Nebraska NexGen Scholarship

The NexGen Scholarship provides a commitment level of support, not a fixed dollar amount.

• On-campus students receive a package that includes tuition and standard allowances for fees, housing, meals, books, and supplies
• Off-campus students receive a package that includes tuition and standard allowances for fees, books, and supplies 

Because tuition and enrollment vary, each student’s total scholarship package may differ. If assessed fees, housing or meals is below the standard allowance amount provided, the NexGen Scholarship may be reduced accordingly.

If a student meets the academic qualifications, they may be offered the NexGen Scholarship. On the scholarship and financial aid offer notification (and in MyRED), there may not necessarily be a line item labeled “NexGen Scholarship.” The financial aid offer will include multiple grants and scholarships that together meet the NexGen commitment level. If additional aid is needed to fulfill the commitment, the financial aid offer may include a line item labeled “NexGen Scholarship” to cover the remaining amount after other scholarships and grants are applied.

The NexGen Scholarship package may include federal, state, and campus grants or scholarships that together cover the scholarship commitment. Loans and work-study are not included in meeting the NexGen Scholarship commitment level but may be offered as an option to meet a student’s overall cost of attendance.

Yes. University charges will still appear on student billing accounts. The NexGen Scholarship is applied as financial aid to help cover those charges, it does not remove them nor does it pay exact billable costs (other than tuition).

No. The NexGen Scholarship does not guarantee on campus housing or a specific room type.

Students must apply for housing and meet all University Housing deadlines and requirements. Housing assignments, including building, room type, and preferences, are made based on standard university housing processes and availability. To receive the housing and meal portion of the NexGen Scholarship, students must live in a university residence hall available to first-year students.

If you are offered the Nebraska NexGen Scholarship, you will receive instructions in MyRED to complete the NexGen Scholarship Agreement. You should also continue completing your New Student Enrollment checklist items to continue next steps for enrollment. 

Students must complete the NexGen Scholarship Agreement (available in MyRED for students offered the scholarship) to receive the Nebraska NexGen Scholarship. If the agreement is not completed, the scholarship offer will be cancelled and not be applied to the student's financial aid package, and the student will not receive NexGen funding. Students offered the scholarship should review and submit the agreement in MyRED. The agreement can be completed online and a saved copy uploaded into MyRED or printed and signed and uploaded a scanned image into MyRED. Instructions are available on a student's MyRED To Do List.

Students offered the NexGen Scholarship who already submitted their enrollment deposit, should:

• Follow instructions in MyRED to complete the NexGen Scholarship Agreement and
• Continue completing New Student Enrollment (NSE) checklist items

Yes. Students must file the FAFSA annually by May 1, with a special May 31 deadline for students starting their enrollment for Summer or Fall 2026. There is no financial need requirement, but a student must have a valid FAFSA on file. Students can file the FAFSA at fafsa.gov

Yes. Students must submit official test scores in order to receive the NexGen Scholarship. Final official test scores should be submitted by the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline. The test score agency codes for University of Nebraska-Lincoln are as follows:

• ACT: 2482
• SAT: 6877

Scores must be submitted using the University of Nebraska-Lincoln school code. Scores sent to other University of Nebraska campuses are not received by UNL.

No. Sorority and fraternity housing does not qualify as eligible on-campus housing for the on-campus housing and meal portion of the NexGen Scholarship. Only students living in on campus housing eligible for first-year students (such as traditional or suite-style) and meet all other criteria receive those allowances.

The NexGen Scholarship program does not cover all possible expenses. Common examples of expenses not generally covered include (note this is not an exhaustive list):

• Course-specific, lab, or online fees
• Program-specific academic, learning community, or equipment fees
• Optional fees
• Housing or meal upgrades
• Housing and meals for off-campus students

No. Housing and meal support is based on standard allowances. Students choosing higher-cost housing (e.g., suites) or meal (e.g., Premium, Add-On) options are responsible for the difference. Students who choose and are approved to live at home or off-campus do not receive the housing and meal allowance. Students who choose to live in sorority or fraternity housing do not receive the housing and meal allowance. Students who receive the housing and meal support with the scholarship commitment are those who live on campus and are assessed housing and meal costs.

No. While the exact cost of tuition is covered, the remaining portion of the NexGen Scholarship commitment is based on standard cost allowances, not exact billed charges. For example, fees, housing, meals, and books are based on standard allowances. Costs above those allowances are the student’s responsibility.

It is rare, but possible for a student's assessed housing or meal costs to be less than the standard housing or meal allowance provided by the scholarship. In such cases, a student's NexGen Scholarship may be reduced, if applicable, prorated based on the lower assessed costs.

Yes, if students continue to meet program requirements. Renewal requirements include:

• Full-time enrollment each fall and spring (summer enrollment is optional)
• Completion of at least 24 graded credit hours per academic year (fall/spring)
• Minimum 3.500 cumulative GPA
  • Credit hours earned at a University of Nebraska campus, even while in high school, are included in the UNL cumulative grade point average calculation
• Good academic standing
• Compliance with all program activities and other requirements
• Continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester

Recipients will receive and sign a NexGen Scholarship agreement with full details of program requirements and renewal expectations.

The NexGen Scholarship is available for up to eight fall and spring semesters (four academic years) or until completion of a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first (not to exceed 120 undergraduate credit hours required for completion of a single bachelor’s degree). Some majors require more than 120 credit hours to complete, and this program will cover the number of credits required to complete such programs within the designated eight consecutive fall/spring semester period. Students must remain continuously enrolled and meet all renewal requirements to maintain eligibility. 

College credit earned before initial enrollment at the university, such as dual credit completed while in high school, does not count toward the scholarship program’s 120-credit-hour limit. The 120-credit hour limit is exclusive of transfer hours from UNO/UNK/UNMC taken during high school, credits taken at UNL as a visiting student (such as Nebraska Now), and extended education while in high school, as well as transfer hours from another institution for education abroad.

Credit hours earned at a University of Nebraska campus are included in the UNL cumulative grade point average calculation.

The Board of Regents policy requires all undergraduate degree programs be capped at 120 credit hours, with a few exceptions. This allows the majority of students the ability to graduate in four years when they complete an average of 15 credit hours each semester. 

The following undergraduate degree programs require more than 120 credit hours. For degree programs that require more than 120 credit hours, NexGen Scholars will receive a higher scholarship limit for credit hours as follows: Agricultural Engineering: 123, Biological Systems Engineering: 127, Chemical Engineering: 131, Civil Engineering: 130, Computer Engineering: 126, Construction Engineering: 125, Electrical Engineering: 124, Mechanical Engineering: 128, Software Engineering: 124, Elementary Education (K-6) & Early Childhood (Age 3 to Grade 3): 135, Elementary & Special Education (K-6): 130.

Failure to meet program requirements will result in loss of eligibility for the NexGen Scholarship commitment. Individual scholarships or grants that make up the overall scholarship commitment may not be affected. For example, if a student has a federal grant and does not meet the renewal requirements of the NexGen scholarship, they may still be meeting the renewal requirements of the grant and continue to receive it despite no longer qualifying for the overall NexGen Scholarship commitment.

Students who begin enrollment in the summer instead of fall will not receive the NexGen Scholarship during that summer term before fall enrollment. If a student begins their enrollment in the summer, credits earned during that period will not count toward the student's overall 120-credit limit. The NexGen Scholarship is available during the summer (for tuition and a fee allowance only) between the first and second year, second and third year, and third and fourth year (i.e., for three inclusive summers), but not the summer preceding inital fall enrollment. 

Summer enrollment is optional. If a NexGen Scholar enrolls for summer (except the summer preceding initial fall enrollment) and completes the Summer Aid Application, tuition and a fee allowance only may be included as part of the NexGen Scholarship commitment. Housing, meals, and book allowances do not apply for summer for purposes of the NexGen Scholarship commitment.

The NexGen Scholarship covers University of Nebraska billed tuition only for approved study abroad experiences. Other costs (e.g., study abroad program fees, travel, third-party expenses) are not included in the NexGen Scholarship nor are standard allowances for fees, housing, meals, and books while studying abroad. Students are encouraged to apply for other scholarships and grants for study abroad experiences.

Students are not required to enroll full-time in their final term. The NexGen Scholarship commitment may be prorated if less than full-time enrollment is needed to complete the degree. Additionally, students who reach the maximum credit hour limit will have their scholarship adjusted in their last semester of eligibility.

Students must meet all applicable deadlines for in-state first-year applicants. This also includes all first-year dates and deadlines relative to scholarship consideration, such as the February 1 deadline to have submitted all admission application materials to be considered for academic scholarships. This is in addition to other program-specific deadlines.

Students will be required to participate in an approved learning community and summer research, internship, or experiential learning. Requirements are outlined in the student agreement available to each student offered the scholarship. Further details and opportunities will be communicated to students at a later date.

No. This program is available only to students entering UNL as first-year student. Transfer students and students who have previously or are currently enrolled are not eligible.

A first-year student is defined as a student who:

• Is currently in high school, or
• Has graduated from high school and has attempted fewer than 12 college credit hours after graduation

Students who earned dual credit while in high school are still considered first-year students and may qualify. For more information, visit the Office of Admissions.

Nebraska residency is determined by the university based on state guidelines. Your residency status is:

• Included in your admission letter, and
• Available in MyRED in the Message Center

For more information about how residency is determined, please visit the UNL Residency page at https://admissions.unl.edu/cost/residency-policy. 

If a student's Nebraska residency application is still under review, eligibility for the NexGen Scholarship cannot be finalized until residency status is determined. If a student is approved as a Nebraska resident and meets all other requirements, they may be considered for the scholarship at that time if they met all other applicable deadlines. For more information about residency status, visit https://admissions.unl.edu/cost/residency-policy. If you are planning to submit a Nebraska residency application, your application must be submitted by May 1.

No. International students are not eligible for the Nebraska NexGen Scholarship. Students must be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form and meet federal aid eligibility requirements to be considered for the program.

The Regents Scholarship is included as part of your Nebraska NexGen Scholarship package. NexGen is a total scholarship commitment, so if you already receive the Regents Scholarship (which covers tuition), additional grant and scholarship aid is used to help meet the remaining components of the NexGen commitment, such as fees, housing, meals (if eligible), and books and supplies.

Yes, up to a certain limit. Private scholarships or loans (federal or private) may be used to cover expenses not covered by the NexGen Scholarship commitment, typically up to a student's total cost of attendance depending on the aid received (except Federal Pell Grant recipients, who may only receive total non-federal aid up to the total cost of attendance minus $1). Each private scholarship or loan program may also have its own rules determining eligibility beyond a NexGen Scholarship commitment.

Students with a 36 ACT may qualify for the Presidential Scholarship, which also has additional selection criteria, including STEM score. Students who do not meet the specific requirements for the Presidential Scholarship may still qualify for the Nebraska NexGen Scholarship if they meet the program’s criteria.