Find your state, then check your actual proposal
Use the state picker below to reach your guide. Before relying on a status label, open the official association source and ask your school which rules apply to your sport and proposed activity. A dated national table is a starting point, not an approval for a particular deal.
Bring the sponsor name, deliverables, compensation, proposed logos or uniforms, and planned dates to that conversation. Texas requires especially careful distinctions between an institution agreement and a third-party activity.
High school name, image and likeness (NIL) rules are no longer a niche issue. Student-athletes, parents, coaches, athletic directors, brands and schools need a practical answer to a simple question: what can a high school athlete legally and eligibly do with NIL in each state?
This Influxer guide provides a dated reference and links to high-school NIL information for all 50 states. We classify each state as Permitted, Restricted / Limited, or Prohibited based on the governing high school athletic association, state rules and the guidance used for the September 3 review.
September 3, 2026 State-Rule Snapshot
- 46 states permit some form of high school NIL.
- The September 3 review identified 4 states that prohibit high school NIL for active athletes: Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi and Wyoming.
- Texas is highly restricted and should not be treated like a normal open commercial-NIL state.
- Indiana changed for the 2026–27 school year and now permits qualifying personal-branding activities.
- Delaware permits NIL under its current amateur-status regulation, despite older national trackers that still list the state as prohibited.
High School NIL Rules by State — All 50 States
“Permitted” does not mean unrestricted. School trademarks, uniforms, facilities, recruiting inducements, pay-for-play, prohibited industries, disclosure requirements and parent/guardian requirements vary by state. Always review the governing rule before executing a deal.
| State | 2026 Status | Governing Rule / Body | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama NIL rules | 🔴 Prohibited | AHSAA — Rule I, §8 | AHSAA amateurism rules do not authorize high-school NIL monetization. Using athletic skill or fame for financial gain can jeopardize eligibility. |
| Alaska NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | ASAA — Article 8 §§1–2; Article 9 §2 | NIL is permitted under ASAA amateurism rules. Review deal terms and school-specific restrictions before signing. |
| Arizona NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | AIA — Rule 15.11 | NIL is permitted subject to AIA eligibility and amateurism requirements. |
| Arkansas NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | AAA — Article III, Eligibility Rule 10 | NIL is permitted subject to AAA amateurism and eligibility rules. |
| California NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | CIF — Article 20, Rule 212 | California permits high-school NIL subject to CIF amateurism/eligibility rules and applicable school policies. |
| Colorado NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | CHSAA — NIL / Amateurism guidance | NIL is permitted under CHSAA rules. Confirm disclosure and school-IP restrictions. |
| Connecticut NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | CIAC — Article 4, Rule 4.5.A | NIL is permitted under CIAC amateurism rules. |
| Delaware NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | DIAA / 14 DE Admin. Code 1030 §3.4 | Compensation cannot be pay-for-performance or an enrollment incentive; school marks, apparel and facilities cannot be used in NIL activity. Certain agent agreements require notice. |
| Florida NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | FHSAA — Rule 9.9 | Permitted with parent/guardian and amateurism requirements. Pay-for-performance, school marks and certain restricted categories are prohibited. |
| Georgia NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | GHSA — By-law Article 1, Rule 1.97 | NIL is permitted subject to GHSA amateurism and eligibility rules. |
| Hawaii NIL rules | 🔴 Prohibited | HHSAA — Amateurism regulations | An athlete can forfeit amateur status for entering an NIL contract related to that sport. Treat Hawaii as prohibited for active high-school athletes. |
| Idaho NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | IHSAA — Rules 8-4 and 8-5 | NIL is permitted subject to IHSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Illinois NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | IHSA — Rules 3.083 and 3.084 | NIL is permitted under IHSA rules, subject to eligibility and amateurism restrictions. |
| Indiana NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | IHSAA — Rule 5-7, Personal Branding Activity | New for 2026–27. Personal-branding activity is allowed, but school name, nickname, mascot, logo or uniform may not be used. Restricted categories and NIL collectives are also barred. |
| Iowa NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | IHSAA / IGHSAU — NIL guidance | NIL is permitted under Iowa high-school athletics guidance, subject to amateurism and eligibility rules. |
| Kansas NIL rules | 🟡 Restricted / Limited | KSHSAA — Rule 21 | Kansas provides a limited NIL/amateurism pathway rather than a completely open model. Review Rule 21 before executing a deal. |
| Kentucky NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | KHSAA — Bylaws / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to KHSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Louisiana NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | LHSAA — Handbook / Amateurism provisions | NIL is permitted subject to LHSAA rules and school-level restrictions. |
| Maine NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MPA — Handbook / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to MPA eligibility and amateurism rules. |
| Maryland NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MPSSAA — Handbook / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to MPSSAA rules and local-school policies. |
| Massachusetts NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MIAA — Rule 47 | NIL is permitted subject to MIAA amateurism requirements. |
| Michigan NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MHSAA — Section VIII, Part D | NIL/personal-branding activity is permitted. Michigan expanded its personal-branding framework in January 2026. |
| Minnesota NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MSHSL — Bylaw 201.00 | NIL is permitted subject to MSHSL amateur-status and eligibility requirements. |
| Mississippi NIL rules | 🔴 Prohibited | MHSAA — Rule 2.39.2 | The 2026–27 MHSAA handbook expressly states that Mississippi does not allow NIL contracts for high-school students. |
| Missouri NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MSHSAA — Amateurism / NIL rules | NIL is permitted subject to MSHSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Montana NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | MHSA — Article II §§15.1 and 16 | NIL is permitted subject to MHSA amateurism and eligibility rules. |
| Nebraska NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NSAA — Rule 3.7.1 | NIL is permitted subject to NSAA amateurism requirements. |
| Nevada NIL rules | 🟡 Restricted / Limited | NIAA / NAC 385B.374 | Nevada's framework is tied closely to statutory amateur-status rules. Review NAC 385B.374 and current NIAA guidance before entering a deal. |
| New Hampshire NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NHIAA — Article II, §6 | NIL is permitted under amended NHIAA amateurism rules. |
| New Jersey NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NJSIAA — NIL / Amateurism policy | NIL is permitted subject to NJSIAA eligibility and amateurism rules. |
| New Mexico NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NMAA — Handbook / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to NMAA rules. |
| New York NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NYSPHSAA — Handbook / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to NYSPHSAA rules and applicable school policies. |
| North Carolina NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NC State Board / NCHSAA — ATHL-008 | Permitted with detailed compliance steps: no pay-for-performance; parent/guardian participation for minors; agreement disclosure; NFHS NIL course; no school/NCHSAA/NFHS IP; and restricted product categories. |
| North Dakota NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | NDHSAA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to NDHSAA eligibility and amateurism requirements. |
| Ohio NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | OHSAA — NIL Bylaw / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted following the 2025 membership referendum. Watch for future legislative or bylaw changes. |
| Oklahoma NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | OSSAA — NIL Guidelines | NIL is permitted subject to OSSAA guidelines and amateurism rules. |
| Oregon NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | OSAA — Rule 8.4 | NIL is permitted subject to OSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Pennsylvania NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | PIAA — Article II §§1–3 | NIL is permitted subject to PIAA amateurism rules. |
| Rhode Island NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | RIIL — Article I, §19 | NIL is permitted subject to RIIL eligibility and amateurism requirements. |
| South Carolina NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | SCHSL — NIL / Amateurism bylaws | Permitted if compensation is not contingent on athletic performance or used as an enrollment/retention incentive, and is not provided by the school or its agent. |
| South Dakota NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | SDHSAA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to SDHSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Tennessee NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | TSSAA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to TSSAA rules and school-policy restrictions. |
| Texas NIL rules | 🟡 Highly Restricted | UIL — NIL Guidance | Texas is not an ordinary open commercial-NIL state. Certain athletes age 17+ may enter NIL agreements with postsecondary institutions under applicable rules; third-party NIL agreements generally cannot be executed until UIL eligibility in the sport is exhausted. |
| Utah NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | UHSAA — §6 / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to UHSAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Vermont NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | VPA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to VPA rules. |
| Virginia NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | VHSL / Virginia rules | NIL is permitted subject to VHSL and applicable state/school requirements. |
| Washington NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | WIAA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to WIAA eligibility and amateurism requirements. |
| West Virginia NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | WVSSAC — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to WVSSAC rules. |
| Wisconsin NIL rules | 🟢 Permitted | WIAA — NIL / Amateurism rules | NIL is permitted subject to WIAA amateurism and eligibility requirements. |
| Wyoming NIL rules | 🔴 Prohibited | WHSAA — Rule 5.7 | WHSAA amateurism rules prohibit athletes from capitalizing on athletic fame through money, gifts or merchandise while maintaining eligibility. |
Four Prohibited States in the September 3 Review
Alabama
Status: Prohibited. The AHSAA's 2026–27 amateurism framework does not create an NIL exception. The practical eligibility rule is that an athlete cannot use athletic knowledge or skill for financial gain while retaining amateur status.
Hawaii
Status: Prohibited, with a sport-specific nuance. Current HHSAA amateur-status regulations provide that entering an NIL contract related to a sport can cause the athlete to lose amateur status in that sport.
Mississippi
Status: Prohibited. MHSAA Rule 2.39.2 for 2026–27 expressly says that Mississippi does not allow NIL contracts for high school students.
Wyoming
Status: Prohibited. WHSAA Rule 5.7's amateurism requirements prohibit an athlete from capitalizing on athletic fame through money, gifts of monetary value or merchandise while maintaining eligibility.
States That Need Extra Attention
Texas: High School NIL Is Not “Wide Open”
Texas is often mislabeled as simply allowing high school NIL. Current UIL guidance is substantially narrower. Prospective collegiate student-athletes age 17 or older may enter NIL agreements only with postsecondary institutions when permitted by applicable law and NCAA rules. Athletes age 16 or younger may not sign the covered NIL agreements, and a NIL agreement with an entity other than a postsecondary institution generally may not be executed until the athlete has exhausted UIL eligibility in the applicable sport.
Indiana: New for 2026–27
Indiana moved from a prohibition model to a personal-branding model for the 2026–27 school year. IHSAA Rule 5-7 allows qualifying personal-branding activities, but athletes cannot use their school name, nickname, mascot, logo or uniform in the activity. The rule also restricts certain categories and NIL collectives.
Official IHSAA May 2026 board action
Delaware: Permitted Under Current Regulation
Delaware's current amateur-status regulation expressly allows NIL compensation when it is not contingent on specific athletic performance, is not an incentive to enroll or remain at a school, and is not provided by the school or an agent of the school. The rule also bars use of school/DIAA marks, school-branded apparel and school facilities for NIL compensation, and prohibits endorsements of tobacco, alcohol and gambling products.
Official Delaware regulation — 14 DE Admin. Code 1030 §3.4
North Carolina: Allowed, but Compliance Is Detailed
North Carolina permits NIL with a structured compliance process. Current rules require, among other things, that compensation not be conditioned on athletic performance; a parent or guardian be a party to the agreement for an athlete under 18; the agreement be disclosed to specified school officials; the athlete complete the NFHS NIL course; school/NCHSAA/NFHS intellectual property not be required in the deal; and certain product categories not be promoted.
Common High School NIL Restrictions Across the Country
Even in states marked green, NIL is rarely unrestricted. The exact language differs, but athletes and families should check for these issues before signing or activating any NIL opportunity:
- Pay-for-play: compensation tied directly to statistics, wins, playing time or athletic achievement is commonly restricted.
- Recruiting inducements: NIL generally cannot be used as a reason to enroll at, transfer to or remain at a particular high school.
- School intellectual property: many rules restrict school names, logos, mascots, uniforms, marks and other protected school branding.
- School facilities: some states prohibit using school facilities in compensated NIL content.
- Restricted industries: alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, gambling and other age-inappropriate or regulated categories are commonly barred.
- Disclosure: some states require athletes to provide agreements to an athletic director, principal, district or association.
- Parent/guardian involvement: minors may need a parent or legal guardian to approve or join an agreement.
- Agents and representatives: representation can trigger separate disclosure, registration or state-law requirements.
What Does “Prohibited” Mean?
In most states, calling high school NIL “illegal” is imprecise. A state athletic association's NIL or amateurism rule usually governs athletic eligibility, not criminal law. An athlete who violates the rule may become ineligible, be suspended or need reinstatement. Separate state laws can also apply to contracts, agents, minors, schools and commercial activity.
How Influxer Maintains This Guide
Influxer reviews current state high school athletic association bylaws, administrative regulations, NIL guidance and official rule changes, then reconciles them against recent national state-by-state reporting. We prioritize the newest primary source when an older tracker conflicts with a current association rule.
That matters in 2026. Indiana changed its rule for 2026–27, while Delaware has expressly permitted NIL under its current regulation since 2024. A static list copied from an older article can therefore be wrong even when it was accurate when published.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states allow high school NIL in 2026?
As of September 3, 2026, 46 states allow some form of high school NIL. Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi and Wyoming remain the four states where active high school athletes should be treated as prohibited under current association amateurism rules.
Can high school athletes make money from NIL?
Yes, in most states, but the athlete must comply with the governing association's rules, applicable state law, school policy and the terms of the NIL activity.
Can a high school athlete sell merchandise?
In many NIL-permitting states, merchandise can be a permissible NIL activity when it uses the athlete's own NIL and complies with school-IP, amateurism, disclosure and other state-specific rules. Licensed school marks require separate rights.
Can a high school athlete use the school's logo or uniform in an NIL deal?
Often no, unless separately authorized. Many associations distinguish an athlete's personal NIL rights from the school's trademarks, uniforms and other intellectual property.
Does an athlete need to tell the school about an NIL deal?
It depends on the state. Some jurisdictions have specific disclosure requirements; others rely on broader amateurism or school-policy rules.
Is high school NIL allowed in Texas?
Only in a highly restricted form under current UIL guidance. Texas should not be treated as a normal open third-party commercial-NIL state for athletes who still have UIL eligibility.
Primary Sources and 2026 Verification
- North Carolina High School Athletic Association — NIL resources
- University Interscholastic League — NIL guidance
- Delaware Administrative Code — Student Athlete Eligibility / Amateur Status
- Indiana High School Athletic Association — May 2026 Board action
Important: This guide is for educational and compliance-reference purposes and is not legal advice. High school athletic association rules, state laws and school policies can change during the school year.
Prepare your questions before choosing a platform
A state permitting some NIL activity does not mean every athlete, sponsor, product or platform is eligible. Confirm the specific activity with your school, and check platform availability separately.
Put the next step on paper
Before agreeing to a project, use the first-offer review checklist. Then use the deliverables tracker, results-report template and document organizer to manage permitted work. The college-athlete media-kit guide and compensation comparison explain the related preparation steps.