- High school NIL
- Permitted with conditions
- High school authority
- Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)
- High school rule
- MSHSL NIL Policy under Bylaw 201 (Amateur Status)
- High school effective
- June 7, 2022, approved by the MSHSL Board of Directors.
- College NIL
- Permitted, with no state NIL statute
- College law
- No Minnesota NIL statute. NCAA rules, the House settlement, and school policy govern
- College effective
- Legislation has been proposed but not enacted.
- Paperwork
- Read the MSHSL NIL policy and Bylaw 201; the policy puts compliance responsibility on the student
- Penalty
- Loss of amateur status disqualifies the student from further high school participation in that sport.
Where high school NIL stands in Minnesota.
Minnesota allowed high school NIL on June 7, 2022, when the MSHSL board approved a policy designed, in its words, to protect students' amateur status while permitting commercial activity. The decision followed a run of Minnesota stars, including Paige Bueckers, Jalen Suggs, Chet Holmgren, and Sunisa Lee, who went on to sign NIL deals in college.
The policy's conditions: compensation may not depend on performance, may not be an inducement to attend or stay at a school, must be commensurate with market value, and may not come from the school or its agents such as booster clubs. NIL may not interfere with academics or team obligations; a student may not miss practice, competition, or travel for an NIL opportunity. No MSHSL or school marks, no referencing involvement in school activities, and no vice-industry deals. A student who loses amateur status is disqualified from further participation in that sport.
Effective: June 7, 2022, approved by the MSHSL Board of Directors.
What a high school athlete can and can't do.
Allowed
- ✓Endorsements, sponsorships, and paid content as an individual
- ✓Appearances, autographs, and merchandise in the athlete's own name
- ✓Paid officiating, instruction, or coaching, and using NIL to advertise lessons paid for by the recipient (Bylaw 201.2.a(ii))
Not allowed
- ×Compensation contingent on athletic performance or achievement
- ×Compensation as an inducement to attend or remain at a school
- ×Compensation from the school or its agents, including booster clubs and foundations
- ×MSHSL or school marks and logos, or referencing involvement in school activities when promoting a business
- ×Vice industries including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, and weapons
- ×Missing practice, competition, travel, or team obligations for an NIL opportunity
The high school checklist.
- →Read the MSHSL NIL policy and Bylaw 201; the policy puts compliance responsibility on the student
- →Keep school marks and any reference to school athletics out of every deal
- →Schedule NIL work so it never conflicts with academics or team obligations
- →Check NCAA rules before signing; the policy says that is the student's responsibility too
Agents and advisors
The MSHSL policy does not bar NIL representation. Minnesota regulates athlete agents by statute. MSG works with Minnesota high school athletes on NIL and brand within the policy.
Penalties
Loss of amateur status disqualifies the student from further high school participation in that sport.
College NIL in Minnesota.
Minnesota has not passed a college NIL law. Athletes at Minnesota, St. Thomas, and other schools operate under the NCAA framework, the House settlement, and each school's own NIL policy.
Since July 2025, Minnesota schools that opted into the House settlement may pay athletes directly within the revenue-sharing cap, and third-party deals of $600 or more are reported through NIL Go.
Effective: Legislation has been proposed but not enacted.
Minnesota law: key points
- ✓No state NIL statute; NCAA rules, the House settlement, and school policy control
- ✓Direct school payments permitted under the House settlement for opted-in schools
- ✓NIL Go reporting applies to third-party deals of $600 or more
- ✓Agents must comply with Minnesota's athlete agent law
National framework (House settlement)
Since July 1, 2025, college NIL runs on two tracks. Third-party deals with brands and businesses remain open, and the House v. NCAA settlement now lets Division I schools that opted in pay athletes directly, capped at roughly $20.5 million per school in the first year and rising annually. State law sits on top of that framework and can add rules, but cannot take the federal settlement terms away.
- →Third-party NIL deals of $600 or more must be reported through the NIL Go clearinghouse, generally within five business days, and are reviewed for fair market value
- →Direct payments from a school count against that school's revenue-sharing cap; third-party deals do not
- →The College Sports Commission handles enforcement tied to settlement rules; the NCAA still governs eligibility
- →Every school also has its own NIL policy on disclosure, prohibited categories, and use of school marks, and it applies alongside state law
- →Federal NIL legislation has been proposed repeatedly and remains unresolved
Major Sports Group
What this means for a Minnesota athlete.
Minneapolis is a top-fifteen media market and Minnesota has produced some of the most marketable young athletes in the country. The MSHSL policy has been stable since 2022, so brands know the rules.
The two Minnesota-specific lines are market value and team obligations. MSG documents fair market value on every deal and schedules content so a shoot never competes with a practice.
Minnesota NIL FAQ.
Can high school athletes in Minnesota do NIL deals?
Yes, since June 7, 2022. The MSHSL NIL policy allows compensation that is not tied to performance, not an enrollment inducement, at market value, and not from the school, with no MSHSL or school marks and no interference with academics or team obligations.
Can a Minnesota high school athlete skip practice for an NIL shoot?
No. The policy requires that NIL activities not interfere with academic or team obligations; a student may not miss practice, competition, travel, or other team obligations for an NIL opportunity.
Can a Minnesota high school athlete mention their team in a sponsored post?
No. Athletes may not use MSHSL or school marks and may not reference their involvement in school activities when promoting a business.
Can a Minnesota high school athlete be paid for lessons?
Yes. Bylaw 201.2.a(ii) allows compensation for officiating, instructing, teaching, or coaching, and the NIL policy allows using NIL to advertise lessons if the recipient pays.
Can a Minnesota high school athlete have an agent?
The MSHSL policy does not restrict NIL representation. Minnesota regulates athlete agents by statute.
What is Minnesota's college NIL law?
There isn't one. Minnesota has proposed but not enacted a college NIL statute, so athletes operate under NCAA rules, the House settlement, and school policy.
Can the University of Minnesota pay athletes directly?
Yes, for schools that opted into the House settlement, since July 1, 2025, within the revenue-sharing cap.
- MSHSL NIL Policy (June 2022)
- Minnesota and North Dakota associations pass NIL policies (Conduct Detrimental, July 2022)
- Minnesota State High School League approves NIL policy (Coach and Athletic Director, June 2022)
- Minnesota state NIL summary (Eccker Sports Group)
- NIL Rules in 2026: updated guide (Sportsepreneur, June 2026)
Rules change, sometimes mid-season. This page reflects the sources above as of August 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current position of the Minnesota State High School League, your college\u2019s NIL policy, and your school before signing anything.