ALLOWANCE TO PLAY

They may not be getting a salary, but college athletes are (finally) getting a piece of the pie

FOR YEARS COLLEGE athletic departments across the country had seen their coffers explode with the rise of media rights fees, but they had no means to share the windfall with their athletes. That changed two years ago with the approval of the "cost of attendance" stipend, money paid over and above the benefits of a scholarship. The yearly stipends, which go to athletes in all sports, range from $1,500 to more than $6,000 and are intended to cover a student's cost-of-living expenses. Because the amounts vary by college—it's up to each school to determine who, if anyone, receives a stipend—the grants could have a potential impact on recruiting, giving an advantage to Power Five programs (with more resources for bigger stipends). The total cost is small change for the biggest programs, but for college athletes with demanding workloads and workouts, the financial boost is long overdue.

Presented by GEICO

Here's a sampling of the stipends granted to college football players in major programs across the country

$4,788

Penn State ///

For in-state and out-of-state students

$4,210

Kansas State ///

For out-of-state students; $3,910 for in-state

$3,542

Boise State ///

For out-of-state students; $3,320 for in-state

$6,218

Florida State ///

For out-of-state students; $4,860 for in-state

$3,956

Colorado ///

For out-of-state students; $3,294 for in-state

$3,956

Houston ///

For in-state students