Following approval by the Nebraska State Legislature in August 2020, funding was made available to UNO - and to support first-year students and transfer students interested in pursuing degree programs in the fields of health care, engineering, mathematics, and computer information systems.
New UNO students who are Nebraska residents and meet the required qualifications may be eligible for up to $25,000 per year in funding as part of this new program with potential renewal of the program based on meeting the necessary GPA; course enrollment; internship or apprenticeship requirements; and continued funding from the state of Nebraska.
To be eligible for funding through the Nebraska Career Scholarships program, scholars must enroll in qualifying degree programs in high-demand fields like engineering, mathematics, healthcare, and information technology.
Eligible programs at UNO include Computer Science, Cybersecurity, IT Innovation, Management Information Systems, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Pre-Biological Systems Engineering, Pre-Mechanical Engineering, Pre-agricultural Engineering, Mathematics, Medical Humanities, Public Health, Bioinformatics, Biology, Emergency Management, Gerontology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Molecular and Biomedical Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry.
Beginning in Spring 2021, eligible students must be newly enrolled at UNO as first-time first-year or transfer students and have an ACT score of 20 or higher and a competitive GPA. The amount available to students will depend on their ACT scores or status as a first-time student or transfer student.
Funding from the scholarships will help go towards the cost of tuition; fees; required tools and equipment, like textbooks; and on-campus housing expenses.
There is no application to complete. Eligible students admitted to qualifying programs will be considered automatically. Interested students will be required to complete these steps as soon as possible to be considered:
- Apply for Admission
- Apply for Financial Aid
- Take the ACT or SAT and submit scores to UNO.
- Submit Enrollment Deposit by May 1 for Summer and Fall applicants, December 1 for Spring applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much is the Nebraska Career Scholarship worth?
I am not a resident of Nebraska, am I eligible?
Is the Nebraska Career Scholarship renewable?
What are the enrollment requirements for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
What programs are eligible for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
What are the internship requirements for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
Will the scholarship cover courses taken at another NU system campus (UNL, UNK or UNMC)?
Can I transfer my Nebraska Career Scholarship to UNL, UNK or UNMC?
I am a current student at UNO already enrolled in one of the eligible programs, am I eligible for the scholarship?
How much is the Nebraska Career Scholarship worth?
The award amount is no less than the cost of tuition. The maximum award amounts for students who meet the required qualifications (not to exceed total Cost of Attendance) are:
- $25,000 per year for New Freshmen with an ACT score of 28 or higher
- $10,000 per year for New Freshmen with an ACT score between 20 and 27
- $10,000 per year for an eligible transfer student (24 or more transfer credits with a 3.0 cumulative GPA)
This scholarship commitment is renewable for up to four years, contingent upon continued funding from the state of Nebraska.
I am not a resident of Nebraska, am I eligible?
No, only Nebraska residents are eligible for the Nebraska Career Scholarship.
Is the Nebraska Career Scholarship renewable?
Yes, the Nebraska Career Scholarship is renewable for a maximum award period of 4 years, contingent upon continued funding from the state of Nebraska. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, earn 30 credit hours per academic year, and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Renewal determinations are made at the end of each spring semester. Students changing to another major may retain the scholarship if they maintain program eligibility and change their major prior to the start of their sophomore year into another program-eligible major.
What are the enrollment requirements for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
The recipient must successfully complete 30 UNO credit hours earned each academic year (fall and spring semesters). Summer hours may be included based on extenuating circumstances. Recipients must enroll full-time during each semester of the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The scholarship commitment will be discontinued if the recipient withdraws from school or fails to register for consecutive semesters, unless an exception is granted due to extenuating circumstances.
What programs are eligible for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
Scholars must enroll in qualifying degree programs in high-demand fields like engineering, mathematics, healthcare, and information technology. At UNO, these programs include Computer Science, Cybersecurity, IT Innovation, Management Information Systems, Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Pre-Biological Systems Engineering, Pre-Mechanical Engineering, Pre-agricultural Engineering, Mathematics, Medical Humanities, Public Health, Bioinformatics, Biology, Emergency Management, Gerontology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Molecular and Biomedical Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry.
What are the internship requirements for the Nebraska Career Scholarship?
Recipients must register with the appropriate campus office to obtain a Nebraska-based internship, apprenticeship, clinical position, or major-related field of employment prior to completion of the program of study. This must be completed by the end of a recipient’s third academic year in order to receive the scholarship for the fourth year. Students can schedule a career coaching appointment with an Academic & Career Development staff member via Handshake at this link where they can discuss resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, and the job search process. More information on ACDC and online resources can be found here. UNO Internship Coordinators are listed here and are a great reference for specific academic programs.
Will the scholarship cover courses taken at another NU system campus (UNL, UNK or UNMC)?
The scholarship cannot be used for courses taken at UNL, UNK or UNMC.
Can I transfer my Nebraska Career Scholarship to UNL, UNK or UNMC?
Scholarship holders transferring to another NU-campus (other than for transfers associated with formally approved NU to NU 2+2 programs) are eligible for consideration as transfer-student awardees. There is no expectation that funding will be provided by the new campus.
I am a current student at UNO already enrolled in one of the eligible programs, am I eligible for the scholarship?
Unfortunately the Nebraska State Legislature designated the Nebraska Career Scholarship funding for new incoming freshmen and transfer students beginning enrollment as of Spring 2021.