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.