"Do U.S. college athletes really get paid for their name?" "Can international students do NIL too?" More Japanese families are asking this as NIL shows up in the news.
Here is the short answer. NIL (name, image and likeness) income is allowed under U.S. college sports rules. But F-1 students are tightly limited in working for pay inside the United States, and as of October 2026 the federal government (SEVP / the Department of Homeland Security) has still not issued formal NIL guidance for international students. As a result, many university international offices tell F-1 athletes that paid NIL activity inside the U.S. may violate their visa status. Do not build tuition or living costs on NIL income.
This guide covers what NIL is, why F-1 status complicates it, which kinds of income look lower-risk and higher-risk, revenue sharing (direct payments from schools), the Division I reporting system NIL Go, and what to ask your school before you sign. It reflects public information as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Confirm every real decision with your school's international office (DSO), athletics compliance and, where needed, an immigration attorney.
Definition: NIL stands for Name, Image and Likeness: a player is paid when a company or individual uses their name, photos, video or likeness in ads, social posts or events. The NCAA has allowed it since July 2021.
What NIL is and what changed
The short answer: since July 2021, NCAA athletes can earn money from their name and likeness. The NAIA allowed it first, in 2020, and the NJCAA allows third-party NIL with conditions. In every association, school policy and state law also apply.
| Association | NIL in short | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | Allowed. Third-party deals totaling $600+ must be reported to NIL Go | Failing to report can cost eligibility |
| NCAA Division II / III | Allowed | Each school's disclosure rules |
| NAIA | First association to allow NIL (2020) | Deals tied to your student-athlete status or school must be reported to the school in writing |
| NJCAA (two-year) | Third-party NIL allowed with conditions | No direct payments from school staff or boosters, and no pay tied to athletic performance |
The table summarizes association rules. In every one of them, F-1 limits apply separately.
Why NIL is hard on an F-1 visa
The short answer: the F-1 is a study visa. You may work in the U.S. only in narrowly defined ways, such as on-campus jobs (up to 20 hours a week while school is in session), CPT and OPT. Most NIL activity doesn't fit any of them.
- On-campus employment: work for the university, capped at 20 hours a week during the term
- CPT: training during your degree that is directly tied to your major
- OPT: mainly after graduation, in a field related to your major
Appearing in an ad, promoting a product on social media for pay, or getting a fee for an event can look like performing paid services in the U.S. The University of Florida's international office, for example, says NIL activity rarely qualifies for work authorization and that NIL activity conducted in the U.S. on F-1 status would likely violate immigration law.
In July 2021, SEVP said it "continues to assess" NIL for international students. As of October 2026, no formal follow-up guidance has been issued. A September 2026 law-firm analysis describes the issue as having "no consensus and no controlling guidance."
For the bigger picture on CPT, OPT and work after college, see OPT, CPT and career paths.
Lower-risk vs. higher-risk income
The short answer: law-firm commentary generally treats truly passive income (such as licensing royalties) as lower-risk, and active services performed in the U.S. as higher-risk. None of this has been formally approved by the government.
| Type of income | Example | Risk (per commentary) | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing / royalties | Group-licensing share of jersey or merchandise sales | Treated as lower-risk | Is it truly passive, with no activity required from you? |
| Activity outside the U.S. | A shoot or event while home in Japan | Described as outside U.S. work rules | Japanese tax, school rules, NIL Go |
| Activity inside the U.S. | Ads, paid social posts, autograph sessions, camp coaching | High | International office and an immigration attorney |
| Direct payments from the school (revenue sharing) | School-to-athlete distributions | Unresolved | Written description of the payment, international office |
"Lower-risk" here reflects law-firm commentary, not an official government position.
Watch for contracts that are labeled "licensing" while actually requiring you to post or appear. Practitioners warn that this kind of arrangement won't hold up under either immigration rules or NCAA rules.
Can international students receive revenue sharing?
The short answer: it's unresolved. Division I schools that opted into the House settlement can now pay athletes directly, with a cap of roughly $20.5 million per school in 2025-26. But a school-paid payment tied to athletic performance can look like wages, and experts disagree on how F-1 athletes should be treated.
- Schools handle payments to international athletes differently
- Most of the money is reported to go to football and basketball; how much reaches soccer depends on the school
- Practitioners flag performance bonuses as raising the risk
For roster limits and scholarship changes, see 2026 college soccer rule changes. Keep athletic aid (help with the cost of attendance) separate from NIL or revenue sharing (pay).
NIL Go: Division I reporting
The short answer: Division I athletes must report third-party NIL deals (from anyone other than the school) worth $600 or more in total to NIL Go within five business days of signing or agreeing to payment terms. Smaller deals with the same payer count toward the total, and failing to report can make you ineligible.
- Incoming high school recruits and Division I transfers may get up to 14 days in some cases
- You upload written documentation and enter the sponsor, obligations, time period and pay accurately
- Compensation includes goods and services (car leases, gym memberships), not just cash
The key point: clearing NIL Go does not solve your visa question. NIL Go checks college sports rules; it is not an immigration decision.
If you want a U.S. college soccer plan where tuition and aid work without NIL, you can send your player details through Apply. We don't promise admission or scholarships, but we'll help you sort out what to check.
Five questions to ask before you sign
The short answer: if money or goods come up, talk to the international office (DSO) and athletics compliance before you sign. Coaches are experts on the team; they aren't the final word on your visa.
- "Does your international student office have written guidance on NIL for F-1 students?"
- "Have F-1 athletes at your school received NIL or revenue-sharing payments? How were they structured?"
- "Who reviews an NIL contract before I sign: compliance, the international office, or both?"
- "Can I use the school's name, marks, uniform or game video in my own posts?"
- "Who can help me understand the tax side?"
Good answers describe a process. If all you hear is "figure it out when you get here" or "everyone does it," leave NIL out of the plan.
Social media: start with unpaid content
The short answer: posting your own training and college life without being paid is a separate question from NIL pay. Team and school social-media rules, plus rules on school marks and game video, still apply.
Coaches and recruiters look at your accounts too. See your social media footprint as a recruit. Many schools and associations also ban deals with alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or gambling companies (alcohol, cannabis and betting rules).
What about NIL while you're home in Japan?
The short answer: law-firm commentary explains that U.S. work restrictions cover work performed inside the U.S., so services performed in Japan during a break are generally outside them. Being paid from abroad isn't enough; the activity itself has to happen outside the U.S.
- Japanese tax rules apply to income earned in Japan
- In Division I, a deal signed in Japan may still need to be reported to NIL Go
- School rules still apply if you use the school's marks or game video
For trips home and travel documents, see travel home on an F-1.
Before you enroll: think amateurism first
The short answer: in high school, worry about amateur status more than NIL. Signing with a professional team or an agent can affect your college eligibility.
See amateurism certification for pre-enrollment pay and agents, and from college soccer to the pros for pro routes. If you are weighing an August or January start, see January enrollment for US college soccer. Also avoid telling the consular officer at your F-1 interview that you want to earn money in the U.S. (F-1 visa interview).
What parents can do
The short answer: set NIL to zero in the family budget, and first make sure four years of tuition and living costs still work.
- Cost of attendance − athletic aid − academic aid = family cost, with no NIL (true out-of-pocket cost)
- Be wary of anyone who says "NIL will cover tuition"
- Agree on a family rule: if money comes up, talk to the school before anyone signs
For how aid really works, see the college soccer scholarship reality.
Common myths
- "All U.S. college athletes earn NIL money." Amounts vary widely by sport and player, and internationals face separate limits.
- "If NIL Go clears it, my visa is fine." NIL Go checks college sports rules, not immigration status.
- "Another international player does it, so it's fine." It depends on the school, the year and the activity.
- "Every social post is NIL." Unpaid content is different from being paid for your NIL.
- "Scholarships and NIL are the same thing." Aid helps with costs; NIL is payment for the use of your name and likeness.
The NextPitch view
NextPitch picks schools on FIT, not fame. NIL is a nice-to-have, not the foundation of a study-abroad plan. What matters is a level, a degree and a four-year cost that all work without it. For the full picture of U.S. college soccer, see the college hub.
FAQ
Can international students earn NIL money? College sports rules allow NIL, but the F-1 visa tightly limits work inside the U.S. As of October 2026 there is no formal federal guidance, and many schools warn against paid NIL activity in the U.S.
Can NIL pay for tuition? Don't plan on it. Make sure tuition works with aid and family funds first.
What about licensing income from jersey sales? Law-firm commentary treats truly passive licensing as lower-risk, but it hasn't been formally approved. Ask your school.
What about NIL while I'm home in Japan for the summer? If the activity itself happens in Japan, commentary says it's generally outside U.S. work rules. Japanese tax and school and NIL Go rules still need checking.
What is NIL Go? It's the system where Division I athletes report third-party NIL deals totaling $600 or more within five business days.
Next step
If you want schools where the level, the degree and the cost all work without NIL, send your player details and video through Apply. We don't promise admission or scholarships, but we'll help you sort out what to check.