
• You can build an audience on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube and monetize it
• You can position yourself early as a marketable athlete before college

But every NIL opportunity comes with rules, and at the high school level those rules are tighter than what you see in college.

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What changed between 2021 and 2025?

From 2021–2025, there was a massive shift:

• NIL at the college level opened the door first
• A few early adopter states (like California, New York, New Jersey) allowed high school NIL
• By the 2024–2025 school year, most holdout states were under legal or political pressure
• As of late 2025, 46 jurisdictions (45 states + D.C.) permit some form of high school NIL
• A small group still say “no NIL” at the high school level, at least for now

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Which states let high school athletes sign NIL deals?

The three big buckets: Permitted, Prohibited, Restricted

When you zoom out, the national picture looks like this:

• Permitted – You can sign NIL deals and stay eligible, if you follow state and association rules
• Prohibited – Any NIL money tied to your athletic fame can cost you high school eligibility
• Restricted / Mixed – Rules differ by public vs private association or have recently tightened

For example:

• Permitted: California, Florida, Ohio, New York, Texas? Not yet.
• Prohibited: Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Texas, Wyoming
• Restricted / Mixed: South Carolina (private schools allow NIL, public league has rolled it back)

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Why your school type (public vs private) matters

In some states, public and private schools are under different governing bodies:

• Unified model: One association (e.g., CIF in California, FHSAA in Florida) sets rules for almost everyone
• Dual model: One set of rules for public schools, another for private (e.g., Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina)

That means two athletes in the same city could have different NIL rights depending on whether they attend:

• A public school governed by a state association
• A private or parochial school governed by a separate association

Before chasing NIL deals, you need to know both your state status and your school’s governing body.

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What rules do most states put on high school NIL deals?

Even in “permitted” states, NIL is not a free-for-all. There are three big themes you see almost everywhere.

The “no school logos or uniforms” rule

Almost every NIL-permitted state uses an “Intellectual Property Firewall” between you and your school:

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You can appear in your own clothes or generic athletic gear

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You cannot:

• Wear school uniforms
• Use school logos, mascots, or wordmarks
• Shoot NIL content inside school facilities (gym, locker room, stadium) unless specifically allowed

Brands are paying for you, not your school’s trademarks. If a deal looks like a team ad or school ad, it’s probably non-compliant.

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Limits on the types of brands you can promote

Most states limit which industries you can partner with. Common bans include:

• Alcohol and tobacco/vape
• Gambling and sports betting
• Marijuana or other controlled substances
• Sometimes weapons or adult/explicit content

Many high school NIL policies also require that deals “align with educational values,” which gives associations broad power to deny deals that feel off-brand for a school setting.

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Disclosure, contracts, and NIL collectives

Common extra rules:

• Mandatory disclosure – You (or your parent/guardian) must tell your school or athletic director about any NIL deal within a set number of days (commonly 3–14 days)
• No “pay-for-play” – You cannot be paid for scoring points, winning games, or transferring schools
• No booster-led collectives – Some states ban high school NIL collectives that look like disguised recruiting or pay-for-play

Bottom line: brands can pay you as an athlete influencer, but not to choose a school or perform a certain way.

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How do public and private school NIL rules differ?

Dual-governance states you should watch

In dual-governance states, NIL may be:

• Allowed for both public and private (e.g., Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina)
• Banned or restricted for public, allowed for private (e.g., South Carolina)
• Banned for almost everyone (e.g., Texas, where both UIL and TAPPS are highly restrictive)

Examples:

• Georgia: Public (GHSA) and private (GIAA) both allow NIL, with disclosure rules and no school IP.
• South Carolina: Public league (SCHSL) rolled NIL back in 2025 after issues with “NIL Clubs”; private (SCISA) still allows NIL if separated from the school.
• Texas: Public (UIL) generally bans high school NIL; private (TAPPS) also bans NIL tied to athletic fame, with only narrow college-related exceptions.

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What that means for you as a recruit or transfer

If you’re thinking about transferring schools or choosing between public vs private:

• Check whether your potential school is under a unified or private-only association
• Ask specifically: “Does your league allow high school NIL deals?”
• Understand that changing schools might change your NIL options even if you never leave your state

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State-by-state NIL rules for high school athletes (2025–2026)

How to read this NIL table

NIL Status

• Permitted – You can do NIL deals if you follow the rules
• Prohibited – NIL deals tied to athletic fame risk your eligibility
• Restricted / Mixed – Public vs private rules differ in meaningful ways
• Public vs Private Rules – Whether your state uses one unified rule set or separate rules
• Key NIL Notes for Athletes – One quick takeaway you should know before pursuing NIL opportunities

Important: This table reflects rules as of late November 2025. Always confirm the latest handbook or guidance from your state association and your school.

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What should you do before signing your first NIL deal?

Build a simple game plan with your parents or guardians

Before you jump into NIL deals:

• Talk with a parent or guardian about taxes, scams, and long-term consequences
• Decide who will review contracts and help you say no to bad offers
• Keep a written list of your NIL obligations (post dates, appearances, deliverables) so you don’t miss anything

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Check your eligibility and school rules first

Always confirm:

• Does your state association allow high school NIL?
• Is your school under a public or private league with different rules?
• Does your school require disclosure of deals within a certain number of days?

If you skip this step and sign a non-compliant deal, you could lose eligibility even if the brand meant well.

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Treat your NIL deals like a business, not a side hustle

For high school athlete influencers, the most valuable things you can do are:

• Protect your eligibility – no school marks, no pay-for-play, no shady collectives
• Protect your reputation – choose brands that align with your values and future goals
• Protect your future recruiting – college coaches love athletes who handle NIL professionally

NIL can be a powerful tool to learn business, build your brand, and support your family – but only if you stay inside the rules for your state and school.

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In Summary

• Most states now allow high school NIL deals, but a handful (including Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming) still prohibit them.
• Even in “permitted” states, NIL deals almost always require a clear separation from school identity – no school logos, mascots, uniforms, or facilities in your content.
• Public and private schools sometimes follow different NIL rules, especially in states with dual-governance models like Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina.
• Common restrictions across states include bans on pay-for-play, recruiting inducements, NIL collectives that look like booster clubs, and partnerships with vice industries such as gambling, alcohol, or tobacco.
• Before signing NIL deals, high school athletes should confirm their state and school policies, involve parents or guardians, and treat NIL like a real business to protect both eligibility and future college opportunities.

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