Analysis: Why Student Athletes Should Be Paid

In 2014, the NCAA had a gross revenue of about one billion dollars, distributing 547.1 million dollars to D1 schools. The money that D1 schools rake in from athletics is about 79% of their total income per year and helps them improve their respective school in academics, extracurricular activities, research, clubs and societies, and a multitude of other areas. Unfortunately, the athletes that bring in all this money receive absolutely no revenue and are essentially treated like slaves so that the school can prosper. Even though many people would argue that athletes should play the sport for the love of the game, their commitment, sacrifice of education, and risk of injury or permanent damage suggest they should get some compensation for their performance.
When injuries take their tole on an athlete, the value of that player often time decreases. If an injury is serious enough, an athlete may be let go from a team. Student athletes risk their health to have fun and raise money that goes directly to the sport agents that they work for yet, they receive little to no money. This is unethical in the means that athletes put their lives on the line to make and raise money for the ones who watch it for entertainment and to gain money for their own uses. There’s no doubt that student athletes deserve pay. They put in too much dedication and commitment to receive very little