The POLARIS Blueprint: Navigating NIL in the Ivy League
At POLARIS Student Athlete Consulting, we work with families every day to navigate the evolving world of college admissions, athletic recruitment, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Unlike their peers in Power Four conferences, Ivy League schools do not participate in school-sponsored collectives or revenue-sharing models, but that doesn’t make their student athletes any less marketable. They simply operate within a different ecosystem. Regardless of the conference, brands want connection.
Before we dive any deeper I’d like to first define two key terms:
1. Collectives
These are independent organizations, often formed by alumni, boosters, or fans, that pool money to support student-athletes at a specific school. They fund NIL deals by offering payments for appearances, promotions, or community work, helping athletes monetize their brand while staying within NCAA rules.
Think of them as fan-funded support systems for athletes.
2. Revenue-Sharing Models
This refers to systems where athletes receive a cut of the school’s profits, typically from media rights, jersey sales, ticket sales, or streaming deals. It’s a growing concept in college sports where athletes are treated more like partners in the financial success of the program.
It’s similar to how pro athletes share in league revenues.
A question we hear from some of our families is:
“What does NIL look like in the Ivy League?”
It’s a great question, and the answer might surprise you.
While Ivy League schools are among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, they’ve taken a very different approach to college athletics and NIL compared to Power Four conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. Here’s what families need to know.
No Athletic Scholarships. No Revenue Sharing.
Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships, only need-based financial aid. That’s been true for decades. But now, as other schools introduce NIL collectives and revenue-sharing models, the financial gap is growing even wider.
In 2024, the Ivy League made headlines for being one of the only Division I conferences to publicly oppose revenue sharing with student athletes. That means:
No school-funded NIL deals
No performance-based compensation
No institutional support for athlete monetization
If collective driven and revenue sharing NIL opportunities are a major factor in your college decision, the Ivy League may not be the strongest financial fit.
A Different NIL Landscape, Not a Lesser One
Unlike Power Four programs, Ivy League schools:
Do not partner with NIL collectives
Offer limited institutional support beyond basic NIL education
Provide less national exposure in many sports, which can affect visibility
That said, NIL is still very much on the table. Ivy League student athletes simply need to take a more independent, entrepreneurial approach. Building your brand, seeking partnerships, and managing logistics will largely fall on you. With the right mindset and strategy, real opportunities are within reach.
The Tradeoff: Prestige vs. Potential Short-Term Earnings
An Ivy League education opens incredible doors. But the current NIL environment doesn’t offer the same financial upside available at other Division I programs.
A high-level recruit may face this choice:
Attend an Ivy League school with elite academics, but limited NIL support (in comparison)
Choose a Power 4 program with a full scholarship and structured NIL pathways
There’s no single right answer. But understanding the tradeoffs is key.
Independent NIL Efforts Are Emerging
While the Ivy League holds firm against formal NIL structures, some schools are seeing informal support grow:
Alumni-driven efforts at places like Yale and Harvard are helping connect student athletes with mentors, education, and personal branding support
As of today, Columbia, Princeton, and Yale all offer compliance tools and NIL education via platforms like INFLCR or Opendorse
These efforts are helpful, but they are not equivalent to the structured, high-dollar NIL collectives seen in other conferences.
Implications for Recruits
If you’re a high-level recruit considering both Ivy League and Power 4 schools, keep this in mind:
You’ll likely manage NIL opportunities independently at an Ivy, without collective support or school-led deal-making. Plenty of Ivy League student athletes are utilizing Opendorse for opportunities independently.
That doesn’t mean NIL success is off the table, but it does mean you'll need to be proactive, resourceful, and focused on building your personal brand. The college athletics landscape is changing quickly, and NIL is now a critical part of the equation. But every athlete’s journey is different.
At POLARIS, we’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions that reflect your values, vision, and goals.
Have questions about NIL, the Ivy League, or how to balance academics with athletics?
Let’s connect. We’re here to help student athletes not just reach the next level but thrive when they get there.