High school NIL: Allowed

Michigan high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: 7 business days, online to school and MHSAA
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)

The rule

MHSAA Handbook Section 11(C) 'Personal Branding Activities' (PBA), as rewritten by the Representative Council on Jan. 23, 2026, lets students earn compensation for individual use of their NIL (commercials, endorsements, appearances, autograph/photo sessions, merchandise, group licensing, social media influencing) with no school/MHSAA identifiers, no pay-for-play, and mandatory disclosure to the school and MHSAA.

Tell the school

7 business days, online to school and MHSAA

Every verbal or written PBA opportunity/contract must be disclosed in writing to the member school and the MHSAA via the online form at MHSAA.com/NIL for review and approval; the FAQ sets the deadline at within 7 business days of the agreement/opportunity being finalized.

Off limits

No member-school or MHSAA names, logos, mascots, trademarks or implied endorsement; no use of school facilities or property; no compensation for being a student-athlete, for performance/outcomes, or as an inducement to attend/stay at a school; no PBA during school hours or any MHSAA event (practices, scrimmages, games, tournaments); schools, coaches and staff may not solicit, arrange, negotiate or promote deals; 'Associated Entities or Individuals' (collectives, booster clubs, alumni groups, foundations, donors over $10,000 in 4 years and their businesses) may not fund or facilitate PBA. Prohibited categories: gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned/illegal substances incl. PEDs, sexually explicit content, firearms/weapons, plus anything the MHSAA deems inconsistent with school sports. Schools may adopt stricter rules.

Agents

Allowed

A licensed sports agent, financial advisor or attorney who is not an Associated Entity/Individual may represent the student, so long as services are not tied to athletic participation at a specific school.

If a rule is broken

Involvement by an Associated Entity/Individual (collective/booster) makes the student ineligible and jeopardizes the school's MHSAA membership (suspension/rescission). Other violations are not itemized in the policy; general MHSAA eligibility penalties apply. Parent signature not required.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Policy governs MHSAA member-school eligibility; it does not mention middle school/junior high students or non-school club/travel play.

Recent changes

Yes. Representative Council approved the expanded PBA policy on Jan. 23, 2026 (announced Jan. 27, 2026), effective immediately: moved from limited personal branding (camps, clinics, lessons) to broad NIL activities, added the Associated Entity/collective ban and the online disclosure form.

College state law

Law in force

The law

Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 390.1731 to 390.1741 (2020 PA 366, HB 5217; operative Dec. 31, 2022)

Disclosure

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Schools paying athletes

Statute bars institutions from directly paying a student for NIL rights (per Bodman law-firm summary of PA 366) and bars institutions/associations/conferences from providing NIL compensation to prospective athletes. settlement rules also govern') is accurate.

For high school recruits

Yes: MCL 390.1733(a) prohibits an institution, association or conference from providing 'a prospective college athlete who will attend' the institution with NIL-related compensation. No other HS provision; statute covers postsecondary students only.

Recent changes

None enacted. Pending: HB 4643 (introduced 6/12/2025, Rep. Tate) to expand athlete NIL rights, in House Regulatory Reform; SB 1017 (introduced 6/4/2026, Sen. Singh) adding sec. 6a to bar contracts binding athletes past eligibility or requiring out-of-state dispute resolution, in Senate Regulatory Affairs.

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 Michigan make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Michigan can take NIL deals, with conditions. MHSAA Handbook Section 11(C) 'Personal Branding Activities' (PBA), as rewritten by the Representative Council on Jan. 23, 2026, lets students earn compensation for individual use of their NIL (commercials, endorsements, appearances, autograph/photo sessions, merchandise, group licensing, social media influencing) with no school/MHSAA identifiers, no pay-for-play, and mandatory disclosure to the school and MHSAA.

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

7 business days, online to school and MHSAA. Every verbal or written PBA opportunity/contract must be disclosed in writing to the member school and the MHSAA via the online form at MHSAA.com/NIL for review and approval; the FAQ sets the deadline at within 7 business days of the agreement/opportunity being finalized.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Michigan?

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. Policy governs MHSAA member-school eligibility; it does not mention middle school/junior high students or non-school club/travel play.

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

Allowed. A licensed sports agent, financial advisor or attorney who is not an Associated Entity/Individual may represent the student, so long as services are not tied to athletic participation at a specific school.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: Approved 2026-01-23 (MHSAA Handbook Sec. 11(C), Interpretations 150-154)

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