Should Collegiate Athletes be Compensated? An Analysis of the NCAA’s Role in Governing Student-Athletes

In recent events, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been under fire for not creating a way for student-athletes to make money. However, after pressure from legislatures in multiple states, the NCAA decided to adopt a solution for collegiate athletes to receive compensation. Taking effect in January 2021, student-athletes will be able to obtain monetary awards. However, the NCAA has yet to release concrete rules regarding how student-athletes will receive compensation. By analyzing the history, economics, current structure, and various interviews with collegiate athletes, a pragmatic solution is extrapolated. College sports is the only place in the United States that does not allow individuals to make money off their market-driven talents, often leading to students leaving college before graduation. However, a solution exists for student-athletes to justly receive compensation without negatively affecting their sport, school, and graduation. This thesis seeks to deliver a logical solution to this situation.