Were you a Division I NCAA college athlete enrolled during or after April 1, 2019? You may have been denied rightful payments of as much as $5,980 under new athlete compensation rules. Fill out the form to find out your rights »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit alleging certain NCAA member schools failed to provide college athletes with fair payments they were allegedly denied under previous NCAA rules. Prior litigation brought against the NCAA established that member schools may pay college athletes up to $5,980 in funds referred to as “Alston money,” “bonus pay,” “academic incentive” or “achievement award” as part of their recruiting, but college athletes have allegedly been prevented from receiving the payments they deserve.
WHICH SCHOOLS ARE ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO PAY NCAA ATHLETES?
Alabama State University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Boise State University
Clemson University
Florida State University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Tech
Indiana University-Bloomington
Iowa State University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Louisiana State University
Mississippi State University
North Carolina State University
Northwestern University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
San Jose State University
Texas Tech University
The Ohio State University
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
University of Texas at Austin
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Tech
West Virginia University
ABOUT ACADEMIC AWARD PAYMENTS AND BONUS PAY
Payments that should have been made to college athletes are currently called different names at different schools. NCAA college athletes may have heard these payments referred to as:
- Academic Awards
- Academic Achievement Awards
- Academic Bonus Payments
- Additional Financial Assistance
- Academic Financial Award
- Academic Incentive Award
- Academic Success Initiative
- Bonus Checks
- Educational Benefit Plan
- Student-Athlete Academic Awards Policy
- Student-Athlete Academic Incentive Plan
Some colleges may also refer to them by school-specific names, including Mountaineer Academic Incentive program, Wolfpack Academic Incentive Program, “N-Vest Nebraska” Program, Clemson Academic Performance Award and Colorado Educational Benefits Policy.
YOUR RIGHTS AS A COLLEGE ATHLETE
In 2021, a lawsuit filed against the NCAA, Alston v. NCAA, culminated in a $208 million settlement on behalf of college athletes who had been denied their rights to grant-in-aid scholarship payments. The lawsuit then went to the Supreme Court, where it was ruled that NCAA athletes could receive up to $5,980 per year in benefits tethered to education, and that NCAA schools had violated antitrust laws in failing to compete for college athletes through this kind of payment.
NCAA member schools have reportedly failed to pay college athletes scholarship payments described in the Alston lawsuit. Our attorneys believe that college athletes affected by this ruling deserve payments, and if they have failed to pay athletes, NCAA schools have violated the law. The lawsuit brings claims that the NCAA has violated the Sherman Antitrust Act and seeks to recover damages on behalf of college athletes harmed by the NCAA's alleged anticompetitive practices.
HOW CAN A CLASS ACTION HELP?
A class-action lawsuit is what has already helped NCAA college athletes gain their rights to payments tethered to education, which allow schools to compete for their attendance through grant-in-aid scholarships. Class actions have also helped pave the way for college athletes to earn payment for the use of their name, image and likeness and protect them by strengthening return-to-play protocols following a concussion. A class action can support individual college athletes, making their claims more powerful together to bring about positive change. Cases of this kind may also be successful in forcing institutions to change their practices and policies.
TOP COLLEGE ATHLETE LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman’s sports litigation legal team includes former NCAA and pro athletes, and the firm has a proven track record of successfully bringing lawsuits against the NCAA on behalf of college athletes. Our legal team achieved a $208 million settlement against the NCAA concerning antitrust-related student scholarship limits, a combined $60 million settlement against Electronic Arts and the NCAA regarding player likeness rights in videogames, and an additional settlement valued at $75 million regarding concussions and safety protocols.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will you ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team.
