Navigating Scholarships at the University of Nebraska: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Nebraska offers a diverse array of scholarships designed to support students from various backgrounds and with different aspirations. These scholarships recognize academic achievements, leadership qualities, and financial needs. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarship opportunities available at the University of Nebraska, along with essential information on how to find and apply for them.

Types of Scholarships Available

At Nebraska, a range of scholarships are available for students with different academic backgrounds and leadership experiences. Scholarships at the University of Nebraska can be broadly categorized into the following:

General Scholarships: These scholarships are available to all students who meet the eligibility criteria, irrespective of their field of study. You can filter by in-state, out-of-state, international, leadership, first-year and transfer. Select each scholarship to view the award, application criteria, deadlines, ACT/SAT scores, renewability and any other award criteria.
Specialized Scholarships: These include Graduate Fellowships, ROTC Scholarships, and scholarships from other funding agencies.
External Scholarships: These are offered by private businesses, organizations, etc., external to Nebraska. Many organizations outside of the university offer scholarships to college-bound students. Nebraska keeps a list of top scholarship opportunities-including the Susan T. Husker Hub is Nebraska’s “one stop” for you to get assistance with the FAFSA Form, scholarships, grants, loans and more.

Eligibility and Application Process for First-Year Students

The University of Nebraska extends scholarship opportunities to a significant portion of its incoming students. 97% of first-year students are offered a scholarship or grant to attend Nebraska. Here is a detailed breakdown of the application process and key deadlines for first-year students:

Priority Application Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1, 2025, to receive your scholarship award notification on February 11, 2026.
Comprehensive Scholarship and Financial Aid Offer: If you file the FAFSA Form by February 1, 2026, you will receive a comprehensive scholarship and financial aid offer on February 11, 2026.
Required Documents: Upload your current high school transcript in MyRED.
Supplemental Scholarship Application: All admission application materials, as well as the supplemental Scholarship Application, must be submitted by February 1, 2026, to be considered for in-state scholarships and departmental, leadership and service scholarships. The deadline to submit the supplemental Scholarship Application is February 1, 2026.
ACT/SAT Scores: Take the ACT/SAT on or before the February test date and submit scores (test scores are preferred; not required).

Scholarship Opportunities for Transfer Students

Transfer students are also eligible for academic scholarships at the University of Nebraska. To be considered, transfer students should:

Apply to Nebraska with their cumulative transfer college GPA.
Submit transcripts.

Deadlines and Notification Dates

Priority Date: Apply for admission by the November 1, 2025, priority date to receive your scholarship award notification on February 11, 2026.
Rolling Basis: Spring scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.
Fall Scholarships: Fall scholarships are announced at the end of March.
Comprehensive Scholarship Notification: Admitted students who apply for admission by November 1, 2025, will receive a scholarship award notification in MyRED on February 11, 2026.
Late Applications: If a student applies after the November 1, 2025, priority deadline, (and by February 1, 2026, if in-state; May 1, 2026, if out-of-state) they can still qualify for scholarships. After November 1, 2025, scholarships will be awarded based on funding availability at time of application. Scholarship notifications or updates will be sent on a rolling basis starting on February 26, 2026.

Admitted students who meet the scholarship deadlines will receive scholarship notifications on a rolling basis for spring admission and in March for fall admission.

International Student Scholarships

Processes vary for each international scholarship. These scholarships are awarded based on a holistic review, meaning academic performance is only one of many aspects of consideration.

Holistic Review Process

Scholarships are awarded based on the current pool of applicants.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities and Resources

Beyond the scholarships offered directly by the University of Nebraska, students can explore external scholarship opportunities from various organizations. Here are a few examples:

The Susan T. Buffett Foundation: The Susan T. Buffett Foundation provides scholarships that can be used to cover expenses related to attending college (e.g. tuition and fees, housing, books). Apply on-line at www.buffettscholarships.org beginning November 1st.
Scholarships.com: Scholarships.com can help you find information about college scholarships and grants not only for those living in Nebraska, but for people who want to study architecture, for people who run track and excel at it, for those who are active in their community, etc. The scholarships we have listed will give you an idea of the opportunities that may be found at Scholarships.com. To get the full benefit of our free services and for additional information about Nebraska scholarships and awards based on different search criteria, you should conduct a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
UNCF (Formerly the United Negro College Fund): The UNCF runs 400 scholarships and internships designed to help African Americans earn a degree. The organization also provides fellowships and grants for students starting undergraduate work all the way up to a doctorate. Each scholarship has different requirements and restrictions. Criteria: Recognizes academically promising students from diverse backgrounds who often find that the financial requirements of postsecondary education are a major obstacle.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship: Offered to minority students planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university. After October 15 each year you can find and submit the required application online at www.jackierobinson.org under the “Apply” tab.
Magic Johnson Foundation Scholarship: Sponsored by the Magic Johnson Foundation, this scholarship is provided for minority high school students seeking to earn an undergraduate degree.

Specific Scholarship Examples

Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars Scholarship: Amount: $6,600. Deadline: March 1, 2026. This scholarship opportunity is tailored for students currently in 9th, 10th orIf you're a high-achieving, female-identifying high school student residing in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota, and attending high school in one of these states, you're in the right place.
Duncan and Lillian McGregor Scholarships: Amount: $2,000. Deadline: March 15, 2026. To apply for the Duncan and Lillian McGregor Scholarships, you must: be a current graduating senior or former graduate of Ansley, Arcadia, Gibbon, Ord, Sargent, or Shelton High Schools in Nebraska; have resided in a community served and maintained by an exchange served by the Nebraska Central Telephone Company during his/her high school education (Ansley, Arcadia, Ashton, Boelus, Burwell,
Gabby Matthes Memorial Scholarship: Amount: $1,400. Deadline: March 15, 2026. The Gabby Matthes Memorial Scholarship is for graduating seniors of Freeman High School or from high schools in Gage, Lancaster, Jefferson, Saline, Johnson or Pawnee Counties in Nebraska (Lincoln Public Schools are excluded). The applicant must demonstrate involvement in school or community activities other than, or in addition to, athletics.
A $2500 scholarship: awarded in any field to attend an accredited college in the State of Nebraska or Western Iowa. Criteria: Qualified applicants must be Nebraska residents who have graduated from a Nebraska high school.

Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP)

The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) is a cooperative program between Peru State and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Students admitted into the RHOP must be from a rural background. The purpose of the program is to recruit and educate students from rural communities who will plan to practice in the rural areas of Nebraska. It represents a commitment and dedication to quality health care for the citizens of the state. Upon selection into the RHOP, students are automatically pre-admitted into their specific program at the UNMC. Students are strongly encouraged and expected to practice in the rural areas of Nebraska.

Public Health Early Admission Student Track (PHEAST)

Public Health Early Admission Student Track (PHEAST) is a cooperative program between Peru State College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health (UNMC CoPH). Through the PHEAST program, eligible Peru State College students in their sophomore or junior year can gain provisional acceptance into the UNMC CoPH Masters of Public Health Program while enrolled at Peru State College.

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The N Fund: Supporting the University and its Students

The N Fund is the best way for you to support the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through annual giving. This impactful approach allows you to make contributions to priority funds that support specific Nebraska colleges, as well as broader areas of need like student scholarships, faculty development and campus libraries.

Through the N Fund, you can choose to support whatever you think is most important, including:

Your college: Your gift will provide resources like technology in the classroom, scholarship support and special projects.
Scholarships: A gift to student scholarships helps Nebraska students whose greatest obstacle is financial need.
Faculty development: Your gift to this area will help Nebraska recruit and retain the nation’s most skilled, motivated and inspirational instructors who connect with students and help them reach their highest potential.
Libraries: Nebraska’s libraries are campus hubs that are a precious and irreplaceable commodity for students. Support this most essential campus resource with a gift to this fund.
The greatest needs of the university: Needs and opportunities are ever-changing at Nebraska. Gifts to the area of greatest need allow funding to go directly and immediately to where it is most critical.

When you direct your giving through the unified family of funds in the N Fund, you make a bigger difference on campus. Your gift will benefit only the purpose you’ve chosen and will be combined with other gifts to make the biggest impact. By focusing on these definitive priority areas, we can continue to advance the mission of the university, make private donations reach much further and ultimately help more students.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln would not be what it is today without the support of alumni and friends.

MyRED: Your Portal to Scholarships

Current students can submit the scholarship application in MyRED for the next academic year beginning in October. The application deadline is February 1. To apply, log in to MyRED and select the Scholarship Application under the Financial Aid tab. Submission of this application allows you to be considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and to have your information made available to your academic college or department.

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To view a list of all scholarship opportunities, you may click “All” under “Opportunities” above. This list shows all scholarships, not scholarships for which you are receiving consideration. Automatch scholarships will appear with “None” listed under the “Action” column - this means an additional application is not required for consideration. The “Deadline” column indicates the deadline to complete the application to receive consideration.

Understanding Scholarship Criteria

Scholarships are funds provided to students on the basis of excellence in academics, financial need, leadership, service or a combination of multiple factors (the university does not offer diversity scholarships). Scholarships do not need to be repaid.

Additional Scholarship Resources

Financial assistance from other agencies may be available.

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