The National Collegiate Athletic Association has approved a temporary policy allowing college athletes in all three divisions to be paid for the use of their name, image and likeness.

Collegiate athletes make millions for the NCAA, but they receive nothing more than scholarships in return. College sports raise billions of dollars from ticket sales, television contracts and merchandise, and the athletes are being exploited and prohibited from the opportunity to monetize their talents. The Department of Education reported that college athletic programs collected $14 billion in total revenue in 2019. According to the NCAA, over 150,000 Division I and Division II student-athletes receive $2.9 billion in scholarships each year. 

 I believe that it is time for this to change. College athletes should be allowed to make money off their name, image and likeness. The policy, in effect since July 1, has given almost 460,000 NCAA college athletes the chance to earn money from endorsements and sponsors. According to the NCAA President Mark Emmert said all college athletes "are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities." Athletes are now able to engage in sponsorship deals, online endorsements and personal appearances as well.

I believe athletes should be paid for their likeness for several reasons. For one, the athletes make their schools millions, sometimes billions of dollars. Everyone around them makes money, but the students responsible for bringing in the revenue receive nothing. Two, athletes constantly risk potential injury, and an injured athlete could potentially lose their scholarship, threaten their opportunity to play professionally, or even face lifelong disability. Three, the exposure athletes bring to their schools can amplify applications and donations. 

So, athletes really are a big contribution to their college’s, and I believe that these institutions should realize that, and that the NCAA should not only make the policy temporary but should make it permanent. Athletes should be able to make money off their name, image, and likeness in my opinion. ​​"The temporary policy will remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted," the NCAA announced.