Here's something most people don't know: the NAIA allowed athletes to make money from NIL before the NCAA did. Like, a full nine months before.
In October 2020, the NAIA became the first college athletics association in the country to let athletes profit from their name, image, and likeness. The NCAA didn't cave until July 2021.
So if you're considering NAIA schools, you're actually looking at an organization that's been ahead of the curve on athlete compensation. That's the good news.
The reality check? NAIA schools don't have the deep pockets that Power 5 NCAA schools have. There's no revenue sharing like in Division I. Most NAIA athletes aren't making life-changing money, but the opportunities are there if you hustle.
Let's break down exactly what you can do, what'll get you in trouble, and how NAIA rules are different from the NCAA.
✅ What You CAN Do in the NAIA
The NAIA's NIL policy is straightforward: you can get paid for your name, image, and likeness. Period.
💰 Make Money from NIL (The Basics)
Here's what that includes:
Local endorsements 🏪
That car dealership wants you in their commercial? Do it. Local restaurant wants you to promote them? Go for it. These deals typically range from $100-2,000.
Social media deals 📱
Post sponsored content on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter. Companies will pay you $50-$500+ per post depending on your following. Even if you have 1,000 followers, local businesses will pay for exposure.
Camps and clinics 🏃
Run your own training camps, get paid to work at other people's camps, do private coaching sessions. This is huge for NAIA athletes because you can build a real side business.
Appearances 🌚
Paid speaking gigs, meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, showing up at events. Usually $100-500 per appearance.
Your own merchandise 👕
Sell t-shirts, hoodies, training programs. You own your name and face.
Content creation 👍
YouTube channel, podcast, training videos, subscription content. If you can monetize it, you can do it.
Reality check: Most NAIA athletes who make NIL money are pulling in $500-$5,000 per year. Not millions. But that's real money that can help with rent, groceries, or paying down loans. If you're elite performer in your sport and hustle hard, you might make $10K-20K+. The millionaire deals? Those don't really exist at the NAIA level.
🏫 You Can Use Your School's Stuff
This is HUGE and different from the NCAA.
In the NAIA, you CAN:
Reference your school affiliation in NIL deals ("Point guard for Smith College")
Wear your school's gear in promotional photos and videos
Mention that you play for your school in marketing materials
Wait, seriously?
Yes.
The NAIA specifically allows you to wear institutional gear during NIL engagements. This makes your NIL deals way more valuable because you're marketed as "John Smith, starting quarterback at [Your School]" instead of just "John Smith."
NCAA athletes often can't do this without special permission from their school. NAIA athletes? It's built into the rules.
The only catch: Your individual school or conference might have more restrictive policies. Some schools won't let you promote alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or competing brands. Check with your AD.
📝 You Just Have to Report It
Here's the main compliance requirement: tell your athletic director in writing when you get NIL compensation tied to being a student-athlete.
That's it.
No complicated approval process (like NCAA's NIL Go clearinghouse).
Just notify your AD.
What happens if you don't report it?
You could face penalties (suspension, loss of eligibility)
Your institution typically isn't held responsible though so this is on you
Pro tip: Send your AD an email every time you sign a deal. Keep copies. Takes 2 minutes and protects you.
🏅 Accept Prize Money (New as of August 2025!)
This is a game-changer for individual sport athletes.
❌ Old rule:
You could only accept awards "of a personal nature" valued under $1,000 (or $1,500 combined for multiple awards).
✅ New rule (effective August 1, 2025):
No more dollar limits. You can accept prize money or in-kind awards that align with your sport's national governing body standards.
What this means:
Tennis players can accept prize money from tournaments
Golfers can keep their winnings
Track athletes can accept prize money from meets
Swimmers can accept cash awards
As long as your sport's national governing body (like USA Swimming, USGA, USATF) allows it under their amateur rules, you're good.
🚨 Big caveat: This only applies to competition awards (Bylaw VII, Section C). You still can't sign professional contracts or play on professional teams (Section D).
🤝 Hire Representation
You can hire agents, attorneys, marketing reps, and financial advisors to help you with NIL deals.
This is smart if you're making any significant money. Get someone to review contracts and negotiate on your behalf.
🏀 Play Pro in a Different Sport
Just like the NCAA: if you go pro in a different sport, you can keep your NAIA eligibility in your current sport.
Playing college baseball but got recruited to play minor league soccer?
You can do both.
Different sports = no problem.
🏐 Compete During Summer (Following Your Sport's NGB Rules)
Here's something cool: during the summer when you're not representing your school, you can follow your sport's national governing body amateur rules instead of NAIA rules.
This means you might be able to accept things during summer that you couldn't during the school year, but you have to check your specific sport's NGB rules.
❌ What You CANNOT Do in the NAIA
🚫 Don't Sign Professional Contracts in Your Sport
Same rule as the NCAA: if you sign a professional contract in the sport you're playing in the NAIA, your eligibility is done.
Examples:
College basketball player signs with G League? ✋ Done.
College baseball player signs minor league contract? ✋ Eligibility over.
College soccer player signs pro contract in USL or overseas? ✋ Career finished.
Once you go pro in your NAIA sport, you can't come back.
Can you get eligibility back? Technically yes, through an amateurism reinstatement process.
But it requires:
Sitting out at least one season of competition
Completing two semesters or three quarters of residency at your NAIA school
Getting approval from the National Coordinating Committee
Proper documentation
It's a pain and you lose playing time. Better to just not go pro until you're done with college.
💸 Don't Accept Payment Beyond Actual Expenses for Competition
You can't receive salaries or expense reimbursements beyond actual costs of travel, lodging, and meals for competitions.
If someone wants to pay you to play in their summer league and they're offering you $5,000 plus expenses? That's a professional arrangement. You'd lose your amateur status.
The line: Actual expenses (travel, hotel, food) = OK. Payment beyond that = professional, you lose eligibility.
🎰 Gambling: It's... Complicated
Here's where NAIA is different from the NCAA:
👉 The NAIA does NOT have a national gambling ban.
Read that again. Unlike the NCAA, which banned all sports betting for athletes (professional and college as of December 2025), the NAIA doesn't have specific rules or consequences regarding sports gambling at the national level.
BUT (and this is important): Individual NAIA schools often have their own policies prohibiting sports betting. Many NAIA institutions do prohibit gambling.
What this means for you:
Check your specific school's athletic department policies
Check your state's laws (some states have restrictions)
Even if it's technically allowed, it's probably not smart
Why you should still avoid it:
If you transfer to NCAA later, you could have issues
It can become a problem fast
Your coaches and AD won't be happy
Future employers and pro teams care about this
Bottom line: Just because the NAIA doesn't ban it nationally doesn't mean you should do it. Check your school's policy and probably just stay away from it entirely.
The NAIA's NIL rules are actually pretty athlete-friendly:
✅ GOOD:
First to allow NIL (October 2020, before NCAA)
Simpler rules; just notify your AD
Can use school logos and wear school gear in NIL deals
No complicated approval process
Can accept prize money aligned with your sport's NGB rules
More flexible eligibility timeline (10 semesters vs NCAA's 5 years)
❌ REALITY CHECK:
No revenue sharing from schools
Smaller market = less NIL money available
Most athletes make very little from NIL
Individual schools can have restrictive policies
Gambling policy is unclear and varies by school
The formula is simple:
Follow your school's specific NIL policies (get them in writing)
Report every deal to your AD in writing
Get contracts for everything
Follow your sport's national governing body amateur rules
Don't sign pro contracts in your sport
Probably don't gamble even though NAIA doesn't ban it nationally
Who NAIA NIL rules work best for:
Athletes who want simpler compliance
People who are entrepreneurial and will hustle for local deals
Athletes at schools with good local business connections
Individual sport athletes who can accept prize money (golf, tennis, track)
People who value flexibility over potential big paydays
Who should consider NCAA instead:
Elite athletes who might get serious revenue sharing offers
People in high-profile sports (football, basketball) at Power 5 schools
Athletes who want the biggest stage and most media coverage
Questions about your specific situation? Talk to your athletic director first. Every NAIA school has slightly different policies, and you want to make sure you're following YOUR school's rules, not just the national NAIA guidelines.
And remember: the NAIA being more flexible doesn't mean you should push boundaries. Do things the right way, document everything, and protect your eligibility.