This page includes scholarship and financial aid resources and information for students and families impacted by disruptions related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19. Visit https://covid19.unl.edu/ for campus announcements.
Staff in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) continue to work remotely to serve and process aid for students and the campus community. Student customer services regarding scholarships and financial aid are available through Husker Hub. Login for a virtual walk-in Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., email huskerhub@unl.edu, or call 402-472-2030.
Special Circumstances
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will make every effort to mitigate financial burdens created by COVID-19. Students who have experienced or whose families have experienced changes in financial circumstances should contact Husker Hub and request a re-evaluation of your financial aid application. Each circumstance is unique and each student's situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis regarding our ability to meet emergency needs with additional or emergency aid.
Remote Learning Technology
If you do not have a personal computer to study remotely, or a WiFi hotspot, you may request an increase in your cost of attendance (COA) for the cost of a computer or other hardware necessary to study remotely. Increasing your COA permits the option of additional loans or other types of aid to cover such cost. A cost estimate or a copy of the purchase receipt can be submitted for review. To begin the review process to request an increase in your cost of attendance (COA), contact Husker Hub at huskerhub@unl.edu or by phone at 402-472-2030. Additionally, you can check out digital equipment from the University Libraries or Information Technology Services, if interested.
University of Nebraska Information Technology Services (ITS) is moving to require Two-Factor Authentication for all students. Students will need to have a Two-Factor device. Students who do not have a smart phone can request a hardware token from ITS. There are also a limited number of MiFi devices available on campus to check out. If you are in need, please contact your retention leader, student success program, or registered student organization to inquire. In addition, there is WiFi access available on campus.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Eligiblity for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (meet one of the following)
- Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
For more information on how to sign up for this benefit, visit fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.
Nebraska Promise
The University wants to make sure that any Nebraskan who wants to get a college education can by offering the Nebraska Promise program that covers undergraduate tuition at the University of Nebraska for students who meet academic qualifications and have a family income of $60,000 or less (Adjusted Gross Income or AGI) or are Pell Grant-eligible. File your FAFSA by April 1 each year (extended to May for 2021) to be considered.
CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security)
In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was signed into law. For more information about the CARES Act and the University of Nebraska, visit nebraska.edu/CARES. For information on how the University of Nebraska-Lincoln distributed the fund to UNL and NCTA students, visit https://financialaid.unl.edu/federal-cares-act.
CRRSA Act (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations)
In December 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA Act), which was signed into law. The CRRSA provides additional funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced the student allocation portion of these supplemental funds. The Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln distribution of the student aid portion of this supplemental HEERF allocation will be utilized similarly to the CARES Act distribution in 2020 for currently enrolled students. For more information, you may contact Husker Hub at 402-472-2030.
Food and Housing Security
If you are unable to access affordable meals or housing, please visit our Food and Housing Security information page for additional resources. This page includes information about the campus food pantry, Husker Pantry, as well as information about the expanded SNAP (food stamp) eligiblity for students due to COVID-19.
Former Students and Student Loan Repayment
- The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that student loan borrowers' federal loan payments, as part of the President's executive order, will be automatically paused through December 2020, interest free, with no opt-in request needed. On January 20, 2021, at the request of President Biden, the Acting Secretary of Education extended the pause on federal student loan payments and collections and will keep the interest rate at 0% through the end of September 2021.
- If you are having difficulty making your student loan payment due to COVID-19 (or your parent is having difficulty repaying their parent loan), visit the Federal Student Aid's Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents page. This page will be updated frequently and includes FAQ's for students and borrowers. You are also encouraged to contact your loan servicer. A loan servicer is a company that is contracted with the federal government to handle the billing and other services on federal student loans held by the U.S. Department of Education. You can find out who your loan servicer is by logging into studentaid.gov or calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243. Below is a list of contracted federal loan servicers and their contact information.
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- CornerStone 1-800-663-1662 (see the CornerStone Coronavirus FAQ page)
- FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA) 1-800-699-2908 (see the FedLoan Servicing COVID-19 Relief for Student Loans Borrowers page)
- Granite State – GSMR 1-888-556-0022 (see the GSMR Deferment and Forbearance Update page)
- Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. 1-800-236-4300 (see the Great Lakes Important Coronavirus Information page)
- HESC/EdFinancial 1-855-337-6884 (see the EdFinancial Important Updates on COVID-19 page)
- MOHELA 1-888-866-4352 (see coronavirus information on main website)
- Navient 1-800-722-1300 (see the Navient Updates on COVID-19 and Your Student Loans page)
- Nelnet 1-888-486-4722 (see the Nelnet Important Coronavirus Information page)
- OSLA Servicing 1-866-264-9762 (see coronavirus information on main website)
- ECSI 1-866-313-3797 (see the ECSI Disaster Assistance information posted at https://borrower.efpls.com/)
- If you borrowed a Perkins Loan (which is not held by the U.S. Department of Education) and are having difficulty making your loan payment(s), the school at which you borrowed the loan is your loan servicer. If you borrowed the Perkins Loan at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), visit the Office of Student Accounts website for more information.
Scholarship Donors and Friends of the University
If you want to help students through a generous contribution toward emergency resources, there are a variety of options available to help. Online gifts via the NU Foundation can be made via credit or debit card, and an electronic donation receipt will be emailed to you.
- You can help support students facing sudden hardship due to a crisis such as food insecurity, natural disaster, financial emergency, home displacement or the COVID-19 pandemic; support the Husker Pantry+; or support student care and well-being at UNL by visiting https://studentaffairs.unl.edu/give-help-support-students.
- You can give to support direct scholarships, grants, or emergency financial aid programs for students through the following funds:
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- The N Fund - Student Scholarships recognizes academic excellence and financial need.
- The Bob and Phyllis Devaney Emergency Student Aid Fund supports students experiencing emergencies.
- The University of Nebraska Emergency Assistance Fund to help support students and employees on all four campuses who face sudden financial hardship due to crisis situations.