Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Drexel University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Drexel University, its conference, the state of Pennsylvania and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 24, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Drexel
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Drexel University Policy AD-01, "Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Policy", effective 2021-07-01; the PDF shows a revision date of 2023-01-27 and the web copy 2023-01-12. It says athletes "may receive compensation from third parties (but NOT from the University)", that pay must be for value actually provided, not for athletic performance, and "commensurate with the market value" of the athlete's NIL, and it reserves the University's right to use athletes' NIL in its own promotion without pay | Drexel Athletics, Drexel NIL Policy (AD-01) PDF and web page |
| How deals are disclosed | NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Drexel's policy: an athlete "must disclose the contract to Drexel Athletics Compliance at least two business days before signing the contract" on the NIL Disclosure Form, which "is not an approval process". Drexel's NIL education page says deals under $600 go on the disclosure form in INFLCR and ARMS "at least two days prior to execution", and deals over $600 go to NIL Go "within five business days of the executed contract". Pennsylvania law since 2024 says an athlete "may" disclose | Drexel Athletics, NIL Policy AD-01 and Student Athlete NIL Education page; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/pennsylvania |
| Banned categories | Pennsylvania law bars NIL pay tied to adult entertainment, alcohol, casinos and gambling (including sports betting and the lottery), tobacco and electronic smoking products, prescription pharmaceuticals and controlled dangerous substances. Drexel's policy repeats those six and adds "Any substance banned by the NCAA", illegal products or services, and advertising "unsuitable to exposure to minors" or derogatory toward any person or group. NIL activity may not take place during official team activities or cause missed class | Drexel Athletics, NIL Policy AD-01; /nil/college/pennsylvania |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may say they play a sport "at Drexel University" and may use digital content Drexel owns, subject to any license. Any other use of the Drexel name, logos, marks, uniform, mascot or colors in NIL activity needs "prior written approval from the Athletics Compliance Office and Athletics External Relations Office" and must follow the Use of the Drexel Name and Insignia Policy; the NIL FAQ adds an NIL Addendum on ARMS for wearing Drexel gear. Athletes may sell officially licensed memorabilia with Drexel marks, but not awards or gear Drexel provided. Drexel Athletics announced on 2026-04-13 that, in a seven-year extension with Pepsi, "The brand will have in-state use of Drexel University marks tied to NIL initiatives". Group licensing: Not published | Drexel Athletics, NIL Policy AD-01 and NIL FAQ for Current Student-Athletes; Drexel Athletics release (2026-04-13) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" and lists Drexel University (Coastal Athletic Association) as participating in 2026-27 (read 2026-10-24). The CAA said on 2025-01-29 that its "Board of Directors and its member institutions have committed to opting into the pending NCAA House settlement by March 1, 2025". Drexel's LeBow College of Business news story of 2025-05-23 quotes Kelly: "It allows us to think about the resources we have and how we can best leverage them to our priorities." Drexel's NIL policy still says NIL pay comes "only from non-institutional entities and not from the University". No Drexel figures are published | College Sports Commission; Coastal Athletic Association release (2025-01-29); Drexel LeBow news (2025-05-23); Drexel NIL Policy AD-01 |
| Collective or NIL group | Dragon Fire Collective, powered by Student Athlete NIL (SANIL). Drexel Athletics announced it on 2023-12-04 as "the official NIL Collective for Dragons Student-Athletes", adding that "SANIL is not officially affiliated with Drexel University Athletics, but is acknowledged by the department" and that "Dragon Fire Collective is independent from Drexel University". The collective's website named in that announcement did not load on 2026-10-24, and Drexel has published no later statement on its status. Drexel's sponsor releases also mention NIL: Citadel Credit Union (2026-07-21) "will also have the opportunity to work with Drexel student-athletes through an NIL package tied to future partnership activations" | Drexel Athletics, Dragon Fire Collective page (2023-12-04); Drexel Athletics release (2026-07-21) |
| Agents and representation | The policy allows "Professional Representatives" for NIL contracts and legal matters; an agreement with an agent or lawyer "must be disclosed to the institution's athletic director and compliance office within 72 hours of the signed agreement", and the representative must be an athlete agent acting under 5 Pa.C.S. Chapter 35 or a lawyer admitted in Pennsylvania. The NIL FAQ adds that the agent or attorney may not "represent/have represented Drexel". State law: the same two routes; athlete agents register with the State Athletic Commission | Drexel Athletics, NIL Policy AD-01 and NIL FAQ; /nil/college/pennsylvania |
| Compliance contact | Drexel Athletics Compliance, athleticscompliance@drexel.edu, 215-895-1867 (policy AD-01). The staff directory lists Erin DeMarco, Associate Athletics Director, Compliance, and Taylor Matteson, Assistant Director, Compliance (read 2026-10-24) | Drexel NIL Policy AD-01; Drexel Athletics, Staff Directory |
| State law | In force. Pennsylvania's Article XX-M (Act 89 of 2024) reaches degree-granting private colleges located in and incorporated or chartered by Pennsylvania, which on its face describes Drexel (its charter record was not checked); it makes disclosure to the school optional, bans six product categories, limits representation to registered athlete agents and Pennsylvania lawyers, and protects scholarships | /nil/college/pennsylvania |
What is specific to Drexel
Drexel, a private university in Philadelphia with no football team, publishes a detailed NIL policy, but its NIL pages have not been updated together. Policy AD-01 is a numbered university policy owned by the Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, with a two-business-day disclosure rule, a nine-item banned list, a clause saying makers of team jerseys, video games and trading cards "shall make a royalty payment to each Student-Athlete" whose NIL they use, and a reserved right for Drexel to use athletes' NIL in its own promotion. The education page and FAQ, though, still link Pennsylvania's 2021 Act 26 (Article XX-K), which was replaced in 2022 and again in 2024, and say state law requires that athletes "disclose all opportunities to Drexel's Compliance Office seven days prior to entering an NIL contract". Drexel's NIL education program is Dragons Edge, launched with INFLCR on 2021-11-05 with the LeBow College of Business and the Close School of Entrepreneurship. International athletes have their own FAQ and a letter from the Office of International Students and Scholars asking them to "refrain from entering into a NIL agreement or engaging in compensated NIL activity" until federal guidance is issued.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at Drexel
Does Drexel pay its athletes?
Drexel is on the College Sports Commission's list of revenue-sharing schools for 2026-27, and the Commission puts the cap at about $21.58 million per school. Athletics Director Maisha Kelly discussed Drexel's decision to opt in at the 2025 Drexel Sport Business Conference. Drexel has published no amounts, and its NIL policy says NIL pay itself comes from third parties, not the University.
How do Drexel athletes report NIL deals?
Drexel's policy has athletes disclose a proposed NIL contract to Athletics Compliance at least two business days before signing, and its education page sends deals of more than $600 to NIL Go within five business days of signing. Drexel says its disclosure form "is not an official approval".
Can Drexel athletes use the Drexel logo in NIL deals?
Only with written approval. An athlete may say they play a sport at Drexel without approval, but any other use of Drexel's name, logos, marks, uniform, mascot or colors needs prior written approval from Athletics Compliance and Athletics External Relations, under Drexel's Name and Insignia Policy.
What NIL collective works with Drexel?
Drexel announced Dragon Fire Collective, powered by Student Athlete NIL (SANIL), as the official collective for its athletes on 2023-12-04 and said it is independent from the University. Its website did not load on 2026-10-24, and Drexel has not published a later update.
Does Pennsylvania's NIL law apply to Drexel?
Pennsylvania's Article XX-M reaches degree-granting private colleges located in and incorporated or chartered by the state, which on its face describes Drexel. Its text gives covered athletes scholarship protection, bans six product categories and limits NIL representation to a registered athlete agent or a Pennsylvania lawyer. Drexel's own pages still cite the 2021 version of the law.
Can international students at Drexel make NIL money?
Drexel's policy says international athletes "must contact the University's Office of International Students and Scholar Services prior to entering into any NIL agreements". Its international FAQ says starting a business in the United States is not allowed on F-1 status, and an ISSS letter asks athletes to refrain from compensated NIL activity until federal guidance is issued.
Be your own agent. Leave.
