High school NIL: Allowed

New Jersey high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association)

The rule

NJSIAA amended its amateurism rules (Bylaws Article V) effective Jan. 1, 2022 to allow NIL compensation for endorsements, promotions, social media and advertising, provided there is no reference to the member school or NJSIAA, no school uniforms, names, mascots, logos or competition imagery, and no sponsor apparel/marks during school team activities.

Tell the school

None statewide

None required by NJSIAA (FAQ silent).

Off limits

No school/NJSIAA identity, uniforms, logos or competition photos/highlights; no sponsor apparel in competition or school activities; no NIL camps at the school; NIL 'clubs' tied to a school are barred. Prohibited categories: adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, controlled dangerous substances, prescription pharmaceuticals, casinos/gambling including sports betting and lotteries, weapons/firearms/ammunition. Boosters, alumni and collectives may not use NIL to entice transfer/enrollment or offer NIL to current students; school employees may not be involved in a student's NIL activity. NIL income may affect need-based aid.

Agents

Allowed

If a rule is broken

Case-by-case: warning up to immediate suspension of eligibility, plus possible requirement to return money or goods.

Middle school, club and travel ball

NJSIAA governs member high schools only; FAQ does not address middle school. Clubs/teams based solely on personal affiliation (not a member school) are allowed.

Recent changes

FAQ updated May 2025; no substantive rule change identified.

College state law

Law in force

The law

N.J.S.A. 18A:3B-89.2 to 18A:3B-89.8 (P.L.2025, c.110, approved July 22, 2025, effective immediately; it repealed the 2020 New Jersey Fair Play Act, P.L.2020, c.83, N.J.S.A. 18A:3B-86 to -89). Citation OK.

Disclosure

The 2025 act contains no athlete-to-institution disclosure duty (the repealed 2020 act's 18A:3B-89 had one). 18A:3B-89.5 exempts NIL contracts from the Open Public Records Act.

Schools paying athletes

18A:3B-89.3(b) lets a four-year institution or any related entity (foundation, alumni association, auxiliary corporation, affiliate) contract directly with and compensate the athlete for NIL. Applies only to four-year institutions that offer athletic scholarships (89.8).

For high school recruits

None for high school or prospective athletes (the 2020 act's ban on paying prospective athletes was repealed). Note: athletes under 21 may not earn NIL from alcohol, tobacco/e-smoking or cannabis companies (89.3(c)); agents must comply with SPARTA and act as fiduciaries (89.4).

Recent changes

P.L.2025, c.110 (July 22, 2025) replaced the Fair Play Act.

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 New Jersey make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in New Jersey can take NIL deals, with conditions. NJSIAA amended its amateurism rules (Bylaws Article V) effective Jan. 1, 2022 to allow NIL compensation for endorsements, promotions, social media and advertising, provided there is no reference to the member school or NJSIAA, no school uniforms, names, mascots, logos or competition imagery, and no sponsor apparel/marks during school team activities.

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

None statewide. None required by NJSIAA (FAQ silent).

Does a travel ball or club deal count in New Jersey?

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. NJSIAA governs member high schools only; FAQ does not address middle school. Clubs/teams based solely on personal affiliation (not a member school) are allowed.

Can a New Jersey high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Allowed.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: NJSIAA NIL FAQs, updated May 2025 (rule effective Jan. 1, 2022)

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