College athletes are considered amateurs and cannot be paid a salary according to NCAA rules, though they receive scholarships averaging $200,000 per year to cover tuition, housing, food and other expenses. However, some athletes argue this does not fully cover their cost of living and that they deserve compensation for the profits they help generate for their schools through merchandise sales and their public profiles. Athletes spend the equivalent of a full-time job each week on football and academics, leaving no time for additional employment.

1. PAYING COLLEGE ATHLETES
D E V O N T E T H O M P S O N

2. COLLEGE ATHLETE
A college athlete is defined as an amateur level athlete that
is not paid in salary but are given scholarships.

3. SCHOLARSHIPS
Average around $200,000 per year
Pays for:
 Food
 Housing
 Tutors/ Extra help
 Travel
 Tuition
 Books

4. NCAA RULE ON PAYING ATHLETES
2. Amateurism – All Sports.
a. You are not eligible for participation in a sport if
you have ever:
(1) Taken pay, or the promise of pay, for
competing in that sport. [Bylaw 12.1.2]

5. ATHLETE PROBLEMS
Athletes complain that their scholarships are not enough to cover the cost
of attendance.
Athletes think that there are not compensated enough for what they do for
the colleges.

6. SCHOLARSHIP-NOT ENOUGH
Most athletes get close to $200,000 a year from their scholarships. It
doesn’t cover all the necessities because most money goes towards
tuition.
Athletes end up going to coaches for food or money.

7. MARKETING COMPENSATION
Athletes want to be paid for people wearing their jerseys. The athlete brings
value to the product, therefore the athlete needs to be compensated.

8. TIME
Athletes cant get a job because football is their job.
Athletes spend about 44hours a week on football and 40 hours on in school
or studies.