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Scholarships
Top Nebraska scholarships for you
Find Nebraska scholarships that can help you pay for college.
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What are Nebraska scholarships?
Nebraska scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in Nebraska or looking to go to school in Nebraska. Nebraska scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for Nebraska scholarships
Before you apply for Nebraska scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for Nebraska scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are Nebraska scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over Nebraska scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find Nebraska scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find Nebraska scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for Nebraska
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The Scholarships360 $10,000 "No Essay" Scholarship
Due: 6/30/2025
No Essays
$10,000
Nebraska Library Association Louise A. Nixon Scholarship
Due: 4/22/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Louise A. Nixon Scholarship Fund was established to help each recipient reach Nixon's goals of dedication and vision. This scholarship supports students who pursue graduate-level library education. Applicants must be accepted to either (a) an ALA-accredited graduate school of library/information science, or (b) a school library/library media graduate program/endorsement accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) that also meets ALA/AASL curriculum guidelines. Applicants must also be (a) a resident of Nebraska or an employee of a Nebraska library for at least one year, and (b) a member of NLA or NSLA at the time of application. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate the best potential for employment in Nebraska libraries after graduation. Previous recipients of the Louise A. Nixon Scholarship are not eligible to reapply. One letter of recommendation, less than a year old, is required. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Kendall Cusick-Rindone and Gregory Rindone Scholarship
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,075
The Kendall Cusick-Rindone and Gregory Rindone Scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, or junior collegian member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the states of Colorado or Nebraska who will pursue an undergraduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a senior member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the states of Colorado or Nebraska who will pursue an undergraduate degree. Should no applicants meet the first and second criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, or junior collegian member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree. Should no applicants meet the first to third criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior collegian or an alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. A recommendation from a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and a recommendation from an academic or professional reference are required. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.
Kearney Law Opportunities Program (KLOP)
Due: 11/15/2025
No Essays
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Kearney Law Opportunities Program (KLOP) is a full tuition scholarship to UNK for up to 120 credit hours. Applicants must be from rural Nebraska. Students from the follow cities and towns are not considered rural and therefore are not eligible: Omaha, Ralston, Boys Town, Elkhorn, Lincoln, Bellevue, Papillion, LaVista, Chalco, and Offutt Air Force Base.
University of Nebraska at Omaha Distinguished Scholarship
Due: 2/1/2026
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$33,000
The Distinguished Scholarship is available to graduating seniors of Nebraska high schools who are academically talented and are residents of Nebraska. Students must be admitted to the University Honors Program. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Missouri University of Science and Technology Border County Award
Due: 2/1/2026
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Amount Varies
The Missouri University of Science and Technology Border County Award is open to out-of-state students from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, or Tennessee counties immediately bordering Missouri. The award covers 100 percent of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition and cannot be combined with any institutional or athletic fund that will pay out-of-state tuition. Border County Award cannot be combined with the Groundbreaker Scholarship, Transfer Merit Scholarship, or Athletic Out of State Waivers. The S&T Border County Award is available for students from the following counties: (1) Illinois: Adams, Alexander, Calhoun, Hancock, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, Pike, Randolph, St. Clair, Union (2) Iowa: Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Lee, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, VanBuren, Wayne (3) Kentucky: Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman (4) Nebraska: Nemaha, Otoe, Richardson (5) Tennessee: Dyer, Lake. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Urban Health Opportunities Program (UHOP)
Due: 1/17/2026
No min. GPA Required
Amount Varies
The Urban Health Opportunities Program (UHOP) supports the urban Nebraska medical workforce by identifying and preparing qualified students to enter and succeed in medical school. The award covers resident tuition. Applicants must be graduating seniors of Nebraska high schools and residents of Nebraska. They must have a minimum cumulative ACT cumulative and math section score of 24, and have a guaranteed admission to UNMC's M.D. program after completing UHOP requirements. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship
Due: 4/30/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,500
The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship is sponsored by ISL Education Lending, a national nonprofit organization committed to helping students attending college obtain the resources needed to succeed. Recipients are randomly drawn from among all eligible entries. The scholarship is open to either high school seniors in one of the qualifying states; or the parent or legal guardian of one or more high school seniors. They must either attend college classes offered by an eligible college or university that is physically located in the United States of America during the Fall session; or are the parent or legal guardian of a student who will do so. There are no financial need, minimum grade point average or class rank requirements for the ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Iowa State University of Science and Technology Transfer Expedition Award
Due: Varies
No Essays
No Recommendations Required
$6,000
The Iowa State University of Science and Technology Transfer Expedition Award can be stacked with the Transfer Achievement Award or Transfer Success Award. This award is available to new students starting in the Fall of 2024. Preference is given to students who apply by May 1, 2024. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP)
Due: 12/1/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP) is a cooperative program between the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The program aims to recruit and educate students from rural Nebraska who are committed to returning to rural Nebraska to practice healthcare. Applicants must be rural Nebraska residents. High school seniors from rural Nebraska who will receive a high school diploma or equivalent, have a sincere interest in becoming a health care provider and are willing to practice in rural Nebraska are encouraged to apply. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information about the eligibility, criteria, and application process.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for Nebraska scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2025.
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