The average college athlete participating in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals now earns $50,000 annually, with top football and basketball players earning millions, according to a new NCAA economic study.

The Numbers

Football players lead with $85,000 average NIL earnings, followed by basketball at $72,000. Women's gymnastics and volleyball have seen the fastest growth in NIL valuation.

Wealth Gap

However, 75% of NIL money goes to the top 5% of athletes. Most Division I athletes earn less than $10,000, and Division II and III athletes rarely receive significant deals.