Whether a high-school athlete can sign an NIL deal is decided by the state's athletic association, and sometimes its legislature, not by the NCAA. Here is where each state stands and what the rules still forbid.
By Jeff Brunelle · Updated Oct 26, 2026
Where high-school athletes can sign NIL deals
39 states and DC let high-school athletes earn from their name, image and likeness under association guardrails. Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Wisconsin restrict it, and South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming don't allow it.
Each state name links to its full page, with the association's rule quoted, the state NIL law and the sources.
What "allowed" still forbids
Even where high-school NIL is allowed, associations keep the same core limits: no school or association logos or uniforms, no deals that depend on athletic performance or on enrolling at a school, and no endorsements in banned categories. Breaking one can cost a season of eligibility.
No school marks. Most associations bar the school's name, logo, mascot and uniform in NIL content, and some bar it during team activities or on school property.
No pay-for-play or recruiting inducements. Money tied to stats, wins, or choosing or staying at a school is treated as a violation, and so is a deal arranged by a booster to steer a transfer.
Banned categories. Alcohol, tobacco and vaping, cannabis, sports betting, adult content and weapons are off-limits nearly everywhere; some states add more.
Disclosure. Several associations ask athletes to report deals to the school, some within a set number of days. Check your state's page for the exact rule.
States where it's restricted or unclear
In Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Wisconsin, high-school NIL is restricted: allowed only under narrow conditions, or not clearly addressed by the association. Read the state's page before signing anything.
Alabama (restricted): The AHSAA has not adopted a college-style NIL allowance and offers no formal carve-out. Its published bylaws tie eligibility to a strict amateur definition, and a 2026 bill to change that died with the session.
Hawaii (restricted): The HHSAA Administrative Regulations condition eligibility on amateur status but do not expressly mention NIL.
Idaho (restricted): The IHSAA's published amateur rule allows endorsement income only when the deal has no connection to school sports.
Illinois (restricted): The IHSA has allowed high-school NIL since its board adopted a policy on February 6, 2023, but only for deals with no school or IHSA affiliation.
Michigan (restricted): On January 27, 2026 the MHSAA Representative Council approved an expansion of Personal Branding Activities (PBA), the association's NIL rule under Regulation I, Section 11, effective immediately. The published rule allows individual deals only, with hard limits.
Mississippi (restricted): The MHSAA 2026-27 Handbook's amateur rule (rule 2.39.2) states flatly: the state of Mississippi does not allow NIL contracts for high school students. MHSAA leadership has described a narrow accommodation, reported in early 2026: a high schooler may sign a deal only if no money or benefit reaches the student or family until the student graduates or exhausts eligibility (funds held in escrow), and the deal may not use school colors, uniforms, or identify the student's position at a school.
Missouri (restricted): Subsection 16 of the statute, added by HB 417 in 2023, is the unusual part: a Missouri high school athlete may discuss and earn NIL compensation once they have signed a letter of intent to attend a Missouri postsecondary institution. Legal commentators described this at the time as a benefit most other states did not offer.
Wisconsin (restricted): The approved WIAA language permits NIL activities that are not associated or identified with the student's school team, school, conference, or the WIAA, and it includes language intended to deter undue influence on school transfers. Wisconsin's rule is best read as limited permission rather than a green light.
States where high-school NIL isn't allowed
South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming don't allow high-school athletes to earn NIL money while they're eligible. A deal signed there can cost eligibility.
South Carolina (not allowed): The SCHSL's 2025-26 bylaws, Article III, Section 14 (Amateur Status), now state that a student may not earn compensation from the use of their name, image, and likeness, listing among the conditions that compensation not be contingent on athletic performance, not be an enrollment incentive, not come from the school or its agent, and that no school or SCHSL marks, apparel, or facilities be used. Sanctions escalate from a formal warning and forfeiture of money received (first violation) to one year of ineligibility (second violation).
Texas (not allowed): The UIL continues to treat ordinary NIL deals between a high-schooler and an outside brand, individual, or collective as a violation of amateur status — those agreements cannot even be executed until the athlete has exhausted their UIL eligibility in that sport.
Wyoming (not allowed): The WHSAA drafted an NIL policy that reportedly passed a first reading in May 2025, with restrictions similar to other states (no NIL during the school day or team activities, no school logos or marks, no restricted categories like alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, controlled substances or gambling).
Signing a contract when you're under 18
A contract signed by a minor can usually be cancelled by the minor, so brands ask a parent or guardian to sign too. Read who owns the content, how long the brand can use it and whether the deal is exclusive before anyone signs.
Keep a copy of every agreement and every payment, because NIL money is taxable even for a high-school athlete. The NIL taxes guide explains how.
An agent or marketing representative may have to register with the state; ask for proof before agreeing to a fee.
What changes when you get to college
Once you enroll at a Division I school, every deal from a payer whose deals with you reach $600 goes to the NIL Go clearinghouse within five business days. A high-school deal that continues into college has to be reported then.
Associations usually vote on NIL rules in winter and spring, and legislatures pass NIL bills in their spring sessions, so this page is reviewed every year after those sessions end. Each state's own page shows the month it was last checked; the newest is October 2026.
In most states, yes. 39 states and DC allow high-school NIL under association guardrails, 8 restrict it, and 3 (South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming) don't allow it.
Which states don't allow high school NIL?
South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming don't allow high-school athletes to earn NIL money while eligible. Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Wisconsin restrict it to narrow conditions or haven't clearly addressed it.
Can a high school athlete use their school's logo in an NIL deal?
Almost never. Associations that allow high-school NIL bar the school's name, logo, mascot and uniform in NIL content, and many bar NIL activity during team events.
Do high school athletes pay taxes on NIL money?
Yes. NIL pay is taxable income whatever your age, usually self-employment income with nothing withheld, and a dependent who earns more than the filing threshold has to file a return.
Does an NIL deal in high school affect college eligibility?
Not if it followed your state association's rules. A deal that broke them can cost high-school eligibility, and once you enroll in college the deal is reviewed under college rules, including NIL Go reporting in Division I.