The Ivy League sits outside the pay system the House settlement created, but its athletes are inside the NIL reporting system that came with it. This page sets out what the league, the College Sports Commission, the 2026-27 NCAA Manual and each of the eight schools have published, and how the state law at each campus differs. It gives no figures for individual athletes.
Revenue sharing: no Ivy school is in it
The College Sports Commission's participating-schools page says all members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC take part in revenue sharing, and that each year every other Division I school has "the option to opt in to or out of revenue sharing by May 1." Its list for the 2026-27 academic year has 335 schools. Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale are not on it.
No Ivy League statement on revenue sharing was found on ivyleague.com, so this page relies on the Commission's list and quotes no league position. The only mention of the settlement found on the site is a passing reference to "the finalization of the House v. NCAA settlement" in an August 20, 2025 story about the executive director's appointment to a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee council. What the league has published on aid is older and points the same way. Its account of the 1945 Ivy Group Agreement says the agreement's goal included "the administration of need-based financial aid without granting athletic scholarships"; its compliance guide for alumni says athletes have "no special privileges like athletic scholarships"; and the summary of its founding principles says financial aid "must be awarded to student-athletes on the basis of economic need, rather than for athletic ability."
What still applies: NIL Go
The Commission's same page says that "regardless of whether an institution opts in to revenue sharing, all Division I student-athletes will be subject to the new rules and requirements around third-party NIL deals." The 2026-27 Manual says it in the bylaw itself. Bylaw 22.2.2 applies to "a student-athlete (including a student-athlete who attends an institution that is not a member of a defendant conference in the House settlement or does not provide additional benefits contemplated by the settlement)" and requires reporting every third-party NIL contract or payment term worth $600 or more, with deals from the same payor added together. Bylaw 22.2.2.2 sets five business days from signing or agreeing terms. Bylaw 22.2.2.4 makes the athlete "responsible for the accurate submission" of those deals, again "regardless of whether" the school is in a defendant conference or provides the settlement's added benefits. The NIL Go page has the full rule, the review and the deadlines.
What Ivy athletes can do
On July 1, 2021 the league "adjusted existing rules to permit student-athletes to engage in NIL activity," adding that the changes "remain true to foundational NCAA and Ivy League prohibitions on pay-for-play and impermissible recruiting inducements." The league's temporary guidance, posted on Brown's NIL page, says the change was to Ivy League Rule IV.B.3.c and sets four conditions: pay is for actual work, business or NIL activity and not for athletic participation; the school, its coaches and staff do not arrange commercial NIL activity; NIL is not used as a recruiting inducement; and all NIL activity is disclosed to the school.
The schools' policies build on that. Brown's Policy 04.05.04 bars "Compensation from Brown University for the use of a student-athlete's NIL," and Penn's says compensation comes from third parties ("NOT from the institution"). Princeton's says the school pays no compensation for its own, the league's or the NCAA's use of an athlete's name or image, and Penn's and Harvard's say athletes are not paid for taking part in the school's own promotions. Brown's, Harvard's, Penn's, Princeton's and Yale's keep coaches and staff out of arranging outside NIL deals. Harvard's gives examples of what is allowed: promoting one's own business, endorsing a company or nonprofit, camps, lessons and clinics, appearances, and autographs. Alumni and boosters may hire athletes for legitimate NIL work at Princeton and Harvard, within each school's market-rate and no-inducement limits. Payments tied to performance, such as money per goal or point scored or for an award, are named as not allowed in Penn's, Princeton's and Yale's policies and in Brown's 2021 policy; Brown's Policy 04.05.04 bars "Compensation for athletic participation or achievement (i.e., pay for play)."
The $2,000 review
Five schools publish a step that they attribute to the Ivy League, on top of NIL Go:
- Princeton: "Effective September 9, 2024, Ivy League student-athletes who are offered Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreements with a value of $2000 or more must have those agreements also approved by the Ivy League office prior to accepting any payment." The compliance office submits the deal.
- Harvard: "All NIL agreements involving a current student-athlete with a value of $2000 or more must be reviewed by the respective Ivy League institution prior to the student-athlete accepting any payment." The review includes the compliance office, the athletic director and the Ivy League Office, and each agreement must set out "a clear, legitimate, and reasonable quid pro quo."
- Penn: "If an NIL deal is above $2,000, an additional disclosure must be made to the Ivy League," and "no benefits should be accepted until approval has been given by all applicable entities."
- Yale: "Per Ivy League regulations, all NIL activities valued at $2000 or more, must be submitted to the Ivy League for approval."
- Brown: Policy 04.05.04 (effective June 30, 2026) says "NIL Activities with a value of $2,000 or more will be reviewed by the Athletics Compliance Office, the Athletic Director, the NIL Go clearinghouse, and the Ivy League," and "Student-athletes may not begin work until their deal has been reviewed and approved." Its review comes before work begins; Princeton's, Harvard's and Penn's quoted rules tie theirs to payment.
The rule was not found on ivyleague.com; the wording above is each school's.
School by school
| School | State | The school's own NIL policy | How deals are disclosed | State college NIL law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Rhode Island | Name, Image, and Likeness Policy, Brown University Policy 04.05.04 (issued July 1, 2021; effective June 30, 2026), in the university policy library and cited by the 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook; the athletics NIL page still posts the 2021 policy | Every deal within five business days of signing or agreeing terms, and no work until it is reviewed and approved: $599 or less by the compliance office through Teamworks Influencer; $600 to $1,999 also through NIL Go; $2,000 or more also by the athletic director and the Ivy League; incoming athletes within 30 days of enrolling | No statute |
| Columbia | New York | Not published (no NIL policy found on Columbia Athletics' compliance pages) | Opendorse, described in Columbia's 2022 announcement as the compliance mechanism for reporting | In force |
| Cornell | New York | Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy page, linked as "Cornell's NIL Policy" (undated) | ARMS disclosure before entering a written or verbal contract or doing the activity | In force |
| Dartmouth | New Hampshire | Name, Image and Likeness FAQs (posted August 19, 2021); no newer policy found | Name, Image and Likeness Approval form in ARMS; changes within 14 days | No statute |
| Harvard | Massachusetts | Harvard Athletics Student-Athlete NIL Policy (last updated June 2025) | NIL Go for NCAA sports; Influencer for men's crew, sailing and squash; within five business days of executing the terms; $2,000 or more reviewed before any payment | No statute |
| Penn | Pennsylvania | DRIA Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Policy (effective July 1, 2021; marked updated September 9, 2025; file posted January 7, 2026) | Teamworks Influencer within five days of payment or signing, whichever is first; changes within 14 days (the 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook and 2026 Compliance Manual still say seven days) | In force |
| Princeton | New Jersey | Student-Athlete Name, Image Likeness Policy (undated; current PDF posted September 17, 2026) | Opendorse, including deals made outside it | In force, for schools that offer athletic scholarships |
| Yale | Connecticut | Policy on Student-Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) (updated October 27, 2022), with the 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook | All executed contracts through Opendorse (handbook; the 2022 policy names ARMS) | In force |
Every row also carries NIL Go at $600 and, per the five policies that publish it, the $2,000 Ivy League review. Harvard's policy routes men's crew, sailing and squash, which it calls non-NCAA sports, to Influencer instead. Brown's 2021 policy, still posted on its athletics NIL page, describes reporting to "NCAA NIL Assist," but Policy 04.05.04 (effective June 30, 2026) says deals of $600 or more "must also be disclosed through NIL Go." Dartmouth's FAQ dates from August 2021 and does not mention NIL Go.
Several schools also run an official marketplace where businesses find and pay athletes: Columbia's through Opendorse since 2022, Yale's through Opendorse since February 2025, Princeton's through Opendorse, Harvard's One Crimson NIL Exchange, Penn's Penn-I-L Exchange, and Cornell's Big Red Exchange, launched April 15, 2026 on Teamworks Influencer, which generates a reporting form for the university's approval once a deal is agreed. A deal found elsewhere is still allowed at Princeton if it is disclosed through Opendorse.
State law at each campus
- New York (Columbia, Cornell): Education Law § 6438-c requires an athlete to disclose a contract to a college official "in advance of executing it," and lets the college assert a conflict on listed grounds. Cornell's policy cites the section ground by ground and says representation comes from agents registered under the state's General Business Law or New York lawyers.
- Pennsylvania (Penn): Article XX-M makes disclosure optional ("may"), but Penn's policy requires it within five days. Penn's policy also carries the state's rules that an athlete agent hold a Pennsylvania certificate of registration and that an agent contract say it does not obligate the athlete to use the agent beyond NIL representation.
- New Jersey (Princeton): P.L.2025, c.110 lets schools pay athletes directly for NIL, but it applies only to four-year schools "that offer athletic scholarships." Whether that leaves out a school awarding none, such as Princeton, is not settled by the text. Princeton's policy still speaks of "pending New Jersey law" and limits NIL lawyers to those licensed in New Jersey.
- Connecticut (Yale): § 10a-56 has each school's policy require athletes to disclose and submit each NIL contract; Yale's policy says "The University is directed by Connecticut law to require such disclosures." The statute allows, but does not require, schools to pay athletes.
- Rhode Island (Brown): no college NIL statute. Brown's Policy 04.05.04 says athletes "are permitted to use agents and other Professional Service Providers for NIL Activities as permitted under NCAA rules," and its 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook says NIL representation should be "in accordance with Rhode Island state laws." The state's Uniform Athlete Agents Act, which Brown's 2021 policy named, requires an athlete agent to hold a state certificate of registration and lets agents initiate contact only with athletes who have completed their college eligibility.
- New Hampshire (Dartmouth) and Massachusetts (Harvard): no college NIL statute; New Hampshire repealed its athlete-agent law in 2023, and no Massachusetts athlete-agent registration law was found. Harvard's policy instead has any agent who contacts or works with a Harvard athlete register with its compliance office.
International students
Seven schools publish a visa caution. Princeton: international athletes "may be prohibited from participating in commercial NIL activity by their visa status," with the Davis International Center named for questions. Yale: before any commitment, athletes "must consult with OISS." Brown's Policy 04.05.04: international athletes "are encouraged to work with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or another Professional Service Provider before engaging in any NIL Activity to understand what is permitted under their visa status." Penn points to its Office of International Students and Scholar Services, Cornell to the Office of Global Learning, Harvard to the Harvard International Office, and Dartmouth's FAQ to the Office of Visa and International Services. No Columbia guidance was found. The international athletes page covers the F-1 rules themselves.
Names, logos and gear
Each published policy limits the school's name and marks. A factual line is allowed at most schools ("[sport] at Penn", "[sport] at Dartmouth College", and "a member of the [sport] team at Brown University" in Brown's 2021 policy). Brown's Policy 04.05.04 bars Brown intellectual property, including its logos and trademarks, in NIL Activities "without the University's express written permission." Harvard's is the strictest: "Jane Doe, Harvard lacrosse player" is acceptable and "Jane Doe, Harvard Lacrosse" is not, a disclaimer larger than the Harvard reference must sit beside it, and no campus, facility or landmark may be photographed or filmed for NIL. Yale allows an athlete's own photo in uniform, not produced by the university, in a profile only with a statement such as "Not sponsored, endorsed or otherwise affiliated with Yale University." Cornell requires advance approval for any use of its marks, including a Cornell hat in a promotional photo. Penn requires Nike footwear and apparel while training and competing, as Brown's 2021 policy did; Brown's Policy 04.05.04 bars NIL agreements that conflict "with an agreement Brown University has in place with an outside party"; and Princeton bars NIL tied to brands that conflict with exclusive contracts, naming Nike.
Each published policy except Brown's Policy 04.05.04 also names categories its athletes may not promote (Brown's 2021 policy has such a list). Most lists include gambling or sports betting, alcohol, tobacco, adult content and NCAA-banned substances; Princeton, Penn, Cornell and Dartmouth add weapons or firearms.
Financial aid and taxes
Because Ivy aid is need-based, NIL income can change it. Princeton's and Yale's policies say income of any kind "may reduce" eligibility for institutional or federal aid, Harvard's names Pell Grants, Brown's Policy 04.05.04 says NIL pay "may impact a student-athlete's eligibility to receive need-based financial aid," and Dartmouth's FAQ says NIL earnings may be considered in calculating institutional aid. Cornell, Harvard and Penn say the athlete is responsible for taxes on NIL income, as does Brown's 2021 policy.
How Leave fits
Leave keeps each deal, its terms and its contract in one record, so the five business days for NIL Go, the school's own window (five business days at Brown, five days at Penn, before signing at Cornell) and the $2,000 review are visible rather than remembered. It explains each contract in plain words and shows what similar work pays, which is what a market-rate review asks. Leave is software: it does not submit to NIL Go or to a school, does not negotiate or represent anyone, and is not legal advice.
Questions athletes ask
Do Ivy League schools pay athletes?
No Ivy school appears on the College Sports Commission's list of schools taking part in revenue sharing for 2026-27, and the league describes need-based financial aid without athletic scholarships. The schools' NIL policies also say NIL pay does not come from the school (Brown, Penn) and that the school does not pay athletes for its own promotional use of them (Princeton, Penn, Harvard). Athletes can still be paid by outside businesses for real NIL work.
Can Harvard athletes do NIL deals?
Yes. Harvard's NIL policy (last updated June 2025) lets athletes be paid in money or in kind for NIL activities such as promoting their own business, endorsing a company or nonprofit, running camps, lessons or clinics, making appearances and signing autographs; its summary of NCAA rules says the activity must have "a valid business purpose," with pay "commensurate within a reasonable range of compensation," and not for athletic participation or performance. Athletes in NCAA sports report NIL activity through NIL Go and athletes in men's crew, sailing and squash through Influencer, within five business days of executing the terms; deals of $2,000 or more are reviewed by the Compliance Office, the athletic director and the Ivy League Office before any payment is accepted; and Harvard's name, logos and campus may not appear except as a factual line such as "Harvard lacrosse player" with Harvard's required disclaimer.
Did the Ivy League opt out of the House settlement?
The College Sports Commission says Division I schools outside the five named conferences choose each year, by May 1, whether to opt in to or out of revenue sharing, and its list for 2026-27 has 335 schools and no Ivy school. No Ivy League statement on revenue sharing was found on ivyleague.com, so this page relies on the Commission's list and quotes no league position. The Commission adds that every Division I athlete is subject to the third-party NIL rules whether or not the school opts in.
Do Ivy League athletes have to report deals to NIL Go?
Yes. NCAA Bylaw 22.2.2 names athletes at schools that are not in a House settlement defendant conference or do not provide the settlement's added benefits, and requires reporting of third-party deals of $600 or more, deals from the same payor added together. Bylaw 22.2.2.2 sets the deadline at five business days from signing or agreeing payment terms. Most Ivy schools also have their own disclosure step on top of NIL Go; Harvard's June 2025 policy instead has athletes in NCAA sports report through NIL Go itself.
What is the Ivy League $2,000 NIL rule?
Princeton's policy says that from September 9, 2024, deals worth $2,000 or more need approval from the Ivy League office before any payment is accepted, submitted by the school's compliance office. Harvard's and Yale's published rules use the same $2,000-or-more line, and Penn's says a deal "above $2,000" needs an added disclosure to the Ivy League. Brown's Policy 04.05.04 (effective June 30, 2026) has deals of $2,000 or more reviewed by the compliance office, the athletic director, the NIL Go clearinghouse and the Ivy League, and says athletes "may not begin work until their deal has been reviewed and approved." The rule was not found on ivyleague.com, so the wording here is the schools'.
Can international students at Ivy League schools do NIL deals?
Seven of the eight schools publish a caution about visa or immigration status and name the campus office to consult. Yale says the athlete must consult its international office before any commitment; Brown's Policy 04.05.04 says international athletes "are encouraged to work with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or another Professional Service Provider before engaging in any NIL Activity to understand what is permitted under their visa status"; Penn directs athletes to its international office; Princeton and Cornell say visa status may prohibit NIL activity, and Dartmouth's FAQ says it could affect visa status; Harvard strongly encourages a talk with the Harvard International Office first. No Columbia guidance was found.
Does NIL money affect financial aid at an Ivy League school?
It can. Princeton's and Yale's policies say income of any kind, NIL included, may reduce eligibility for institutional or federal need-based aid; Harvard's mentions Pell Grants; Brown's Policy 04.05.04 says NIL pay "may impact a student-athlete's eligibility to receive need-based financial aid"; Dartmouth's FAQ says NIL earnings may be considered in calculating institutional aid. Each points to its financial aid office, and Princeton's and Harvard's say to ask before engaging in the activity or agreeing to the pay.
Be your own agent. Leave.
