Permissible/Impermissible Educational Expenses

Under NCAA amateurism rules, an individual loses his or her amateur status and shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual uses his or her athletics skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport. It is important to note that educational expenses (e.g., high-school or preparatory school tuition payments) may be considered a prohibited form of pay based on athletics skill, depending on the source from which the educational funds are received. For example, under current NCAA legislation, a prospective student-athlete may not receive educational expenses from his or her outside sports team or organization when those funds are based in any degree on the recipient's athletics ability. In addition, a prospect may not receive educational expenses from any individual whose relationship with the prospect developed as a result of the prospect's athletics participation or reputation.

However, it is important to note that there are a number of sources of funds that are available to assist prospects with educational expenses and are permissible under NCAA amateurism rules. The most common sources from which a prospect may receive educational expenses without jeopardizing his or her amateur status are described below:

Parents, legal guardians and other family members may provide educational expenses for a prospect.
High schools and preparatory schools may provide academic and athletically related scholarships to a prospect.
A prospect may receive educational expenses from an established and continuing scholarship program designed to aid students in secondary schools, even if athletics participation is part of the basis (but not the major criterion) for receiving the award, provided the prospect remains free to select his or her own school, the school controls the aid and the prospect has no continuing obligation to the donor.
An established friend or mentor who has a close and established relationship with a prospect that developed without regard to athletics participation or reputation and before the prospect achieved any notoriety as an athlete may provide educational expenses to the prospect if such expenses are similar in nature to other assistance provided by the individual to the prospect before the prospect achieved notoriety as an athlete.

Important: The NCAA is committed to assisting prospective and enrolled student-athletes in preserving their amateur status and their eligibility for intercollegiate athletics competition. The determination whether a specific source of educational expenses is permissible may depend on the specific facts involved in each case. If you have any questions regarding NCAA amateurism rules related to educational expenses, please contact the NCAA membership services staff at 317/917-6222 prior to accepting such expenses.