PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, should college athletes be paid an expert debate analysis.

author image

Extracurriculars

feature-american-football-player

The argumentative essay is one of the most frequently assigned types of essays in both high school and college writing-based courses. Instructors often ask students to write argumentative essays over topics that have “real-world relevance.” The question, “Should college athletes be paid?” is one of these real-world relevant topics that can make a great essay subject! 

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools you need to write a solid essay arguing why college athletes should be paid and why college athletes should not be paid. We'll provide:

  • An explanation of the NCAA and what role it plays in the lives of student athletes
  • A summary of the pro side of the argument that's in favor of college athletes being paid
  • A summary of the con side of the argument that believes college athletes shouldn't be paid
  • Five tips that will help you write an argumentative essay that answers the question "Should college athletes be paid?" 

body-ncaa-logo

The NCAA is the organization that oversees and regulates collegiate athletics. 

What Is the NCAA? 

In order to understand the context surrounding the question, “Should student athletes be paid?”, you have to understand what the NCAA is and how it relates to student-athletes. 

NCAA stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (but people usually just call it the “N-C-double-A”). The NCAA is a nonprofit organization that serves as the national governing body for collegiate athletics. 

The NCAA specifically regulates collegiate student athletes at the organization’s 1,098 “member schools.” Student-athletes at these member schools are required to follow the rules set by the NCAA for their academic performance and progress while in college and playing sports. Additionally, the NCAA sets the rules for each of their recognized sports to ensure everyone is playing by the same rules. ( They also change these rules occasionally, which can be pretty controversial! ) 

The NCAA website states that the organization is “dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes” and prioritizes their well-being in academics, on the field, and in life beyond college sports. That means the NCAA sets some pretty strict guidelines about what their athletes can and can't do. And of course, right now, college athletes can't be paid for playing their sport. 

As it stands, NCAA athletes are allowed to receive scholarships that cover their college tuition and related school expenses. But historically, they haven't been allowed to receive additional compensation. That meant athletes couldn't receive direct payment for their participation in sports in any form, including endorsement deals, product sponsorships, or gifts.  

Athletes who violated the NCAA’s rules about compensation could be suspended from participating in college sports or kicked out of their athletic program altogether. 

body_moneypile

The Problem: Should College Athletes Be Paid? 

You know now that one of the most well-known functions of the NCAA is regulating and limiting the compensation that student-athletes are able to receive. While many people might not question this policy, the question of why college athletes should be paid or shouldn't be paid has actually been a hot-button topic for several years.

The fact that people keep asking the question, “Should student athletes be paid?” indicates that there’s some heat out there surrounding this topic. The issue is frequently debated on sports talk shows , in the news media , and on social media . Most recently, the topic re-emerged in public discourse in the U.S. because of legislation that was passed by the state of California in 2019.

In September 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that allowed college athletes in California to strike endorsement deals. An endorsement deal allows athletes to be paid for endorsing a product, like wearing a specific brand of shoes or appearing in an advertisement for a product.

In other words, endorsement deals allow athletes to receive compensation from companies and organizations because of their athletic talent. That means Governor Newsom’s bill explicitly contradicts the NCAA’s rules and regulations for financial compensation for student-athletes at member schools.

But why would Governor Newsom go against the NCAA? Here’s why: the California governor believes that it's unethical for the NCAA to make money based on the unpaid labor of its athletes . And the NCAA definitely makes money: each year, the NCAA upwards of a billion dollars in revenue as a result of its student-athlete talent, but the organization bans those same athletes from earning any money for their talent themselves. With the new California law, athletes would be able to book sponsorships and use agents to earn money, if they choose to do so. 

The NCAA’s initial response to California’s new law was to push back hard. But after more states introduced similar legislation , the NCAA changed its tune. In October 2019, the NCAA pledged to pass new regulations when the board voted unanimously to allow student athletes to receive compensation for use of their name, image, and likeness. 

Simply put: student athletes can now get paid through endorsement deals. 

In the midst of new state legislation and the NCAA’s response, the ongoing debate about paying college athletes has returned to the spotlight. Everyone from politicians, to sports analysts, to college students are arguing about it. There are strong opinions on both sides of the issue, so we’ll look at how some of those opinions can serve as key points in an argumentative essay.

body-checkmark

Let's take a look at the arguments in favor of paying student athletes!

The Pros: Why College Athletes Should B e Paid

Since the argument about whether college athletes should be paid has gotten a lot of public attention, there are some lines of reasoning that are frequently called upon to support the claim that college athletes should be paid. 

In this section, we'll look at the three biggest arguments in favor of why college athletes should be paid. We'll also give you some ideas on how you can support these arguments in an argumentative essay.

Argument 1: The Talent Should Receive Some of the Profits

This argument on why college athletes should be paid is probably the one people cite the most. It’s also the easiest one to support with facts and evidence. 

Essentially, this argument states that the NCAA makes millions of dollars because people pay to watch college athletes compete, and it isn’t fair that the athletes don't get a share of the profits

Without the student athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t earn over a billion dollars in annual revenue , and college and university athletic programs wouldn’t receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from the NCAA each year. In fact, without student athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist at all. 

Because student athletes are the ones who generate all this revenue, people in favor of paying college athletes argue they deserve to receive some of it back. Otherwise, t he NCAA and other organizations (like media companies, colleges, and universities) are exploiting a bunch of talented young people for their own financial gain.

To support this argument in favor of paying college athletes, you should include specific data and revenue numbers that show how much money the NCAA makes (and what portion of that actually goes to student athletes). For example, they might point out the fact that the schools that make the most money in college sports only spend around 10% of their tens of millions in athletics revenue on scholarships for student-athletes. Analyzing the spending practices of the NCAA and its member institutions could serve as strong evidence to support this argument in a “why college athletes should be paid” essay. 

body-train-athlete-bar

I've you've ever been a college athlete, then you know how hard you have to train in order to compete. It can feel like a part-time job...which is why some people believe athletes should be paid for their work!

Argument 2: College Athletes Don’t Have Time to Work Other Jobs

People sometimes casually refer to being a student-athlete as a “full-time job.” For many student athletes, this is literally true. The demands on a student-athlete’s time are intense. Their days are often scheduled down to the minute, from early in the morning until late at night. 

One thing there typically isn’t time for in a student-athlete’s schedule? Working an actual job. 

Sports programs can imply that student-athletes should treat their sport like a full-time job as well. This can be problematic for many student-athletes, who may not have any financial resources to cover their education. (Not all NCAA athletes receive full, or even partial, scholarships!) While it may not be expressly forbidden for student-athletes to get a part-time job, the pressure to go all-in for your team while still maintaining your eligibility can be tremendous. 

In addition to being a financial burden, the inability to work a real job as a student-athlete can have consequences for their professional future. Other college students get internships or other career-specific experience during college—opportunities that student-athletes rarely have time for. When they graduate, proponents of this stance argue, student-athletes are under-experienced and may face challenges with starting a career outside of the sports world.

Because of these factors, some argue that if people are going to refer to being a student-athlete as a “full-time job,” then student-athletes should be paid for doing that job.  

To support an argument of this nature, you can offer real-life examples of a student-athlete’s daily or weekly schedule to show that student-athletes have to treat their sport as a full-time job. For instance, this Twitter thread includes a range of responses from real student-athletes to an NCAA video portraying a rose-colored interpretation of a day in the life of a student-athlete. 

Presenting the Twitter thread as one form of evidence in an essay would provide effective support for the claim that college athletes should be paid as if their sport is a “full-time job.” You might also take this stance in order to claim that if student-athletes aren’t getting paid, we must adjust our demands on their time and behavior.

Argument 3: Only Some Student Athletes Should Be Paid

This take on the question, “Should student athletes be paid?” sits in the middle ground between the more extreme stances on the issue. There are those who argue that only the student athletes who are big money-makers for their university and the NCAA should be paid.  

The reasoning behind this argument? That’s just how capitalism works. There are always going to be student-athletes who are more talented and who have more media-magnetizing personalities. They’re the ones who are going to be the face of athletic programs, who lead their teams to playoffs and conference victories, and who are approached for endorsement opportunities. 

Additionally, some sports don't make money for their schools. Many of these sports fall under Title IX, which states that no one can be excluded from participation in a federally-funded program (including sports) because of their gender or sex. Unfortunately, many of these programs aren't popular with the public , which means they don't make the same revenue as high-dollar sports like football or basketball . 

In this line of thinking, since there isn’t realistically enough revenue to pay every single college athlete in every single sport, the ones who generate the most revenue are the only ones who should get a piece of the pie. 

To prove this point, you can look at revenue numbers as well. For instance, the womens' basketball team at the University of Louisville lost $3.8 million dollars in revenue during the 2017-2018 season. In fact, the team generated less money than they pay for their coaching staff. In instances like these, you might argue that it makes less sense to pay athletes than it might in other situations (like for University of Alabama football, which rakes in over $110 million dollars a year .) 

body-x-cancel

There are many people who think it's a bad idea to pay college athletes, too. Let's take a look at the opposing arguments. 

The Cons: Why College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid

People also have some pretty strong opinions about why college athletes shouldn't be paid. These arguments can make for a pretty compelling essay, too! 

In this section, we'll look at the three biggest arguments against paying college athletes. We'll also talk about how you can support each of these claims in an essay. 

Argument 1: College Athletes Already Get Paid

On this side of the fence, the most common reason given for why college athletes should not be paid is that they already get paid: they receive free tuition and, in some cases, additional funding to cover their room, board, and miscellaneous educational expenses. 

Proponents of this argument state that free tuition and covered educational expenses is compensation enough for student-athletes. While this money may not go straight into a college athlete's pocket, it's still a valuable resource . Considering most students graduate with nearly $30,000 in student loan debt , an athletic scholarship can have a huge impact when it comes to making college affordable . 

Evidence for this argument might look at the financial support that student-athletes receive for their education, and compare those numbers to the financial support that non-athlete students receive for their schooling. You can also cite data that shows the real value of a college tuition at certain schools. For example, student athletes on scholarship at Duke may be "earning" over $200,000 over the course of their collegiate careers. 

This argument works to highlight the ways in which student-athletes are compensated in financial and in non-financial ways during college , essentially arguing that the special treatment they often receive during college combined with their tuition-free ride is all the compensation they have earned.

body-athlete-basketball

Some people who are against paying athletes believe that compensating athletes will lead to amateur athletes being treated like professionals. Many believe this is unfair and will lead to more exploitation, not less. 

Argument 2: Paying College Athletes Would Side-Step the Real Problem

Another argument against paying student athletes is that college sports are not professional sports , and treating student athletes like professionals exploits them and takes away the spirit of amateurism from college sports . 

This stance may sound idealistic, but those who take this line of reasoning typically do so with the goal of protecting both student-athletes and the tradition of “amateurism” in college sports. This argument is built on the idea that the current system of college sports is problematic and needs to change, but that paying student-athletes is not the right solution. 

Instead, this argument would claim that there is an even better way to fix the corrupt system of NCAA sports than just giving student-athletes a paycheck. To support such an argument, you might turn to the same evidence that’s cited in this NPR interview : the European model of supporting a true minor league system for most sports is effective, so the U.S. should implement a similar model. 

In short: creating a minor league can ensure athletes who want a career in their sport get paid, while not putting the burden of paying all collegiate athletes on a university. 

Creating and supporting a true professional minor league would allow the students who want to make money playing sports to do so. Universities could then confidently put earned revenue from sports back into the university, and student-athletes wouldn’t view their college sports as the best and only path to a career as a professional athlete. Those interested in playing professionally would be able to pursue this dream through the minor leagues instead, and student athletes could just be student athletes. 

The goal of this argument is to sort of achieve a “best of both worlds” solution: with the development and support of a true minor league system, student-athletes would be able to focus on the foremost goal of getting an education, and those who want to get paid for their sport can do so through the minor league. Through this model, student-athletes’ pursuit of their education is protected, and college sports aren’t bogged down in ethical issues and logistical hang-ups. 

Argument 3: It Would Be a Logistical Nightmare

This argument against paying student athletes takes a stance on the basis of logistics. Essentially, this argument states that while the current system is flawed, paying student athletes is just going to make the system worse. So until someone can prove that paying collegiate athletes will fix the system, it's better to maintain the status quo. 

Formulating an argument around this perspective basically involves presenting the different proposals for how to go about paying college athletes, then poking holes in each proposed approach. Such an argument would probably culminate in stating that the challenges to implementing pay for college athletes are reason enough to abandon the idea altogether. 

Here's what we mean. One popular proposed approach to paying college athletes is the notion of “pay-for-play.” In this scenario, all college athletes would receive the same weekly stipend to play their sport . 

In this type of argument, you might explain the pay-for-play solution, then pose some questions toward the approach that expose its weaknesses, such as: Where would the money to pay athletes come from? How could you pay athletes who play certain sports, but not others? How would you avoid Title IX violations? Because there are no easy answers to these questions, you could argue that paying college athletes would just create more problems for the world of college sports to deal with.

Posing these difficult questions may persuade a reader that attempting to pay college athletes would cause too many issues and lead them to agree with the stance that college athletes should not be paid. 

body-track-athletes

5 Tips for Writing About Paying College Athletes

If you’re assigned the prompt “Should college athletes be paid," don't panic. There are several steps you can take to write an amazing argumentative essay about the topic! We've broken our advice into five helpful tips that you can use to persuade your readers (and ace your assignment).

Tip 1: Plan Out a Logical Structure for Your Essay

In order to write a logical, well-organized argumentative essay, one of the first things you need to do is plan out a structure for your argument. Using a bare-bones argumentative outline for a “why college athletes should be paid” essay is a good place to start. 

Check out our example of an argumentative essay outline for this topic below: 

  • The thesis statement must communicate the topic of the essay: Whether college athletes should be paid, and 
  • Convey a position on that topic: That college athletes should/ should not be paid, and 
  • State a couple of defendable, supportable reasons why college athletes should be paid (or vice versa).
  • Support Point #1 with evidence
  • Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary 
  • Support Point #2 with evidence
  • Explain/interpret the evidence with your own, original commentary
  • Support Point #3 with evidence
  • New body paragraph addressing opposing viewpoints
  • Concluding paragraph

This outline does a few things right. First, it makes sure you have a strong thesis statement. Second, it helps you break your argument down into main points (that support your thesis, of course). Lastly, it reminds you that you need to both include evidence and explain your evidence for each of your argumentative points. 

While you can go off-book once you start drafting if you feel like you need to, having an outline to start with can help you visualize how many argumentative points you have, how much evidence you need, and where you should insert your own commentary throughout your essay. 

Remember: the best argumentative essays are organized ones! 

Tip 2: Create a Strong Thesis 

T he most important part of the introduction to an argumentative essay claiming that college athletes should/should not be paid is the thesis statement. You can think of a thesis like a backbone: your thesis ties all of your essay parts together so your paper can stand on its own two feet! 

So what does a good thesis look like? A solid thesis statement in this type of argumentative essay will convey your stance on the topic (“Should college athletes be paid?”) and present one or more supportable reasons why you’re making this argument. 

With these goals in mind, here’s an example of a thesis statement that includes clear reasons that support the stance that college athletes should be paid: 

Because the names, image, and talents of college athletes are used for massive financial gain, college athletes should be able to benefit from their athletic career in the same way that their universities do by getting endorsements. 

Here's a thesis statement that takes the opposite stance--that college athletes shouldn’t be paid --and includes a reason supporting that stance: 

In order to keep college athletics from becoming over-professionalized, compensation for college athletes should be restricted to covering college tuition and related educational expenses.

Both of these sample thesis statements make it clear that your essay is going to be dedicated to making an argument: either that college athletes should be paid, or that college athletes shouldn’t be paid. They both convey some reasons why you’re making this argument that can also be supported with evidence. 

Your thesis statement gives your argumentative essay direction . Instead of ranting about why college athletes should/shouldn’t be paid in the remainder of your essay, you’ll find sources that help you explain the specific claim you made in your thesis statement. And a well-organized, adequately supported argument is the kind that readers will find persuasive!

Tip 3: Find Credible Sources That Support Your Thesis

In an argumentative essay, your commentary on the issue you’re arguing about is obviously going to be the most fun part to write. But great essays will cite outside sources and other facts to help substantiate their argumentative points. That's going to involve—you guessed it!—research. 

For this particular topic, the issue of whether student athletes should be paid has been widely discussed in the news media (think The New York Times , NPR , or ESPN ). 

For example, this data reported by the NCAA shows a breakdown of the gender and racial demographics of member-school administration, coaching staff, and student athletes. These are hard numbers that you could interpret and pair with the well-reasoned arguments of news media writers to support a particular point you’re making in your argument. 

Though this may seem like a topic that wouldn’t generate much scholarly research, it’s worth a shot to check your library database for peer-reviewed studies of student athletes’ experiences in college to see if anything related to paying student athletes pops up. Scholarly research is the holy grail of evidence, so try to find relevant articles if you can. 

Ultimately, if you can incorporate a mix of mainstream sources, quantitative or statistical evidence, and scholarly, peer-reviewed sources, you’ll be on-track to building an excellent argument in response to the question, “Should student athletes be paid?”

body-test-checklist-list-graphic

Having multiple argumentative points in your essay helps you support your thesis.

Tip 4: Develop and Support Multiple Points

We’ve reviewed how to write an intro and thesis statement addressing the issue of paying college athletes, so let’s talk next about the meat and potatoes of your argumentative essay: the body paragraphs. 

The body paragraphs that are sandwiched between your intro paragraph and concluding paragraph are where you build and explain your argument. Generally speaking, each body paragraph should do the following: 

  • Start with a topic sentence that presents a point that supports your stance and that can be debated, 
  • Present summaries, paraphrases, or quotes from credible sources--evidence, in other words--that supports the point stated in the topic sentence, and
  • Explain and interpret the evidence presented with your own, original commentary. 

In an argumentative essay on why college athletes should be paid, for example, a body paragraph might look like this: 

Thesis Statement : College athletes should not be paid because it would be a logistical nightmare for colleges and universities and ultimately cause negative consequences for college sports. 

Body Paragraph #1: While the notion of paying college athletes is nice in theory, a major consequence of doing so would be the financial burden this decision would place on individual college sports programs. A recent study cited by the NCAA showed that only about 20 college athletic programs consistently operate in the black at the present time. If the NCAA allows student-athletes at all colleges and universities to be paid, the majority of athletic programs would not even have the funds to afford salaries for their players anyway. This would mean that the select few athletic programs that can afford to pay their athletes’ salaries would easily recruit the most talented players and, thus, have the tools to put together teams that destroy their competition. Though individual athletes would benefit from the NCAA allowing compensation for student-athletes, most athletic programs would suffer, and so would the spirit of healthy competition that college sports are known for. 

If you read the example body paragraph above closely, you’ll notice that there’s a topic sentence that supports the claim made in the thesis statement. There’s also evidence given to support the claim made in the topic sentence--a recent study by the NCAA. Following the evidence, the writer interprets the evidence for the reader to show how it supports their opinion. 

Following this topic sentence/evidence/explanation structure will help you construct a well-supported and developed argument that shows your readers that you’ve done your research and given your stance a lot of thought. And that's a key step in making sure you get an excellent grade on your essay! 

Tip 5: Keep the Reader Thinking

The best argumentative essay conclusions reinterpret your thesis statement based on the evidence and explanations you provided throughout your essay. You would also make it clear why the argument about paying college athletes even matters in the first place. 

There are several different approaches you can take to recap your argument and get your reader thinking in your conclusion paragraph. In addition to restating your topic and why it’s important, other effective ways to approach an argumentative essay conclusion could include one or more of the following: 

While you don’t want to get too wordy in your conclusion or present new claims that you didn’t bring up in the body of your essay, you can write an effective conclusion and make all of the moves suggested in the bulleted list above. 

Here’s an example conclusion for an argumentative essay on paying college athletes using approaches we just talked about:

Though it’s true that scholarships and financial aid are a form of compensation for college athletes, it’s also true that the current system of college sports places a lot of pressure on college athletes to behave like professional athletes in every way except getting paid. Future research should turn its attention to the various inequities within college sports and look at the long-term economic outcomes of these athletes. While college athletes aren't paid right now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a paycheck is the best solution to the problem. To avoid the possibility of making the college athletics system even worse, people must consider the ramifications of paying college students and ensure that paying athletes doesn't create more harm than good.

This conclusion restates the argument of the essay (that college athletes shouldn't be paid and why), then uses the "Future Research" tactic to make the reader think more deeply about the topic. 

If your conclusion sums up your thesis and keeps the reader thinking, you’ll make sure that your essay sticks in your readers' minds.

body_next

Should College Athletes Be Paid: Next Steps 

Writing an argumentative essay can seem tough, but with a little expert guidance, you'll be well on your way to turning in a great paper . Our complete, expert guide to argumentative essays can give you the extra boost you need to ace your assignment!

Perhaps college athletics isn't your cup of tea. That's okay: there are tons of topics you can write about in an argumentative paper. We've compiled 113 amazing argumentative essay topics so that you're practically guaranteed to find an idea that resonates with you.

If you're not a super confident essay writer, it can be helpful to look at examples of what others have written. Our experts have broken down three real-life argumentative essays to show you what you should and shouldn't do in your own writing.

author image

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

  • For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Follow us on Facebook (icon)

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

Should College Athletes Be Paid? Pros and Cons

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

Show me what areas I need to improve

What’s Covered:

History of the debate: should college athletes be paid, why college athletes should be paid.

  • Why College Athletes Shouldn’t Be Paid
  • Where To Get Your Essay Edited For Free

College athletics provide big benefits for many schools: they increase their profile, generate millions of dollars in revenue, and have led to one of the most contentious questions in sports— should college athletes be paid? Like other difficult questions, there are good arguments on both sides of the issue of paying college athletes. 

Historically, the debates over paying college athletes have only led to more questions, which is why it’s raged on for more than a century. Perhaps the earliest group to examine the quandary was Andrew Carnegie’s Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which produced a mammoth study in 1929 of amateur athletes and the profits they generate for their universities. You don’t have to get past the preface to find questions that feel at home in today’s world:

  • “What relation has this astonishing athletic display to the work of an intelligence agency like a university?”
  • “How do students, devoted to study, find either the time or the money to stage so costly a performance?” 

Many of the questions asked way back in 1929 continue to resurface today, and many of them have eventually ended up seeking answers in court. The first case of note came in the 1950s, when the widow of Fort Lewis football player Ray Dennison took the college all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court in an effort to collect a death benefit after he was killed playing football. She lost the case, but future generations would have more success and have slowly whittled away at arguments against paying athletes. 

The most noticeable victory for athletes occurred in 2019, when California Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed legislation effectively allowing college athletes in the state to earn compensation for the use of their likeness, sign endorsement deals, and hire agents to represent them.

The court fights between college athletes and the NCAA continue today—while not exactly about payment, a case regarding whether or not schools can offer athletes tens of thousands of dollars in education benefits such as computers, graduate scholarships, tutoring, study abroad, and internships was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in March 2021. A decision is expected in June 2021. 

There are a number of great reasons to pay college athletes, many of which will not only improve the lives of student-athletes, but also improve the product on the field and in the arena. 

College Athletes Deserve to Get Paid

In 2019, the NCAA reported $18.9 billion in total athletics revenue. This money is used to finance a variety of paid positions that support athletics at colleges and universities, including administrators, directors, coaches, and staff, along with other employment less directly tied to sports, such as those in marketing and media. The only people not receiving a paycheck are the stars of the show: the athletes. 

A testament to the disparate allocation of funds generated by college sports, of the $18.9 billion in athletics revenue in 2019, $3.6 billion went toward financial aid for student-athletes, and $3.7 billion was used for coaches’ compensation. A February 2020 USA Today article found that the average total pay for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football head coaches in 2020-21 was $2.7 million. The highest-paid college football coach—the University of Alabama’s Nick Saban—earns $9.3 million a year and is the highest-paid public employee in the country. He is not alone, college coaches dominate the list of public employees with the largest salaries. 

If there’s money to provide college coaches with lavish seven-figure salaries (especially at public institutions), why shouldn’t there be funds to pay college athletes? 

Vital Support for Athletes 

A 2011 study published by the National College Players Association (NCPA) found that an overwhelming number of students on full athletics scholarships live below the federal poverty line—85% of athletes who live on campus and 86% athletes who live off-campus. “Full scholarship” itself is a misnomer; the same study found that the average annual scholarship for FBS athletes on “full” scholarships was actually $3,222. Find out more information about athletic scholarships . 

Paying student-athletes would help eliminate the need for these student-athletes to take out loans, burden their families for monetary support, or add employment to their already busy schedules. The NCAA limits in-season practice time to 20 hours a week, but a 2008 NCAA report shows that in-season student-athletes commonly spent upward of 30 and 40 hours a week engaged in “athletic activities.” 

Encouraged to Stay in College Longer

A report produced by the NCPA and Drexel University estimated the average annual fair market value of big-time college football and men’s basketball players between 2011 and 2015 was $137,357 and $289,031, respectively, and concluded that football players only receive about 17% of their fair market value, while men’s basketball players receive approximately 8% of theirs.

If colleges paid athletes even close to their worth, they would provide an incentive for the athletes to stay in college and earn degrees, rather than leaving college for a paycheck. This would also help keep top talents playing for college teams, improve the level of competition, and potentially lead to even higher revenue. On a side note, this would incentivize athletes to complete their degree, making them more employable after the end of their athletic career. 

Limit Corruption 

Just because there are rules prohibiting the compensation of college athletes doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, and over the years there have been numerous scandals. For example, in 2009, six ex-University of Toledo players were indicted in a point-shaving scheme , and in 2010, Reggie Bush returned his Heisman Trophy after allegations that he was given hundreds of thousands of dollars from sports agents while he played for USC.  

Paying college athletes will likely not totally eliminate corruption from college sports, but putting athletes in a less-precarious financial position would be a good step toward avoiding external influence, especially when you consider some of the players involved in the University of Toledo point-shaving scandal were paid as little as $500. 

It’s a Job (and a Dangerous One) 

As mentioned before, college athletes can put in upward of 40 hours a week practicing, training, and competing—being a “student-athlete” is a challenge when you’re devoting full-time hours to athletics. A New York Times study found a 0.20-point difference in average GPA between recruited male athletes and non-athletes. The difference is less pronounced among females, with non-athletes averaging a 3.24 GPA and recruited women athletes at 3.18.

It’s not just the time commitment that playing college athletics puts on student-athletes, it’s the risk to their health. A 2009-2010 CDC report found that more than 210,000 injuries are sustained by NCAA student-athletes each year. Full athletic scholarships are only guaranteed a year at a time, meaning student-athletes are one catastrophic injury away from potentially losing their scholarship. That is to say nothing of the lasting effects of an injury, like head traumas , which made up 7.4% of all injuries in college football players between 2004 and 2009.

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Why College Athletes Should Not Be Paid

There are a lot of great reasons why college athletes should be paid, but there are also some compelling reasons why college athletes should not be paid—and why not paying athletes is actually good for both the institutions and athletes. 

Compensation Conundrum 

One of the most common reasons cited against paying college players is compensation. Will all college athletes get compensated equally? For example, will the star quarterback receive the same amount as the backup catcher on the softball team? A 2014 CNBC article estimated that Andrew Wiggins, a University of Kansas forward (and soon-to-be first-overall draft pick), had a fair market value of around $1.6 million.

Similarly, will compensation take into account talent? Will the All-American point guard get the same amount as the captain of the swim team? In all likelihood, paying college athletes will benefit big-time, revenue-generating sports and hurt less popular sports. 

Eliminate Competitive Balance 

According to the NCAA , in 2019, the 65 Power Five schools exceeded revenue by $7 million, while all other Division I colleges had a $23 million deficit between expenses and revenue. If college athletes were to get paid, then large, well-funded schools such as those of the Power Five would be best positioned to acquire top talent and gain a competitive advantage. 

From a student’s point of view, paying college athletes will alter their college experience. No longer would fit, college, university reputation, and values factor into their college decisions—rather, choices would be made simply based on who was offering the most money. 

Professionalism vs. the Classroom

There’s a feeling that paying college athletes sends the wrong message and incentivizes them to focus on athletics instead of academics, when the reality is that very few college athletes will go on to play sports professionally. Just 1.6% of college football players will take an NFL field. NCAA men’s basketball players have even slimmer odds of playing in a major professional league ( 1.2% ), while the chances of a professional career are particularly grim for women basketball players, at a mere 0.8% . 

Although the odds of a college athlete turning pro are low, the probability of them earning a degree is high, thanks in part to the academic support athletes are given. According to data released by the NCAA, 90% of Division I athletes enrolled in 2013 earned a degree within six years. 

It Will End Less-Popular, Unprofitable Sports 

If colleges and universities pay their athletes, there is a fear that resources will only go to popular, revenue-generating sports. Programs like football and men’s basketball would likely benefit greatly, but smaller, unprofitable sports such as gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling could find themselves at best cash-strapped and, at the worst, cut altogether. 

It’s just not less-popular sports that paying athletes could threaten—women’s programs could also find themselves in the crosshairs of budget-conscious administrators. Keep in mind, it was just in March 2021 that the NCAA made national news for its unequal treatment of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. 

Financial Irresponsibility 

Former ESPN, and current FOX Sports, personality Colin Cowherd made news in 2014 when he voiced a popular argument against paying college athletes: financial irresponsibility. In Cowherd’s words:

“I don’t think paying all college athletes is great… Not every college is loaded, and most 19-year-olds [are] gonna spend it—and let’s be honest, they’re gonna spend it on weed and kicks! And spare me the ‘they’re being extorted’ thing. Listen, 90 percent of these college guys are gonna spend it on tats, weed, kicks, Xboxes, beer and swag. They are, get over it!”

A look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherd’s argument about athletes’ frivolous spending. According to CNBC , 60% of NBA players go broke within five years of departing the league and 78% of former NFL players experience financial distress two years after retirement.

Writing an Essay on This? Where to Get Your Essay Edited for Free

Writing an essay on whether college athletes should or shouldn’t be paid? CollegeVine can help! Our peer review tool allows you to receive feedback and learn the strengths and weaknesses of your essay for free.  

Looking for more debate, speech, or essay topics? Check out these other CollegeVine articles for ideas: 

  • 52 Argumentative Essays Ideas that are Actually Interesting
  • 52 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging
  • 60 Debate Topics for High Schoolers

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

At Notre Dame, We Believe ‘Student’ Should Come First in ‘Student-Athlete’

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

By John I. Jenkins

Father Jenkins is the president of the University of Notre Dame.

We college presidents have learned to tread lightly when it comes to the passions of alumni and other fans for our athletic teams, whether it is one competing for a national championship or a less heralded group playing a rivalry game.

Recently, though, we have seen passions aroused in other quarters, as state legislatures have passed bills enabling our student-athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness (often referred to as “N.I.L.”). Now, the N.C.A.A. has approved a historic change to allow student-athletes to be compensated for use of their N.I.L., with schools and conferences allowed to adopt their own additional policies. The Supreme Court recently issued a ruling against N.C.A.A. regulations limiting education-related funds a school can provide to its student-athletes. Such developments will undoubtedly, in the short term at least, create disruption and uncertainty for college sports.

Rather than treading lightly around this situation, we should seize the opportunity for reform and improvement. As we consider the shape of such reform, I propose the following as a guiding principle: Any changes adopted should support and strengthen the educational purpose central to our institutions, and enhance the educational outcomes for our student-athletes.

In an interview with The Times six years ago, I expressed support for relaxing prohibitions against student-athletes profiting from use of their own names, images and likenesses for one simple reason — other students are allowed to do so. For example, a student writing a popular fashion blog may earn money by endorsing a product, or another in a rock band may try to profit from a poster with his or her image. We should allow our student-athletes similar opportunities. Certainly, there is potential for abuse here. Institutions or their boosters may offer what are actually recruiting or other enticements under the guise of payments for the use of N.I.L. We must fashion regulations to prevent such abuses, while still allowing student-athletes to earn fair market value for the use of their N.I.L. I believe that regulations currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation are on the right track.

There are other steps the N.C.A.A. and its member institutions should take to enhance the educational experience for and well-being of our students who play on athletic teams.

A disturbing disparity exists in the graduation rates from sport to sport, and too often the sports with lower graduation rates are those, such as football and basketball, with a high number of Black student-athletes. The most regrettable exploitation occurs when a student plays her or his sport for the full extent of eligibility and then leaves the institution without a college degree. We must take all reasonable steps to ensure that student-athletes, at the end of their college career, leave with a degree.

To that end I believe — and our practices at Notre Dame reflect this — that once a scholarship is granted, it should stay with the student through graduation, regardless of injuries or performance on the field. Furthermore, if grant-in-aid student-athletes in good standing interrupt their education to go professional or for other reasons, we will cover their tuition at any time should they return to college to complete their degrees. Such guarantee of educational benefits should be standard at all of the N.C.A.A.’s colleges and universities. Doing so would keep the education of our student-athletes front and center.

Additionally, a national policy should be established to limit the number of days during any academic term in which an institution may require its students to be away from campus for athletic purposes. This is necessary because there are schools where classes are made available online for student-athletes, or class schedules are arranged so that a student-athlete attends classes, for example, only two days a week. In-person engagement with faculty members and fellow students on a regular basis is an essential part of the college experience. Competition schedules and off-campus practice trips that make students miss much of the academic term cheat those young people of a genuine college experience.

For similar reasons, universities should be prohibited from concentrating student-athletes in so-called athletic dorms (which the N.C.A.A. banned in the 1990 s but still endure in various forms at some schools ) and instead include them in the general student housing population. If students’ interactions and relationships are predominantly defined by their athletic programs, they are not receiving the educational experience they deserve.

For the well-being of our student-athletes, health care coverage for athletic injuries should be extended. Currently, the N.C.A.A. requires universities to extend health care coverage for any injuries to student-athletes for two years after they exhaust their eligibility. At Notre Dame, we provide coverage for 10 years after the injuries occur. We should extend the provision of coverage for athletic injuries to student-athletes across the nation, and find ways for schools with more limited resources to cover these added costs.

Some have called for compensating student-athletes for their athletic performance in college — sometimes called the “pay-for-play” model. I oppose this course. If we take it, our relationship to these young people will be that of an employer to an employee paid for services rendered, rather than to a student for whose education we, the institution, are responsible. There can be no doubt that our student-athletes — whether the star quarterback on our football team or the backup goalie on our women’s soccer team — receive something extremely valuable. They have their tuition, room and board underwritten, giving them the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree, which economists estimate is worth about $1 million in average earnings over the course of a lifetime. More than that, they can enjoy the many ways in which education can enhance one’s life that are not measured by greater earning power.

Of course, talented athletes who want to play professionally should not be forced to go to college to develop their talents in their sport. Every professional sport should create a minor or development league open to athletes with high potential. Professional baseball, hockey, basketball and many Olympic sports have systems in place that allow athletes to become professional while forgoing the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Perhaps it is time for football to develop one as well. Young athletes would then have a choice: They could either sign up with a development league, or they could attend college and pursue a degree, while playing the sport they love.

Cynicism about college athletics is abundant and perhaps understandable, because some of its practices have given observers good reasons to be cynical. Still, I have spoken to many alumni who say the challenge of competing in their sport at a high level while attending college taught them invaluable lessons for their personal and professional lives. There is still reason to pursue that ideal of college sports, without making them into a semi-pro league.

Let’s seize the opportunity for reform, while focusing on the work that is at the heart of our mission: the education of young people.

John I. Jenkins is the president of the University of Notre Dame.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram .

Persuasive Essay on College Athletes Should Be Paid

Student-athletes sacrifice a lot of time and effort to be where they are. During the week, these athletes will participate in very challenging practices and games while also having to perform well in school. All the responsibilities of a student-athlete, in addition to maintaining a life outside of school, is a full-time task. In division-one schools the big question is, do these athletes deserve to be paid?

College level athletes always have very loaded schedules. Every day, these athletes have a lot of different tasks to complete. Some of these tasks include, workouts, practices, games, homework, social lives, and some even have jobs.  The duties of a student-athlete can be overwhelming and saying that they work hard is an understatement. Surely, all this hard work must be paying off for the athletes, right?

Unfortunately for the athletes, they aren’t allowed to be paid for their involvement in any school’s athletic programs. A lot of people have a problem with this because the athletes produce so much revenue for the NCAA, but they get none of it. The NCAA governs intercollegiate athletics, and they make a lot of money doing it. For example, in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the president of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, said that the projected total revenue for said year was 757 million dollars. Of that amount, 452.2 million dollars was distributed to division-one schools (Johnson).

Because of the restriction on paying student-athletes, some of these players that don’t have very big scholarships may have to try to find jobs, which just adds to their busy week. If the athletes were compensated through their programs, it would eliminate the need for them to get jobs. In turn, they would be able to focus more on their sports and classes. Also, there would be more job openings for the students who have more available schedules than student-athletes. This is especially good news for normal students because majority of them don’t have big scholarships either.

Speaking of scholarships, every year the 30 biggest universities in the country generate over 100 million dollars each. However, most of the universities spend more money than they make, on scholarships and expenses related to their programs. Even though these colleges make so much money, they spend even more. Paying the athletes would mean other, smaller, athletic programs will eventually get cut to keep the programs that generate money alive (Mcdavis). 

Sponsorships are another way that players could be paid without the school’s revenue being affected. Star athletes who have their name out there are likely to be known by some of the top sports brands. The issue is that the players aren’t allowed to receive any revenue from their involvement with the school. If a player is caught accepting money from their involvement with the school, they can have their scholarship revoked and even get expelled from the school. So, with sponsorships not being a realistic option, athletes will want to work hard for scholarships instead.

If the payment of athletes was allowed, competition among athletes for scholarships and sponsorships will increase. Increased competition often leads to an increase in the usage of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). This competition would all be taking place at the high school level in this scenario. Now, you’re looking at high school age athletes taking hormones at a critical point in their life, all for a shot at playing at a division-one school. A dangerous epidemic among teens could develop if we begin paying division-one athletes, but that’s not all. 

Still assuming that student-athletes are allowed to be paid, most colleges wouldn’t be able to keep up with the big ones that make hundreds of millions of dollars. Star athletes would go to the big schools because they’ll make the most money there. After a while of this process, super teams would form from the big schools, generating more and more income from viewership and sponsorships. The big universities will just continue recruiting star players because they have the power to do so, and the cycle repeats. Small universities would eventually be drowned out and the big guys will be running the show (Mcdavis). 

Enlarging the pool of money available for scholarships to athletes, would decrease the pool of money available for scholarships to normal students. In terms of fairness, that decision does not make sense. Normal students need money just as much as student-athletes, if not worse. If one college offers a bigger scholarship than another, the student will likely go to that school, disregarding other variables. 

The NCAA makes a ton of money from fans watching athletics, and so do the universities. However, while players are the main source of the revenue, the expenses to cover all the universities’ programs and scholarships make it unfavorable to pay athletes. Paying division-one athletes would indirectly end up promoting a dangerous amount of competition for young athletes. It would also hurt many other universities, causing them to close an enormous number of athletic programs in the long run. Said universities are likely to lose a chunk of their student body as well. There are more reasons to restrict athletes getting paid than not. It would be unfair, unsafe, and a flat-out bad idea.  

Works Cited

Johnson, Dennis A., and John Acquaviva. "Point/counterpoint: paying college athletes." The Sport Journal, vol. 15, no. 1, annual 2012. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A322563607/AONE?u=anke52316&sid=oclc&xid=e3899b0c. Accessed 4 Oct. 2021.

Mcdavis, Cody J. “Don't Pay College Athletes.” The New York Times, 26 Feb. 2019, p. A23(L). Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A575860557/AONE?u=anke52316&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=630b749c. Accessed 4 Oct. 2021.

Related Samples

  • Roadmap to Success Reflection Essay Example
  • Essay Sample: Disadvantages of Working at Home in Pandemic
  • Personal Narrative Essay: My First Funeral
  • Essay about TOK Exhibition
  • The Impact of the Texas Oil and Natural Gas Industry in Higher Education Essay
  • Work Hard and Achieve Your Goals Essay Example
  • The Importance of Student Decision Making Essay Example
  • Limiting the Use of Technology Essay Example
  • Personal Essay Sample: My Relationship With Writing
  • School Passing Periods Should Be Longer Argumentative Essay

Didn't find the perfect sample?

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Example of introduction to essay on should college athletes be paid.

There are many debates about college athletes and reasons for paying or not paying them. Supporters of paying the athletes are convinced that college athletes deserve to be paid just like any other athlete because they are doing their professional tasks. There are also critics who state that college athletes should not get paid for the reason that their college sports life is a great practice for the future, but it should not be regarded as a work, but as an opportunity. Personally, I believe that college athletes have to be paid, because this way, it would be possible for them to focus on sports development instead of worrying about financial matters; moreover, college sports can be regarded as a first professional job that has to be paid accordingly.

Example of Body Paragraphs to Essay on Should College Athletes Be Paid

At the present moment, many people state that college athletes should not be paid since they already receive a scholarship (Prewitt). A lot of people defend such a position stating that paying money to college athletes would put other students in an unfair position (Block). Nevertheless, I would like to contradict such an opinion. It is true that college athletes are on scholarship. Nevertheless, it does not provide them with everything, and they often have to work in order to make extra money, which is needed (Hartnett). Hence, they end up studying, working as well as training; and that is an unfair position. Since they have to spend time working, they have less time training or studying, and the quality of these things may decrease. Thus, it is much smarter to pay college athletes so they would be able to focus on sports instead of wasting their energy on things, which are not connected to their future careers.

Also, college athletes bring a lot of revenues to their colleges, and that is why these people deserve compensation (Inside Story Team). It is only logical for people who do their professional job to get paid for it. After all, the scholarship is for people to train and study, but an actual salary could motivate sportsmen more. It is also important to mention that college sports are no longer about mere games between students. At the present moment, it is a huge business, which attracts a lot of advertisers, businesses, and, obviously, fans (Nocera). Thus, it has become a sphere with big money flowing around, and athletes are the ones attracting money. From this perspective, it is absolutely normal and even expected to pay people who bring the money in because, without them, there would be no finances.

I also view college athletes as professionals, and any professional deserves a salary for his or her work. Those who do great in sports should be rewarded for it with fixed payments. This way, college athletes would view sports as a responsible duty, which requires their professionalism and great work, but which would also be rewarded.

Client's Review

" I ordered a cheap essay on this website. Guys, I was so surprised the essay was written better than I thought it'd be. "

Sara J. reviewed EliteWritings on August 15, 2018, via SiteJabber Click to see the original review on an external website.

Example of Conclusion to Essay on Should College Athletes Be Paid

Hence, I can say that I strongly support paying college athletes. It is difficult to imagine any modern college without athletes who are both entertaining the public, as well as are examples of how a person can control and train one’s body. I find college sports to be an irreplaceable part of college life, and college athletes are the ones who keep this part functioning. Thus, they have to receive financial incentives for that. Being a great sportsperson is a difficult task, which has to be rewarded, and it would also be very motivating for many athletes who are having a hard time combining physical training, college education, and a part-time job. Hence, it would simplify lives for athletes greatly, as well as contribute to better results shown by them.

Example of Annotated Bibliography to Essay on Should College Athletes Be Paid

  • Source 1: Leavitt, P., (2014). Mesa’s Hokam Stadium ready for Oaklanda’s Arizona Publication

This publication gives detailed information on the importance of morale for college athletes who prepare themselves to become professional athletes and for the prospect of athletics. It relates directly to my research topic since the research topic on whether or not college athletes should be paid. It is important to consider that payment is a part of morale.

  • Source 2: Fitzpatrick, F., (2011). Demographics may doom the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society Philadelphia Media Network (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

The article focuses on young athletes in Philadelphia and how happiness correlates with their athletics performance. The author implies that for a young person to advance, he or she needs to have motivation. Money paid to athletes could be one such motivator. He further illustrates that eliminating pay for college athletes may ruin the historical record of athletics in Philadelphia.

  • Source 3: Eddie, C., (2015). Introduction to Intercollege Athletics Johns Hopkins University Press

This book addresses how rising income affects participation in athletics and sports as a career. It discusses the concept of complete value that predicts that extra income will increase long-term happiness. It is useful for this paper since it explains the shortcomings that can be brought by the elimination of payment in college athletes.

  • Source 4: Difley, C., (2007). Tailteann Games Plays in History going for a Song The Irish Independent

The article concerns itself with the challenges facing the world of athletes after many sponsors, as well as institutions, eliminate the payment for college athletes. Although it is more detailed on the disadvantages of eliminating college athletes’ students, it is important since it sheds light on the other side of the story.

  • Source 5: Gareth, A., (2013). London Marathon 2013 The Guardian

The author focuses on the participation of young people in the 2013 London marathon. He acknowledges that the number of young people who are participating in international athletic events is falling every year. The question of whether college athletes should be paid has demoralized many young people who want to concentrate on the other ways that can guarantee them a better future. Therefore, it addresses the importance of paying college athletes with the main idea of having a better future for athletics.

  • Source 6: Geoff, G., (2007). Should College Students be paid? Green Haven Pres s

This is one of the most informative papers. It addresses the issue directly since it focuses on the research question providing guidelines of the advantages and the benefits that student-athletes enjoy.

  • Source 7: Ronald, A., (2010). Pay for Play University of Illinois Press
Now I know that your writers are indeed experts because they know how to carry out research just like my teachers expect me to do. I am thankful to your writers and online agents who always reply to my concerns. Jessica
I used a couple of other services, who only spoiled my grades. EliteWritings.com was like a savior in my life and I gradually improved my reputation. Josh
English writing is definitely not my strongest point and I always make silly mistakes. I surfed the web and found your company. You sent me a good paper with impressive ideas. I really appreciate your help. Anthony
Your writers are really competent and hard working. I’ve purchased a difficult research project and to my surprise – I got excellent! Thanks! Addison
Wonderful writing service and friendly writers who always communicate with customers! I realized that your company can be trusted when you sent me good papers within short deadlines. James
My writer forgot about a part of requirements, but I requested revision and he adjusted the needed part. I got the revised paper shortly and the paper looked just like I was expecting. Lily
I was afraid to buy midterm coursework from you, but I did not know how to deal with my topic in computer sciences. I got 93% for the project and was ecstatic. I will surely use your services more. Logan
I’ve bought some essays from you and you guys are wonderful! Your writers sent me amazing essays! Mia
I did not know about your company and my friend recommended me to order essays from you. Your writer sent me my essays on time and I did not find any mistakes! Abigail
I always forget how to use different citation styles and formatting remains challenging for me. I found out that your company offers cheap formatting services and I sent you the paper. Since that time, my teacher never deducts points for formatting mistakes. Alexander
I am a horrible writer and I would rather pass several tests than work on essays. I found your service and you guys are great! You offered me good discounts and I am pleased to get affordable papers. Cooperation with you is worth it. Zoe
Quick and good service! Olivia
I am so bad in writing that I thought I would fail every class. One of my friends told me to use your services and I could not believe my eyes. Your writers managed to improve my academic records very fast! Thank you. Samantha
I am so lucky! Your essays improved my reputation. Taylor

It is an article based on research conducted in a university by a professor intending to understand the impact of making arrangements for paying college athletes. The author concludes that a play is an appreciation of the hard work that college athletes do during training and for setting aside their free time in order to excel in the athletics career. Therefore, it implies that paying college athletes has an advantage in that it will attract many talented young people to join colleges and earn other social advantages.

  • Source 8: Charles, T., (2011). Big Time Sports in American Universities Cambridge University Press

Sporting is one of the co-curriculum activities that help in the development of education. Charles argues that people should stop considering the sporting activity as only a co-curriculum activity that benefits students for preparing them for education. He proposes that it should be seen as a new path of life or a profession. Therefore, college athletes should be paid to encourage them to carry on with their dreams and become professional athletes who can become great Americans and make a living out of the athletics. He analyzes that the benefits of offering payment to college athletes are that they will be motivated and other potential athletes will be attracted to make utilize their talents.

  • Source 9: Daniel, C., (2010). Managing Intercollege Athletics Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

Daniel illustrates that colleges serve as the best place where individuals can grow their talents or discover them. In his book, he argues that a failure to recognize a talent when a person is in college would mean ruining the life of an individual since most of the people can only excel in the areas that they are talented. Therefore, he advocates that college athletes should be paid as a way of encouraging all young people to bring out their talents and make use of them. In his article, he outlines that the world athletes are the best-paid individuals worldwide. He then calls for a necessity to pay college students who participate as athletes as a way of introducing them to a new way of life that can serve as an effective career. Among the benefits outlined in his book, he includes offering an opportunity to those athletes who come from a poor background and rely on sponsorships for education. He states that most of the talented athletes are from poor families and they can change their lifestyle if they can earn from their talents during college life.

  • Source 10: Bernard, M., et al., (2014). Sports Marketing Human Kinetic Publisher

Bernard is one of the great researchers in marketing and sporting activities. He has conducted many studies on different topics related to sports. In the article, he illustrates that sports are among the most liked activities worldwide. Therefore, it is a field that has numerous advantages for talented individuals. Many products are promoted by athletes to achieve effective sales promotion. In relation to that, he feels that college athletes should be paid. It will attract many young people who have talents not only to become professional athletes but also to avoid dangerous practices such as drug abuse. He argues that athletics in colleges keep students busy, physically fit and refreshed. Therefore, those who actively participate in athletics while should be given a reward.

  • Source 11: Howard, L., (2014). The Athletic Trap: How College Sports Corrupted the Academy Johns Hopkins University Press

Howard is a lecturer who has worked in many international universities. He wrote his article on the basis of his experience. He calls sports a poison for education. It is an important source for the research since it offers a wide variety of opinions considering that his view is that college athletes should not be paid. The source is useful for the research because it not only falls directly under the topic, but it also contradicts the other sources. It will make the paper unbiased because it presents the other side of the argument.

  • Source12: John, U., (2013). Four & Long: The Fight for Soul of College Football Simon & Schuster publisher

The author of this paper agrees that world footballers are one of the best-paid individuals in the world. However, he argues that such talents must grow from a young age. To turn the dreams of college students to reality, students-athletes should be paid a little to enable them to afford the facilities they require for their exercise.

More About Persuasive Essay Writing

  • What is the purpose of a persuasive essay ?
  • How to write a persuasive essay ?
  • What persuasive essay topics were good in 2016 ?
  • How to choose good persuasive essay topics in 2020 ?

Free Persuasive Essay Examples from Elite Essay Writers

Argumentative, book report, environment, evidence-based practice, informative, please notice.

Some text in the modal.

Why Should College Athletes Be Paid, Essay Sample

One of the most pressing issues in college sports is the debate over whether or not college athletes should be paid. This topic has gained significant attention in recent years, with many arguing that it is only fair for college athletes to receive compensation for their hard work, dedication, and revenue-generating contributions. This free essay sample from Edusson will explore the various reasons why college athletes should be paid and will provide a comprehensive analysis of the issue.

Time Commitment and Workload

College athletes put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into their sport, often at the expense of their studies and personal life. As a student-athlete, I know firsthand the dedication it takes to balance academics and sports. We have rigorous practice schedules, intense training sessions, and games that require travel, leaving little time for anything else. Many athletes have to miss classes or sacrifice study time to attend competitions or travel with their teams. The workload of a college athlete can be overwhelming and can negatively impact their academic performance and mental health. Some may argue that athletes receive scholarships and other benefits, but these do not fully compensate for the amount of time and effort they put into their sport. Paying college athletes would help to alleviate some of the financial burden that many student-athletes face, while also compensating them for their time and workload.

Financial Struggles

As a student, I believe that college athletes should be paid for their hard work and dedication to their sports. One of the main reasons for this is the financial struggles that many college athletes face. These athletes come from low-income families and often struggle to make ends meet while attending college. They are unable to work part-time jobs to earn extra income due to the rigorous demands of their sport. This creates a challenging situation where they are unable to support themselves or their families financially. Paying college athletes would provide much-needed financial support and alleviate some of their financial struggles. This would allow them to focus on their studies and athletics without the added stress of financial instability. It would also give them the opportunity to contribute financially to their families, which many of them are unable to do currently. In short, paying college athletes would help alleviate the financial burdens they face and provide a fair compensation for their hard work and dedication to their sport.

Health and Safety Risks

As college athletes compete at a high level, they put their bodies on the line and are exposed to various health and safety risks. These athletes often play through injuries, which can exacerbate the severity of the injury, resulting in long-term physical damage. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the health and safety risks associated with college sports. Paying college athletes would acknowledge the risks that they take and provide a safety net if they get hurt. Furthermore, college athletes who are injured may not have access to the same level of healthcare as professional athletes. Paying them would help ensure they have the proper medical care and resources to recover from injuries. Moreover, paying college athletes could also incentivize schools to prioritize athlete safety and ensure that their health is a top priority. Overall, providing financial compensation to college athletes for the risks they take and the injuries they sustain is not only fair but also necessary for their wellbeing.

Revenue Generation

One of the main arguments in favor of paying college athletes is that they deserve to be compensated for their role in generating revenue for their universities and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). When fans attend a college sports event or purchase team merchandise, they are supporting the team and the entire athletic program. The athletes who are responsible for the success of these programs, however, do not receive any monetary compensation for their efforts. It is unfair that the NCAA and universities benefit from the work of college athletes without providing them with fair compensation. It is also worth noting that college sports have become a commercial enterprise, with the NCAA and universities treating them as such. Many top college sports programs generate millions of dollars in revenue every year, and the athletes who contribute to this success are essential to the financial health of their respective programs. However, athletes often struggle to make ends meet due to the demands of their sport, and they don’t have the time or resources to work part-time jobs to earn extra income.

Fairness and Equity

As college athletes put in countless hours of hard work and dedication to their respective sports, it’s only fair to compensate them for their efforts. However, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is the lack of rights and privileges that college athletes are subjected to, especially when it comes to earning money from their name, image, and likeness.

It is unfortunate that college athletes are the only ones on campus who are not allowed to monetize their skills and talents. This is in stark contrast to everyone else on campus, including musicians, artists, and actors, who can earn money from their talents while attending college. This discrepancy can cause a sense of injustice among college athletes who are forced to watch others monetize their talents while they are restricted from doing so.

In recent years, the issue of fairness and equity has gained considerable attention, and rightfully so. Paying college athletes would go a long way in promoting fairness and equity among all students. It would ensure that athletes have the same rights and opportunities as other students, allowing them to monetize their skills and talents just like everyone else. Additionally, paying college athletes would help eliminate the economic disparities that exist on campuses, especially among low-income athletes who may not have the financial support they need to sustain themselves.

Furthermore, paying college athletes would promote gender equality. Female athletes have historically been paid less than male athletes, even at the professional level. This inequality also extends to college sports, where female athletes often receive less funding and attention than their male counterparts. By paying college athletes, regardless of gender, colleges and universities would help bridge this gap and promote equality among all athletes.

In this table, we will outline some of the main reasons why college athletes should be paid.

Related posts:

  • College Research Paper Example
  • Freedom of Speech Argumentative Essay
  • Exploring My Motivations for Pursuing a Supervisory Role
  • The Importance of Women’s Choice: Exploring the Reasons Why Abortion Should Be Legal Essay

Improve your writing with our guides

Youth Culture Essay Prompt and Discussion

Youth Culture Essay Prompt and Discussion

Reasons Why Minimum Wage Should Be Raised Essay: Benefits for Workers, Society, and The Economy

Reasons Why Minimum Wage Should Be Raised Essay: Benefits for Workers, Society, and The Economy

Why Marijuana Should Not Be Legal: Potential Risks and Drawbacks

Why Marijuana Should Not Be Legal: Potential Risks and Drawbacks

Get 15% off your first order with edusson.

Connect with a professional writer within minutes by placing your first order. No matter the subject, difficulty, academic level or document type, our writers have the skills to complete it.

100% privacy. No spam ever.

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

Cam's Blog

Just another Sites At Penn State site

Mar 16 2018

CL #7: Persuasive Essay: Should College Athletes Be Paid?

For our upcoming persuasive essay, I am grappling with the idea of writing about the debate on whether or not college athletes should be paid. The only problem is that I could fully argue both sides of this controversy very persuasively, but I don’t know which side to pick.

I believe that the current state of the NCAA is faulty and corrupt because universities are profiting insane amounts of money every year off of the success of student-athletes who don’t get to see a penny of that money. For example, Louisville’s strong basketball program generates over 45 million dollars of annual revenue, with each player having an estimated worth of over $1 million.

It is unfair that schools, coaches, and even newscasters are able to make money off of the labor of the athletes, while the athletes don’t get to see any of that revenue money. A monthly paycheck could really help some athletes who are relied upon to send money back home, especially because they are too busy with athletics and school to get a job. The amount of weekly hours demanded of a student athlete is considered as a job itself, but without monetary reward of a job.

There is certainly a strong counter argument that makes this issue so difficult and controversial. Obviously, there are many logistical problems that would arise if the NCAA was required to pay athletes. Would they have to pay all athletes, or only a select few? Nobody argues the fact that Saquon Barkley deserves a paycheck for all of the revenue he alone generated for Penn State, but if he gets paid, does that mean all 100+ members of the football team get an equal paycheck? Bribing recruits with a loaded check of money is a very slippery slope that would be hard to regulate and standardize between schools. Wealthy universities already have the upper hand in athletics because of the facilities and resources they are able to provide their students, and adding athlete paychecks into that would further complicate that.

Another important question to raise is whether or not all teams deserved to be paid, or only sports that generate money. At Penn State we call them “money sports”, that include football, men’s basketball, and men’s ice hockey. These money sports already have special benefits that other teams don’t receive, like training table meals after practices and the ability to use the chartered plane out of the State College Airport for travel.

Title IX brings up more issues concerning this debate, and overall it is a very complicated topic with no clear answer, and I am hesitant to actually make this my essay topic. If you have any opinions please mention in comments

' src=

March 16, 2018 at 1:28 pm

I think this would make a very interesting persuasive essay topic, especially given your personal stakes in the issue; however, I understand your dilemma. In a perfect world, athletes would at least recognize some of the money the school’s bring in as a result of their abilities. It seems blatantly unfair for schools to draw in millions while the “stars of the show” make nothing. However, as you noted, it would be very difficult to implement any such college athlete “salary.” I suggest you stick with this topic, picking whichever side you believe you could most effectively argue for. By picking that athletes should be paid, there is a plethora of data/stats which could proven the glaring revenue disparity between the NCAA, colleges, and student-athletes. By picking that athletes should not be paid, your argument would definitely be strengthened by the fact that it would almost seem counter-intuitive for a student athlete to oppose getting paid. If I were you, I would argue for student-athlete salaries. This argument is much more value-based; whereas, the other argument is much more policy and practice-based. In regards to rebutting the argument for no student-athlete salary, perhaps they would get paid based on playing time with a standardized, non-negotiable salary across all of the NCAA. In other words, wealthy schools can’t offer more money. There is also the issue of whether scholarships are good enough to be classified as “getting paid.”

March 16, 2018 at 1:35 pm

I, too, think this is a very interesting topic and that there are merits to both sides of the argument. After reading your blog, I think that it might be easier to argue that college athletes shouldn’t be paid. As you mentioned, there are a lot of factors to consider if colleges did pay athletes, including if teams would get paid equally, if players would get paid equally, and if schools could pay recruits, and I think that the complexity of these arguments could make it hard to argue that these athletes should be paid without losing the focus of your essay and getting bogged down by the caveats and little details.

However, if you argued that the athletes shouldn’t get paid, then you could use the confusion and potential unfairness surrounding these arguments to prove your point. If you included the fact that schools profit off of these athletes in your counter-argument, then maybe part of your argument around why athletes shouldn’t get paid could include reforms of NCAA.

One thing that I would think about when writing the essay is how you are going to structure it. I think it would be important to refute a lot of the claims from the counter-argument point-by-point, but you would need to find a way to include the positives of your argument and not just why the other argument is wrong.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

NCAA signs off on deal that would change landscape of college sports — paying student-athletes

A major change could be coming for college athletes — they may soon start getting paid.

A tentative agreement announced Thursday by the NCAA and the country’s five biggest conferences to a series of antitrust lawsuits could direct millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as fall 2025.

The nearly $2.8 billion settlement, which would be paid out over the next decade to 14,000 former and current student-athletes, “is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a joint statement Thursday night with the commissioners of the ACC, the Big 10, the Big 12, the Pac-12 and the SEC.

The federal judge overseeing the case must still sign off on the agreement, but if it is approved, it would signal a major shift in college sports in which students would play for compensation, not just scholarships, exposure and opportunities.

“This landmark settlement will bring college sports into the 21st century, with college athletes finally able to receive a fair share of the billions of dollars of revenue that they generate for their schools,” said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. “Our clients are the bedrock of the NCAA’s multibillion-dollar business and finally can be compensated in an equitable and just manner for their extraordinary athletic talents.”

The NCAA and power conferences called the settlement a “road map” that would allow the uniquely American institution to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students and write the “next chapter of college sports.”

The case, which was set to go to trial early next year, was brought by a former and a current college athlete who said the NCAA and the five wealthiest conferences improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money. Former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, also contended in their suit that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.

Michael McCann, a legal analyst and sports reporter at Sportico , told NBC News in an interview on Top Story with Tom Llamas the case has two components that “move away from amateurism” — one that deals with how players are paid for the past loss of earnings, including money they could have made for name, image and likeness.

“The going forward part is that colleges can opt in, conferences can opt in, as well, to pay players, to share revenue with them, to have direct pay, and that would be of course a radical from the traditions of college sports,” McCann said, adding many would say that change is warranted. “Now the athletes, at least at some schools, will get a direct stake.”

2024 CFP National Championship - Michigan v Washington NCAA college athletes

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though some details have emerged in the past few weeks. They signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishment for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization  lifted restrictions on endorsement deals  backed by so-called name, image and likeness, or NIL, money.

Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons when a star quarterback or a top prospect on a college basketball team not only is cashing in big-money NIL deals but also has a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.

A host of  details are still to be determined . The agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.

Some of the money would come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance, but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that comprise 69 schools (including Notre Dame),  dozens of other NCAA member schools  would get smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.

Schools in the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences would end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million apiece over 10 years, the majority of which would be paid to athletes going forward.

The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 current schools sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the 10 other schools leave.

Paying athletes

In the new compensation model, each school would be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rose, so could the cap.

Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments, and schools would be given the freedom to decide how the money is divvied up among sports programs. Roster restrictions would replace scholarship limits by sport.

McCann said the back pay would disproportionately go to some sports — such as football and basketball.

“The schools that I think that are certainly big football schools will probably opt in because they’re going to want to compete, they’re going to want to get the best players, because college football generates a lot of revenue,” he said. 

Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown, along with whether schools would be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.

“There are all sorts of areas of turbulence that could present themselves,” McCann said of roadblocks that could arise.

More sports coverage

  • Four decades after Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark is getting her own line of Wilson basketballs
  • Mario Andretti: Formula 1 owner personally threatened to shut out team Andretti
  • Student-athletes are inking lucrative endorsement deals, but a patchwork of laws has created chaos in college sports

Other cases

The settlement is expected to cover two  other antitrust cases  facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard v. the NCAA and Carter v. the NCAA are also in front of judges in the Northern District of California.

A fourth case, Fontenot v. NCAA, creates a potential complication, as it remains in a Colorado court after a judge  denied a request  to combine it with Carter. Whether Fontenot becomes part of the settlement is unknown, and it matters because the NCAA and its conferences don’t want to be on the hook for more damages should they lose in court.

“We’re going to continue to litigate our case in Colorado and look forward to hearing about the terms of a settlement proposal once they’re actually released and put in front of a court,” said George Zelcs, a plaintiffs’ attorney in Fontenot.

Headed in that direction

The solution agreed to in the settlement is a landmark but not surprising. College sports have been trending in this direction for years, with athletes receiving more and more monetary benefits and rights they say were long overdue.

In December, Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts who has been on the job for 14 months,  proposed creating a new tier of Division I athletics  in which the schools with the most resources would be required to pay at least half their athletes $30,000 per year. That suggestion, along with many other possibilities, remains under discussion.

The settlement would not make every issue facing college sports go away. There is still a question of whether athletes should be  deemed employees  of their schools, which Baker and other college sports leaders  are fighting.

Some type of federal legislation or antitrust exemption would most likely still be needed to codify the terms of the settlement, protect the NCAA from future litigation and pre-empt state laws that attempt to neuter the organization’s authority. As it is,  the NCAA still faces lawsuits  that challenge its ability to govern itself, including setting rules limiting multiple-time transfers.

“This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students,” the joint statement said. “All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”

Federal lawmakers have indicated they would like to get something done, but while  several bills have been introduced , none have gone anywhere.

Despite the unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Major college athletics is about to become more like professional sports than ever before.

Sample details

  • Persuasive Speech
  • Views: 1,482

Related Topics

  • Free education
  • Growth Mindset
  • Standardized Testing
  • Sex education
  • Online Education Vs Tradi...
  • Booker T.Washington
  • Study skills
  • English Language
  • Informative Speech
  • Philosophy of Education
  • Special education
  • Active listening

Persuasive speech College Athletes should be Paid.

Persuasive speech College Athletes should be Paid.

Despite having a substantial amount of money, college athletes do not receive any legal compensation for their work. As per NCAA regulations, participating in a sport is forbidden if there has been any form of payment or promise of payment for competing in that sport. Although it may appear peculiar and unfair, paying college athletes is imperative to maintain a consistent level of competition in college athletics and motivate students to graduate and obtain their college degrees.

Student athletes deserve to be paid for their efforts since they are the primary reason for the surplus in revenue generated by the Athletic Program. These athletes are essentially providing a service to the college, and this contribution often goes unnoticed. Colleges rely on these athletes to enhance their reputations and bring in revenue, without providing them any compensation for their work. Considering that athletes are compensated in other settings, it is only fair that college students should be as well.

ready to help you now

Without paying upfront

Some critics argue that paying student-athletes would turn them into professional athletes, as they are currently considered amateurs. Minor league baseball is seen as an amateur sport, even though players are paid based on team revenue. Additionally, due to the extensive time commitment of practicing and attending classes, many athletes struggle to find employment. Another justification for paying college athletes is that “full-ride” scholarships provided to the top athletes do not fully cover their expenses.

Despite the respect and publicity they receive, many athletes are unable to afford their parents’ attendance at their games. It is often overlooked that a significant number of players live close to poverty. Consequently, black markets flourish where boosters, acting on behalf of the University, provide players with cars, spending money, or whatever they desire. In exchange, these players commit themselves to their respective University.

There have been numerous cases of this occurring in the past, with one notable instance being that of Reggae Bush, the University of Southern California’s running back from 2003-2005. Boosters offered Bush payment to attend ISIS, violating NCAA regulations. At that time, his mother was struggling to afford rent for her apartment in Pasadena. Bush felt compelled to accept this opportunity since it was the only means to earn money and support his mother’s housing. Not only are these boosters’ actions illegal, but they also create an unfair advantage in NCAA competition.

The universities violating NCAA rules have an advantage in recruiting top prospects and may be tempted to do so in order to level the playing field. One crucial reason for paying college athletes is to ensure that most student-athletes will complete their degrees. “By providing payment to student-athletes, it gives them an incentive to remain in school and successfully finish their degree programs instead of leaving early for professional leagues.” This leads us to the question: should college athletes receive payment? If athletes are compensated for their performance, they can cover expenses that scholarships may not fully cover and will be more motivated to complete their education. Despite the NCAA’s emphasis on prioritizing students over athletes, it seems that more popular athletes tend to leave early for professional opportunities. In college basketball, many freshman stars are commonly referred to as “one and done” players – completing only one year of college before transitioning early into professional leagues with the goal of earning money as quickly as possible.

The University’s hypocrisy is evident in its failure to pay athletes while simultaneously supporting college players who leave for the professional league early. One proposed solution is for universities to provide a consistent flat rate payment to all college athletes for three years, with a subsequent raise for senior athletes. This monetary incentive will encourage students to prioritize their education and earn their degrees.

Financially compensating college athletes may appear unjust, but it is essential for maintaining fair competition and motivating students to complete their degrees. Currently, many college athletes already receive illicit payments, creating an illegal black-market and placing compliant universities at a disadvantage. Universities are exploiting these athletes by depriving them of their rightful earnings. Therefore, it is imperative to pay college athletes!

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/persuasive-speech-college-athletes-should-be-paid/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

  • Writing Experience
  • College Education
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speech Evaluation
  • Importance of Education
  • Educational Goals
  • Higher Education
  • Technology in Education
  • Presentation
  • Speech Analysis

Check more samples on your topics

College athletes: should college athletes be paid.

In today’s world, college athletes may not play a sport for “the love of the game” instead; they may play with the hopes of making it as a professional athlete. While “the love of the game” feeling may have gotten an athlete to a Division I school to play and the chance to display their

Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

My topic is about why ALL college athletes of every college sport should be paid some sort of money. Now a days in the collegiate world of sports, colleges and Universities are generating millions upon millions of dollars through the athletic programs. From football all the way down to the golf team. Yet, the people

‘It’s Time for College Athletes to Get Paid’ by AJ Enno

Should College Athletes Get Paid to Play “It’s Time for College Athletes to Get Paid”, an article written by AJ Enno, examines college athletics are a key source of income, and they attract students to their colleges. The article states, universities depend on their athletes to produce and maintain the popularity of their school's name.

College Athletes Should Be Paid by NCAA

Due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and regulations no college athlete is able to receive any compensation or endorsement while participating in college athletics. These rules have long been challenged, however no changes have been made by the NCAA. With universities grossing close to $200 million a year college athletics has turned into one

Why Should College Athletes be Paid?

In the past college athletes were not allowed to have a job outside of college. Only now has the NCAA allowed athletes to have part-time jobs during the school year. The problem with this is that the college athlete is in a way punished for being an athlete because he or she will not be

Do College Athletes Get Paid

Just like professional athletes, college athletes put their body n the line, and a free bachelor's degree is not worth their body they put on the line. Someone that could potentially injure their body for life deserves more than a free bachelor's degree. Secondly, if these college athletes cannot make any money or benefits, they

College Athletes Deserve to be Paid

Should college athletes be paid

Ever since my cousin started playing college sports, college athletics have been a part of my life. I was raised in Fayetteville, AR where the Razorbacks are located. In Fayetteville, where I was raised, the Razorbacks are a part of everyone's life. You see the players on billboards on the side of the highway and

College Athletes Should be Getting Paid

Julius Peppers was a college athlete for the University of North Carolina he in his collegiate time at the university he was an athlete for the football and the basketball team, but he just wasn’t any average player he was the star player of the football team and one of the top players on the

College Athletes Should be Paid for Their Work

I would like to inform you about the life of a student-athlete attending a typical division I university. Coaches are expected to be demanding of their players, but the harsh reality is that their ultimate goal is to break you down before they build you up. Early morning workouts become a part of an athlete’s

persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

IMAGES

  1. ⛔ College athletes should be paid persuasive essay. Persuasive Essay on

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  2. Why College Athletes Should Get Paid Essay Example

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  3. ⇉Why College Athletes Should Be Paid Essay Example

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  4. Why College Athletes should be paid

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  5. 🎉 College athletes should be paid persuasive speech. Persuasive Speech

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

  6. College Athletes Should Be Paid: Here's How and Why

    persuasive speech on why college athletes should be paid

VIDEO

  1. Persuasive Speech--Pay Our College Athletes

  2. Why College Athletes Should Be Paid: Persuasive Speech

  3. Persuasive speech on college athletes pay

  4. The Shifting Debate Over How College Athletes Should Be Paid

  5. Ed O'Bannon Explains Why College Athletes Need to be Paid

  6. Persuasive Speech--Pay Our College Athletes

COMMENTS

  1. Persuasive Outline College Athletes should be paid

    PERSUASIVE OUTLINE FORMAT Name: CATEGORY: Question of Policy SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade my audience that college athletes are being taken advantage of and should be paid for their athletic abilities. CENTRAL IDEA: College athletes bring university's millions of dollars every year and do not see any of it.

  2. Should College Athletes Be Paid? An Expert Debate Analysis

    Learn the pros and cons of paying college athletes and how to write an argumentative essay on this topic. Find out the role of the NCAA, the recent changes in endorsement deals, and the ethical issues involved.

  3. Should College Athletes Be Paid? Pros and Cons

    Learn the history, arguments, and implications of paying college athletes from this blog post. Find out the pros and cons of compensating student-athletes, and how it affects their education, well-being, and sports performance.

  4. Should College Athletes Be Paid? Yes and No

    Now, the N.C.A.A. has approved a historic change to allow student-athletes to be compensated for use of their N.I.L., with schools and conferences allowed to adopt their own additional policies ...

  5. Persuasive Essay on College Athletes Should Be Paid

    Persuasive Essay on College Athletes Should Be Paid. Student-athletes sacrifice a lot of time and effort to be where they are. During the week, these athletes will participate in very challenging practices and games while also having to perform well in school. All the responsibilities of a student-athlete, in addition to maintaining a life ...

  6. Persuasive Speech: Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

    Essay On College Athletes Should Be Paid 1646 Words | 7 Pages. Colleges are scouting or looking at kids from the age of ten years old. For March Madness (college basketball tournament) a student athlete would miss up to six days of class that they would have to make up later on, due to traveling and having to be with the team.

  7. Should College Athletes Be Paid? Top 3 Pros and Cons

    The NCAA is seemingly the final authority to decide whether college athletes should be paid to play college sports. However, in 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Play Act that allows college athletes to hire agents, sign endorsement deals, and be paid for the use of their likeness. [ 3] California was the first state to ...

  8. Why College Athletes Should be (or Should NOT be) Paid

    Learn the arguments for and against paying college athletes for their skills, efforts, and accomplishments. Find out how college sports generate revenue, boost applications, and affect student-athletes' futures.

  9. Free Persuasive Essay about Why College Athletes Should Be Paid?

    Example of Body Paragraphs to Essay on Should College Athletes Be Paid. At the present moment, many people state that college athletes should not be paid since they already receive a scholarship (Prewitt). A lot of people defend such a position stating that paying money to college athletes would put other students in an unfair position (Block).

  10. Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay: Useful Arguments and Sources

    Here are three most compelling arguments to support the idea of paying for playing: The time commitment and sacrifices made by athletes. College athletes dedicate countless hours to their sport, often sacrificing their personal lives and academic pursuits. They endure grueling training sessions, travel extensively for competitions, and face ...

  11. Persuasive Speech: Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

    Speech 1 Pro - College Athletes should be paid a stipend on top of their scholarship Yes I absolutely think that their should be a bill so that college athletes can be paid a stipend on top of their scholarship. This is because it will help them get food if their really hungry, gas money if they drive and in case of an emergency if they get hurt.

  12. Why Should College Athletes Be Paid, Essay Example

    As a student, I believe that college athletes should be paid for their hard work and dedication to their sports. One of the main reasons for this is the financial struggles that many college athletes face. These athletes come from low-income families and often struggle to make ends meet while attending college.

  13. CL #7: Persuasive Essay: Should College Athletes Be Paid?

    For our upcoming persuasive essay, I am grappling with the idea of writing about the debate on whether or not college athletes should be paid. The only problem is that I could fully argue both sides of this controversy very persuasively, but I don't know which side to pick. I believe that the current state of the NCAA is faulty and corrupt ...

  14. Should College Athletes be Paid?

    So college athletes aren't paid via scholarships. Sure, that's a fact, but not an argument as to why college athletes should be paid. Well, here's the argument: given the money and exposure that athletes generate for their schools, any just system would require they be compensated for the value they add. A phenomenon known as the Flutie ...

  15. College Athletes Persuasive Speech

    College Athletes Pay Persuasive Outline Specific Purpose: To persuade the SPC-112-W003 class on why college athletes should be getting paid. Central Idea: The controversy over whether athletes should be getting paid or not has been a topic on the news in the past and will, over time, get brought up. I. Introduction a.

  16. Persuasive Essay On Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

    II. Athletes are already paid through scholarships and should be going to college primarily for an education. A. In a USA Today College article, points out that athletes are already paid through scholarships, experience and education (Marshall, Blake). B. While some athletes do get compensation that only lasts while they are eligible to play.

  17. College Athletes Should Get Paid Speech Essay

    1385 Words. 6 Pages. Open Document. Topic: College Athletes Should Get Paid. General Purpose: To Persuade. Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that college athletes deserve to get paid. Central Idea: College athletes should get paid because of the unfair lifestyle of a student-athlete, these athletes make millions for their universities ...

  18. NCAA signs off on deal that would change landscape of college sports

    The nearly $2.8 billion settlement, which would be paid out over the next decade to 14,000 former and current student-athletes, "is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports ...

  19. College Athletes Should Be Paid by Ben Van Ryn on Prezi

    The average college football player is worth (or generates) $178,000 per year from 2011 to 2015, while the projected market value for the average college basketball player for the same time is $375,000. The top 10 football players with the top 10 highest estimated fair market values, like Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, might be worth as ...

  20. Persuasive Speech Outline done (1) (docx)

    Persuasive Speech Outline done (1) Uploaded by guinnbrandon4. Why Student Athletes Should Get Paid Specific Purpose : The purpose of this speech is to persuade the audience should be getting paid for all their hard work, athletic ability, and time spent. Central Idea : The schools that these athletes attend seems to make millions on top of ...

  21. Should College Athletes be Paid? Exploring the Importance and

    without compensation does not seem fair C. Thesis Statement: College athletes should be paid if people understand how much they actually bring to their University. D. Credibility Statement: 1. I have done research on the topic of why college athletes should be paid. E. To Preview the main points of my speech : 1. I will give Examples of why College Athletes should be paid.

  22. Persuasive speech College Athletes should be Paid.

    Persuasive speech College Athletes should be Paid. Despite having a substantial amount of money, college athletes do not receive any legal compensation for their work. As per NCAA regulations, participating in a sport is forbidden if there has been any form of payment or promise of payment for competing in that sport.

  23. Why College Athletes Deserve Fair Compensation

    Persuasive Speech Outline Your name: James Thompson Date: 4/17/2023 Title: Why College Athletes Should Be Paid General Purpose: To persuade. Specific Purpose: To persuade people to pay college athletes. Thesis Statement (Central Idea): College athletes should be paid because they are working a full-time job, they bring in huge amounts of money for their school, and they give their schools ...