The Pros and Cons of Paying College Athletes Essay

One way college athletes get paid centers around their scholarships. One way the college athlete get paid is because they get free tuition. According to Patterson (2017), “The NCAA says the vast majority of the money it generates goes back to the players in scholarships or some other form.” This is stating that the money the players of a sport make go toward scholarship or tuition. Another reason college athletes don't get paid is because they are on a winning team. According to the article, “Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Tiffany Patterson (2017) “While not all student-athletes are on scholarship, many are, particularly those

There is always that question being asked about whether or not college athletes should be paid. The article College Athletes Getting Paid? Here Are Some Pros And Cons from the “Huffington Post” by Malcolm Lemmons argues that there is no right or wrong answer to the question at hand. However, to some the idea of college athletes being paid is absurd, while to others not so much. This article touches on many different factors from race to financial status of the players.

One could feel like paying the college athletes is wrong. One could debate on whether college-student athlete in the U.S. should be paid or not in 2014. One author explains that the college athletes are not considered professional athletes, and therefore should not be given salaries(Mitchell 17). I agree that players are not “abused” just because universities make money from their games. I would suggest that their “four year free ride” is not reasonable compensation for their efforts( ). College athletes need money just like professional athletes. College athletes deserve to be treated like professional athletes.

“In 2013, the average amount of money awarded to NCAA Division 1 athletes was $13,821 for men and $14,660 for women.”(Fantasy Football: College Scholarship Myths Busted). That is thousands of dollars that college athletes don't have to worry about coming up with, that other students without athletic scholarships must earn elsewhere. Despite this, some people think they should get paid more. Further more, the purpose of colleges is to educate, not to entertain. College athletes should not be paid, because if they were that would be the focus of their college experience instead of gaining an education.

First, some say that college athletes should be paid because of the fact that the schools and the NCAA make billions. In an article from USA Today, it stated: “NCAA made more than $1 billion for the year” (Mama). On the other hand, they should not be paid because tons of the athletes get scholarships, they are rewarded with a free education, and they are technically getting around twenty-thousand dollars a year. First, in an article from Scholorshipstats.com in statistics from 2015 regarding the amount of scholarship money that was given out was nearly 2.2 billion dollars.

To add onto this argument, college athletes also get many exquisite privileges that the common college student does not get. These privileges range from world-class professional training, being showcased in front of prospective employers, free medical care, free head-to-toe Nike or Adidas gear, free traveling, hotel rooms, and many other privileges (Jenkins 2011). They get all of these free things, privileges, and scholarships for just playing a sport. That is a lot more than any of college student. Overall, people do not want to pay college athletes because they already get paid through scholarships and all the privileges they receive for playing

College Athletes should not be paid to play because the scholarship they are receiving is enough. (Dayton Daily News) College Athletes are not professional this is not their career .(Dayton Daily News) The statements are all very true but the college athletes are practicing the same amount of time as the professionals but they aren't getting paid anything for their hard work and dedication. College Athletes are the main ones that are on a trip out of town for tournaments, ect. So that means that they need traveling,eating,and extra expenses for their journey

One of the best things about college sports is the player`s energy. The love/passion the players have for the game is unforgettable. There’s some people that don’t think a college player should be getting paid. Some people say paying college athletes would be unnecessary, unfair, as well as unfeasible. Some say college players shouldn’t be paid just so players can keep a clear divide between amateur as well as professional sports. Paying college athletes would create a whole new playing field, the consequences would be

A college athlete will not pocket even one penny of that money, despite the fact that it is their participation that makes that revenue possible. Logically, they are providing a service that they should be paid for. They do not have to be provided a salary that is equivalent to a professional’s salary, but they should receive a modest percentage of the money that they help to bring in.

Why is there a debate regarding this topic? It should be a simple decision. There are 460,000 collegiate athletes and only 2% of them go on to be pros and make millions of dollars. Come on man, universities have to start paying their athletes so that they can start saving up for their long life ahead of them. Collegiate athletes should earn a salary because they work 40 hours or more just on their sport. Athletics generate most of the revenue for universities. The NCAA is approaching 1 billion dollars in revenue. The NCAA has plenty of money to pay their athletes. Granted, the opposing view says that college athletes don’t need that extra money. College athletes already live a luxury life because they have extra money from their scholarship and are going out to restaurants, while regular students eat ramen noodles every night in their dorm.

Although college athletes dedicate a lot of their time to their craft and school work, they still are not professionals and do not deserve to get paid. At top schools, many athletes receive scholarships. But some people think the players deserve a real paycheck, especially since some of the sports they play are million-dollar businesses. “Top college athletes already get plenty of benefits, such as free tuition and meals. Even though some colleges profit from sports, many don't have enough money to pay their athletes.”

Because college athletes are still young, there is no telling how they will act if they are given decent amounts of money. Colin Cowherd is an American sports media personality who has spoken on ESPN Kickoff and Fox Sports Radio and has had many opinions on paying college athletes. “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!” (Cowherd). At a young age they would not know how to properly manage their money, and they are at college by themselves, without an adult to guide them with their financial

In 2013, postsecondary universities spent $499 billion dollars (“U.S.News”). A great deal of colleges today in America are in debt for the heavy spending they do to make their university the best place to receive an education. College athletes, who receive a scholarship to represent a college in a sport, go to college for free and obtain many benefits normal college students would not get. Paying college athletes would be unfair to students who go through college with debt up to their neck along with not being able to receive sport scholarships. Paying college athletes would put colleges into more debt as well as would start a crisis across America because college sports performers and students would not be treated as equals. The rising opinion that college athletes should be paid can be stifled by aggressive media campaigns, investigations, and strict enforcement of rules.

Major contenders like Texas, Alabama, or Michigan make millions of dollars off their college athletes. CNNMoney.com reports that The University of Texas football program brings in 68 million dollars profit each year, along with The University of Michigan, which brings in 44 million dollars each year. With revenues like this many sports enthusiasts argue that athletes should receive a cut in the money. Most programs, however, are not making as much as these big programs. The NCAA reports that of bowl-eligible schools, fifty-three schools split $26 million dollars. The NCAA also reports that within those fifty-three schools, eight of the schools lost money.

College athletes should not be paid. “ They argue that the main purpose of going to college is to get a education, not to make money” (“Should college”...1). College is not a job, it is a place to learn. Also many college athletes receive scholarships to attend that school. “The value of the scholarships athletes receive during four years of college can be well over $250,000” (Weiss et al.1). Therefore, athletes