High school NIL: Allowed

Illinois high school NIL rules

Yes. High school athletes in Illinois can take NIL deals, with conditions.

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Not addressed
If a rule is broken: Eligibility lost: that sport only
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Illinois High School Association (IHSA)

The rule

IHSA By-law 3.084 lets a student at a member school earn compensation from NIL ('NIL Activity': any work, service, endorsement or appearance for compensation), subject to the by-laws and Board Policy 35. Approved by member schools in the December 2022 ballot; in force since 2023.

Tell the school

None statewide

None. Neither 3.084 nor Policy 35 sets a reporting window, form or threshold.

Off limits

Policy 35: no IHSA name, logos or trademarks or implication of IHSA approval; no member school name, logos, mascots or trademarks or implied school approval; no use of school facilities; no NIL activity during school hours, while traveling to or from an IHSA event, or during any IHSA event (practice, game, tournament); no NIL tied to gaming/gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, firearms or other weapons, or anything the Board deems inappropriate; student is responsible for checking NCAA/NJCAA/NAIA consequences. Separate by-law 3.070 bars recruiting inducements; 3.083 bars awards from the school or as enrollment inducements.

Agents

Not addressed

If a rule is broken

By-law 3.086: violation of 3.084 causes ineligibility in the sport in which the violation occurred; an official ruling from the Executive Director is required before reinstatement.

Middle school, club and travel ball

IHSA governs member high schools only; middle school athletics fall under the separate IESA. No reach into club play.

Recent changes

Text verified from the 2024-25 Handbook PDF.

College state law

Law in force

The law

110 ILCS 190, Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act (P.A. 102-42 eff. 7-1-21; amended by P.A. 102-687, 102-892, and P.A. 103-724 eff. 1-1-25)

Disclosure

Sec. 20(c): athlete must disclose the existence and substance of all publicity rights agreements to the institution in the manner and time it prescribes; agreements worth $500 or more must be in a written contract also provided to the institution. Sec. 15(f): written notice and copy of any professional-representation agreement.

Schools paying athletes

Sec. 15(e) (P.A. 103-724, eff. Jan. 1, 2025): if allowed by a court order, settlement agreement, or institutional policy, an institution may directly or indirectly enter into publicity rights agreements with, or compensate, prospective or current student-athletes or their families.

For high school recruits

No high school provisions; 'postsecondary educational institution' covers only colleges. But the Act expressly reaches 'prospective' student-athletes (Secs. 15(e), 20(g), definitions), meaning a college may offer an institutional NIL agreement to a recruit who is still in high school. No age or minor-specific rules.

Recent changes

P.A. 103-724 (eff. Jan. 1, 2025) added institutional direct pay, Sec. 40 disclosure exemption (FOIA) and Sec. 45 additional benefits. No 2026 amendment found.

NCAA Division I, everywhere

Every deal worth $600 or more (added up per payer) entered since July 1, 2025 or the start of junior year, whichever is later, must be reported through NIL Go within 14 days of starting classes or before the first game.

Recruits enrolling on or after August 1, 2026 may hire agents under the April 15, 2026 Division I rule. The NJCAA still ends eligibility for a written agent agreement.

The full college-bound guide

Quick answers

Can high school athletes in Illinois make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Illinois can take NIL deals, with conditions. IHSA By-law 3.084 lets a student at a member school earn compensation from NIL ('NIL Activity': any work, service, endorsement or appearance for compensation), subject to the by-laws and Board Policy 35. Approved by member schools in the December 2022 ballot; in force since 2023.

Do Illinois athletes have to tell the school about an NIL deal?

None statewide. None. Neither 3.084 nor Policy 35 sets a reporting window, form or threshold.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Illinois?

State association rules follow the athlete, not where the deal came from. A deal through a travel team is fine as long as nothing ties back to the school team. IHSA governs member high schools only; middle school athletics fall under the separate IESA. No reach into club play.

Can a Illinois high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Not addressed.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: 2024-25 IHSA Handbook (by-law text); 2026-27 Athletic Eligibility Rules summary.

Get Illinois alerts

One email when Illinois's rules change.