How much are student-athletes paid?

Most jobs that you will have will pay you money. But many jobs will also pay you in non-pecuniary benefits. In addition to an hourly wage or salary, your employer may provide you with health insurance, a company car, training, and more. These benefits, though not cash, do carry a value with them. And should be counted when determining total compensation that you receive for the work you do.

Thus, to answer the question of how much are student-athletes being paid, it is imperative to examine both cash compensation and other benefits that they receive. The USA Today had a very interesting article in which they broke down the value of a Division I men’s basketball scholarship. (link)

	FBS median	UConn	Kentucky	VCU	Includes	Does not include
Grant in aid	$27,923	$44,016	$32,703	$37,639	Tuition, fees, room, board and books, including summer school, tuition discounts and tuition waivers	Money athletes can receive through federal Pell Grant program, which is based on need; money athletes can receive from NCAA Assistance Fund, awards not based on need and can be used for array of purposes
Coaching	$70,000	$70,000	$70,000	$70,000	All coaches; team-specific support staff such as strength/conditioning coach, athletic trainer, videography; access to team facilities
General support	$11,607	$13,717	$18,292	$9,629
Equipment uniforms & supplies	$2,650	$546	$10,128	$2,669		Full value of goods that athletic department receives for free or at discounted prices
Medical	$970	$746	$940	$893	Expenses and insurance premiums
Game tickets		$1,596	$1,904	$602	70% of the cost of 4 season tickets for home games, reflecting expected use of the 4 complimentary admissions athletes may receive for each game	Donation to athletics department that may be needed for right to buy 4 home season tickets in comparable location; cost of tickets for away games, conference and NCAA tournament games (athletes may receive six admissions for conference and NCAA tournament sessions)
Future earnings impact	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500	One year's impact on wages, based on attainment of some college education	Value of admissions preference based on athletics; impact on wages based on attainment of a bachelor's degree, or based on education toward or attainment of a master's or professional degree
Total	$119,650	$137,121	$140,467	$127,932

Here is a breakdown of their findings.There are other benefits that student-athletes receive that are not included here. For example, it is often argued that those who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are the ones suffering the most. Yet these individuals are eligible for federal pell grants, which can bring in an additional $5,500 in cash.

This information does not answer two rather important questions:

1. Are they being paid enough?

Do student-athletes value the non-pecuniary the same as ca