Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pepperdine University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Pepperdine University, its conference, the state of California and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Pepperdine
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Pepperdine Athletics Name, Image, Likeness Policy", updated 2026-08-21 and repeated in the 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook. It says Pepperdine supports third-party NIL pay "consistent with this Policy and California's Fair Pay to Play Act and NCAA bylaws", and that where NCAA or other rules conflict with California law or Title IX, Pepperdine and its athletes "must follow California law and Title IX". Pepperdine "may act as a marketing agent in noninstitutional NIL contracts" but may not guarantee a third-party deal. NIL pay may not be pay-for-play, a recruiting inducement, pay for work not performed, or pay related to a prospective (high school or two-year transfer) athlete's NIL | Pepperdine Athletics, NIL Policy (updated 2026-08-21); Pepperdine Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | The policy says all NIL contracts go to NIL Go, of any amount, oral or written, "within five business days of the agreement being finalized and prior to payment being received", and that "all contracts providing compensation for the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness must be approved, in advance, by NIL Go." An incoming athlete discloses all NIL contracts within 14 days of initial full-time enrollment or before the first scheduled contest against outside competition, whichever comes first. Late disclosure "may impact" practice or competition eligibility. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 require NIL Go reports for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days | Pepperdine NIL Policy (2026-08-21); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | California's statute lists none. Pepperdine's policy "strongly discourages" athletes, and prohibits those with institutional NIL contracts, from NIL contracts "related to illegal substances, illegal conduct, or anything else, including but not limited to sports wagering and supplements that might impact their NCAA eligibility". Deals may not conflict with Pepperdine team contracts; the policy names Nike, ASICS and Adidas as examples of competing brands during official team activities | Pepperdine NIL Policy (2026-08-21); /nil/college/california |
| School marks and group licensing | Uniforms, team apparel, logos, word marks, photos and videos need prior written approval. Pepperdine will not approve marks for uses that conflict with team or sponsor contracts or involve "gambling, drugs, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, firearms", or that conflict with its Code of Ethics. Co-branded merchandise goes through an existing Pepperdine licensee (licensees contract with the Collegiate Licensing Company) and co-branded sponsorships through existing Pepperdine Athletics corporate sponsors, after the athlete reports the deal in NIL Go; other requests go to Business Services. If an athlete agrees, Pepperdine may keep using content made while enrolled after eligibility ends | Pepperdine NIL Policy (2026-08-21) |
| Revenue sharing | Pepperdine's Waves Excellence initiative (2025-08-25) lets the department "strategically participate in revenue sharing (institutional NIL) and expanded scholarship opportunities beginning in the 2025-26 academic year", funded in part by gifts to the Waves Excellence Fund; on 2026-09-10 Pepperdine reported "over $1.1 million raised for the Waves Excellence Fund" in 2025-26. The College Sports Commission lists Pepperdine as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school". Pepperdine has published no breakdown | Pepperdine Athletics (2025-06-09, 2025-08-25, 2026-09-10); Waves Excellence Initiative page; College Sports Commission (read 2026-10-23) |
| Collective or NIL group | In October 2024 the athletic director announced the Waves Excellence Collective, "an independent organization that is an official sponsor of Pepperdine Athletics and the first NIL collective with a Pepperdine-only focus", formed by alumni. No later Pepperdine page read for this guide mentions it; the wavesexcellence.com address now opens Pepperdine's own Waves Excellence Initiative page. Ryan Hiepler (J.D. '22) has been the department's first General Manager of NIL since July 2025 | Pepperdine Athletics (2024-10-14, 2025-07-15); Waves Excellence Initiative page |
| Agents and representation | The policy allows representation "from persons licensed by the State of California (e.g., agents, lawyers, and other professionals)"; representation "must be reported to Pepperdine's Office of Athletic Compliance", and athlete agents follow the federal SPARTA and California's Miller-Ayala Athlete Agents Act. Pepperdine employees may not act as an athlete's agent, solicit NIL deals without university approval or guarantee NIL pay. Pepperdine's Agents and Advisors Policy (updated 2019-07-12) asks agents seeking to represent athletes in professional careers to register with Compliance before any communication | Pepperdine NIL Policy (2026-08-21); Pepperdine Agents and Advisors Policy (2019) |
| Compliance contact | Pepperdine Athletics Office of Compliance; the 2026-27 handbook lists Marina Cymbor, Assistant Director of Compliance, and Amanda Kurtz, Senior Associate A.D. for Internal Operations | Pepperdine Athletics, Compliance and Recruiting page; Pepperdine Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| State law | Education Code § 67456 (Fair Pay to Play Act) covers private colleges such as Pepperdine; in force since 2021-09-01, it protects NIL pay and representation and requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to an official the school designates. In force | /nil/college/california |
What is specific to Pepperdine
Pepperdine's policy puts California law first in its own text. It states that California law and Title IX win over conflicting NCAA rules, sends every NIL contract, even a small or oral one, to NIL Go before payment, and asks the outside payer to attest that it self-funded the deal and was not directed by the school. The program is run by an attorney: Ryan Hiepler, a Pepperdine Caruso law graduate and former Liberty basketball player, became the first General Manager of NIL in July 2025, weeks before the department launched Waves Excellence to fund institutional NIL and scholarships. The athletic director describes the goal as "a championship athletic program fueled by Christian values, academic excellence, and community".
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 Pepperdine
Does Pepperdine pay its athletes?
Pepperdine says its Waves Excellence initiative lets it "strategically participate in revenue sharing (institutional NIL)" from 2025-26, and the College Sports Commission lists it as a 2026-27 revenue-sharing school, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. Pepperdine has not published how the money is divided.
Do Pepperdine athletes have to report small NIL deals?
Yes, under Pepperdine's policy. It says all NIL contracts go to NIL Go "regardless of the amount of compensation" and whether oral or written, within five business days and before payment. The NCAA's own rule (Bylaw 22.2.2) covers third-party deals of $600 or more.
What NIL collective works with Pepperdine?
In October 2024 Pepperdine announced the Waves Excellence Collective, an independent group that is an official sponsor of Pepperdine Athletics. Its status after Pepperdine launched its own Waves Excellence revenue-sharing initiative in August 2025 was not confirmed from a primary source.
Can a Pepperdine athlete use the Pepperdine logo in an NIL deal?
Only with prior written approval. Merchandise goes through an existing Pepperdine licensee and sponsorship deals through an existing Pepperdine Athletics sponsor, and Pepperdine will not approve uses involving gambling, drugs, pornography, alcohol, tobacco or firearms.
Who helps Pepperdine athletes with NIL?
Pepperdine's General Manager of NIL, Ryan Hiepler, an attorney hired in July 2025, is described as "the primary resource for student-athletes on all aspects of the NIL process". The policy says Pepperdine may act as a marketing agent on outside deals, while its employees may not serve as an athlete's agent.
Be your own agent. Leave.
