Money in NCAA sports has changed life for a few. For many athletes, college degree remains the prize

 Sponsorship deals were far from Jonny Bottorff's mind when he transferred to rrn Arizona University on a football scholarship. As money-making opportunities for college athletes have boomed since n, offensive lineman has earned a few hundred dollars through name, im and likeness deals, but thing that has changed his life.

Bottorff, 23, earned an undergruate degree and is w working on his master’s degree at Division I school in Flagstaff, Arizona. He transferred from Missouri Western State University, a small Division II school in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

“I think reality for most college athletes is things haven’t really changed that much. We just got an extra little bit of cash in our pockets that probably needed to happen,” Bottorff said.

For some players, money from NIL deals has transformed what it means to be a college athlete. But outside highest-profile athletes, who w can earn millions of dollars while still in school, many players say a college degree remains ultimate prize.

College athletes gruate at rates that are comparable to and often higher than n-athletes. For Division I schools, NCAA last year reported data showing a record 91% of athletes are gruating .

Before Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that U.S.-born athletes could earn money from vertisements, autographs and university boosters, college athletes were under a simple agreement with ir institutions: compete in exchange for a degree.

Money received through NIL agreements has changed equation for athletes like Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese , who leverd ir personal brands while still in college, securing endorsement deals with likes of Reebok, Powere and Beats by Dre.

Where acemics rates as a priority varies with each individual. But several Division I athletes said in interviews money available to m through NIL remains a small consideration compared with earning a degree and competing in sports y love.

Anthony Leal, a guard for Indiana University's basketball team , said he is coming back as a fifth-year senior because of school, even though he received his undergruate degree last year. He said earning a master's in business ministration was always goal.

“I’m about 70% through program in Kelley School of Business ,” he said. “I wanted to get that degree.”

NCAA eligibility rules allow athletes five years to compete athletically across four seasons. Under redshirt eligibility rule, many receive an athletic scholarship and practice ir first year, but do t compete in games or matches. NCAA also allowed athletes to extend ir eligibility by a year if ir team was affected by pandemic.

For some athletes, NIL money is an incentive to attend and stay in college, but Leal said it's t often that athletes are completely disinterested in school.

“Every student kws that it has to be a piece of puzzle at some level. So everyone kind of understands value of school,” Leal said. “But, yeah, sure, some people may have or goals. re are plenty of people, maybe t at Indiana, but re are plenty of people throughout college basketball who don’t care because you’ve got NIL (money) and transfer portal.”

transfer portal has become a plug-and-play method for powerhouses and rebuilding programs alike. It has me it easy for athletes to switch colleges and play next season, rar than sitting out a year under previous rules. And it has become a way for top athletes to shop around for more lucrative opportunities. UNLV quarterback Matw Sluka, for one, walked away from team in a dispute over a $100,000 NIL payment his nt says was promised but never paid.

NIL market is expected to reach $1.67 billion in 2024-2025 school year, according to an estimate by NIL platform Opendorse. highest earnings go to top men's basketball and football players.

Even though NCAA w allows players to transfer without sitting out, acemic transition can be more complicated.

Ray Harrison started at Presbyterian College in 2020, but transferred in 2022 to Grand Canyon University , a private Christian university in Phoenix where he is a senior guard on basketball team. He said NIL money wasn't a factor. It was about finding a better fit for him.

“I just came out here because this is where God led my heart. Of course, we win two (conference) championships and that changes things,” he said. But it wasn’t a smooth transition — a lot of his course credits didn’t transfer . “When I got here, I h to do some catching up.”

Trinity San Antonio, ar student who transferred to Grand Canyon, previously attended California Baptist, a private university in Riverside, California. Finding a school that would accept majority of her previously earned college credits was harder than she expected.

“Coming in as a freshman when you’re really a junior is t ideal,” said San Antonio, who also played basketball for Puerto Rico last summer in Paris Olympics .

A shot at a college education remains a dream for many younger athletes.

Tavarius Covington, a wide receiver on his high school football team in Chicago, has ambitions of playing in college. But he said his priority is school. He hopes to pursue a business degree.

Covington took a break from football but came back to it last year, hoping it would help him become first in his family to go to college and earn a degree, he said.

“I was watching my little bror play. We were going to his games and family was excited for him. It me me interested in game again,” he said. “Part of it is trying to establish a foundation for him, too, as a first-generation college student, hopefully. I want him to kw re is more to look forward to coming out of high school.”

___

Associated Press’ education cover receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded cover areas at AP.org .