Supreme Court rules against NCAA caps on educational perks to compensate student-athletes

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously sided with a group of former student-athletes in a dispute with the NCAA over the group's rules limiting compensations.

The high court ruled that NCAA limits on the education-related benefits that colleges can offer athletes who play Division I basketball and football can’t be enforced, the Associated Press reports. 

The ruling could help push changes in college athletics in terms of how student, particularly those playing revenue-generated sports, are compensated. 

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch writing the opinion.

"By permitting colleges and universities to offer enhanced education-related benefits, its decision may encourage scholastic achievement and allow student-athletes a measure of compensation more consistent with the value they bring to their schools. Still, some will see this as a poor substitute for fuller relief,” Gorsuch wrote for the opinion, according to Yahoo News.

The NCAA had a $5,000 cap on what schools could provide to student-athletes above and beyond free tuition, room and board. The ruling only allows compensation for education-related benefits, including computers, paid internships, tutoring, study abroad programs, among others.

The decision is a blow to the NCAA, which could lead to other forms of compensation for student-athletes, such as allowing salaries. 

The NCAA brought the case to the nation's highest court after contesting a lower courts ruling that would allow greater academic-related perks to Division I football and men’s and women’s basketball players.