High school NIL: Allowed

Pennsylvania high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: 72 hours, to the principal or AD
Agents: Not addressed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA)

The rule

PIAA By-Laws Article II (Amateur Status and Awards) Section 3(J), 2026-2027 handbook: students may receive consideration for their own NIL (endorsements, promotions, social media, ads, digital assets) provided it reflects the athlete's market value and is not an incentive for enrollment or team membership.

Tell the school

72 hours, to the principal or AD

Within 72 hours after entering any NIL contract/agreement, the student or parents/guardians must notify the Principal or Athletic Director of the student's school.

Off limits

No school or school-affiliated person (booster clubs, coaches, collectives, administrators, alumni) may solicit, arrange, negotiate or pay for a student's NIL (other than their own child); no reference to PIAA or a member school (name, nickname, logo); no school uniforms or school-identifying apparel; no endorsing third parties during team/school activities; no NIL partner logos during team/school activities unless part of standard uniform. Prohibited categories: adult entertainment; alcohol; casinos/gambling incl. sports betting, lottery, video/online/mobile betting; tobacco and e-smoking; opioids and prescription pharmaceuticals; controlled dangerous substances; weapons/firearms/ammunition.

Agents

Not addressed

If a rule is broken

Article II Section 4: any amateur-status violation incl. NIL makes the student ineligible from the date of violation; District Committee may reinstate after corrective action (e.g., return of consideration). Second violation: loss of eligibility for one year, no reinstatement. Third violation: permanent loss of eligibility.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Applies to students of PIAA member schools (PIAA also sanctions junior high/middle school programs of member schools); rule does not reach non-school club play.

Recent changes

None; NIL language adopted Dec. 2022, carried unchanged into 2026-27 handbook.

College state law

Law in force

The law

Public School Code of 1949, Article XX-M (Intercollegiate Athletics), 24 P.S. §§ 20-2001-M to 20-2009-M, added by Act 89 of 2024 (July 17, 2024, P.L.945) replacing the 2021 Article XX-K (Act 26 of 2021, repealed Nov. 3, 2022)

Disclosure

Permissive: § 2006-M(f)(1) an athlete 'may disclose the contents of the contract prior to execution' to a designated official; institutions may set policies on when/what is disclosed; institution must disclose to the athlete any direct financial relationship it has with the athlete's third-party counterparty.

Schools paying athletes

Not expressly authorized, but protected: § 2003-M(c)(3) bars the NCAA/conferences from investigating or taking adverse action against an institution 'for directly compensating a college student athlete' for NIL. No student-fee or state-funds restriction. Prohibited categories for athletes (§ 2006-M(d)): adult entertainment, alcohol, casinos/gambling, tobacco/e-smoking, prescription pharmaceuticals, controlled substances.

For high school recruits

None in the 2024 article (the 2021 version's ban on NIL as an inducement to recruit a 'prospective college student athlete' was dropped).

Recent changes

Act 89 of 2024 (July 17, 2024) re-enacted the article as XX-M; no 2025-2026 amendment found in the current compiled Public School Code.

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 Pennsylvania make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Pennsylvania can take NIL deals, with conditions. PIAA By-Laws Article II (Amateur Status and Awards) Section 3(J), 2026-2027 handbook: students may receive consideration for their own NIL (endorsements, promotions, social media, ads, digital assets) provided it reflects the athlete's market value and is not an incentive for enrollment or team membership.

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

72 hours, to the principal or AD. Within 72 hours after entering any NIL contract/agreement, the student or parents/guardians must notify the Principal or Athletic Director of the student's school.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Pennsylvania?

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. Applies to students of PIAA member schools (PIAA also sanctions junior high/middle school programs of member schools); rule does not reach non-school club play.

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

Not addressed.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: PIAA Handbook Section I, 2026-2027 edition.

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