Grants are considered “gift aid” that do not require repayment. Students apply for assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2025-2026 deadline to complete the FAFSA to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO, including Nebraska Promise, is May 1, 2025. For priority consideration, you must also submit all ‘To Do List’ items within two weeks of being requested, or by June 1, 2025 at the latest.
The criteria for selecting recipients is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), as calculated on the FAFSA. Grants are awarded to qualified undergraduate students (working on a first bachelor’s degree) who demonstrate high levels of financial need. Full-time enrollment is required (except for the Federal Pell Grant). Award amounts are determined by cost of attendance, SAI and available funding.
Graduate students may be eligible for Federal TEACH Grants.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG)
University Assistance Grant (UAG)
University Tuition Grant (UTG)
University Tuition Assistance Grant (UTAG)
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship
Federal Pell Grant
Pell Grant awards are reserved for students who do not already hold a bachelor's degree.
This is federal gift aid and is usually considered the foundation of a student's financial aid package. It is the base upon which other awards are built.
Annual Pell Grant awards for 2025-2026 range from $740 to $7,395, depending on your Student Aid Index and your enrollment status (the number of credit hours you are enrolled). The Pell Grant is funded each year by Congress, which sets the minimum and maximum award amounts.
Beginning July 1, 2012, students are limited to six years of Pell eligibility, or the full-time equivalent of six years for those attending less than full time. Learn more about Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (maximum lifetime limit).
Students who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant according to the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated on the FAFSA may be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant funds during the Summer term. The amount awarded will be prorated based on enrollment, not to exceed 50% of the maximum amount listed on your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Students who have attended full-time during Fall and Spring semesters must be enrolled at least half-time for Summer to be considered for Federal Pell Grant funds. The amount awarded will count towards the student's Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (maximum lifetime limit).
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This is federal gift aid awarded to undergraduate students with high levels of financial need. The student must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant prior to receiving an SEOG award.
If you are eligible for SEOG it will be listed on your award offer. You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) to receive this grant.
Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG)
Available to undergraduate students with high levels of financial need. Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant and Nebraska residency are prerequisite to be eligible for this grant.
If you are eligible for NOG it will be listed on your award offer. You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) to receive this grant.
University Assistance Grant (UAG)
Institutional gift aid awarded to undergraduate students with high levels of financial need.
If you are eligible for UAG it will be listed on your award offer. You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) to receive this grant.
University Tuition Grant (UTG)
Institutional gift aid awarded to undergraduate students with high levels of financial need.
If you are eligible for UTG it will be listed on your award offer. You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) to receive this grant.
University Tuition Assistance Grant (UTAG)
Institutional gift aid awarded to undergraduate students with high levels of financial need.
If you are eligible for UTAG it will be listed on your award offer. You must be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) to receive this grant.
Nebraska Promise
Nebraska Promise grants are awarded to undergraduate, Nebraska resident students with financial need.
Summary of Qualifications:
- Pell Grant recipient and/or a combined student plus parent (if a dependent student) AGI totaling $65,000 or less
- Nebraska resident
- Undergraduate student
- FAFSA submitted by May 1, 2025
- Complete request(s) for supplemental documentation by June 1, 2025
- Enrolled at least full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester)
- Maintain a 2.50 Grade Point Average
Federal TEACH Grant Program
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants for undergraduate and graduate students who commit to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families.
Eligible students may receive up to $4,000 per year with a maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate study and up to $8,000 for graduate study; however, actual awards are "subject to funding."
Part-time students are eligible, but the maximum grant will be reduced.
For more information, please visit our TEACH Grant page.
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship
The 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act included an amendment authorizing the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship. Under this scholarship, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made. To qualify for this scholarship, the student must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell eligible EFC (as determined through completion of the FAFSA & related requirements) and must be less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his/her parent’s or guardian’s death. In subsequent years, the student continues to be eligible for the scholarship, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student.
Criteria:
For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:
- As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b); or
- A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.
Application Process:
Contact the UNO Office of Financial Support and Scholarships to collaborate regarding eligibility determination and submission of necessary documentation. Since a single, national data source of individuals who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer does not exist, the following are documents that financial aid administrators may consider:
- A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PDOB) program administered by the Department of Justice.
- A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state of local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as previously defined:
- Documentation of the student qualifying for state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or
- Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.