Nebraska Career Scholarship Program

Nebraska Career Scholarships Program is a collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and Nebraska community colleges and provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in programs of study leading to high wage, high skill and high demand careers.

  • Scholarships are awarded up to $5000 per year for up to three years. (Amomay be limited based on other awards and cost of attendance).
  • Nebraska Career Scholarships can be used for Tuition, Fees, Required Tools and Equipment (including books), Room, and Board.
  • Recipients must maintain a minimum 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
  • Recipients must maintain an adequate enrollment pace that will enable completion of the program of study within three years, in accordance with their educational plan.

 

Eligibility

  • Must be a first-time student or a transfer student as defined below
  • Must carry a minimum of 9 credits per semester.
  • Must maintain at least a 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in order to continue to receive the scholarship.
  • Scholarship recipients must live in Nebraska while receiving a scholarship (but may be recruited from outside of Nebraska).
  • Scholarship recipients are awarded Career Scholarships based on their enrollment in an eligible program of study.
  • Scholarship recipients may select another major and retain the scholarship award as long as the new program of study is an eligible program of study as defined in these guidelines.
  • A scholarship award shall not exceed $5000 per year. Financial need, as determined by FAFSA may be considered.
  • Scholarship recipients may not have previously earned a post-secondary credential. This includes a certificate, diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D.

 

First-time student:

  • First time students are defined as individuals who are enrolling in an eligible program of study as their first enrollment in any post-secondary institution after graduating from high school or receiving a diploma of high school equivalency.

 

Additional Information

  • Prior participation in high school dual credit courses does not count as previous enrollment at a postsecondary institution.
  • Students who enroll Fall term 2024 and enrolled in college for the first time in the prior summer term are eligible.
  • Students who enroll in a preprogram for a selective admission eligible program are eligible for a scholarship in their first year; subsequent scholarships should only be awarded if the student is accepted into the eligible program of study.
  • Students who have a future matriculation record for a limited enrollment eligible program are eligible for a scholarship in their first year; subsequent scholarships will only be awarded if the student is accepted into the eligible program of study.
  • Participation in the program is capped at a maximum of three (3) years.

 

Transfer Student:

  • Transfer students are individuals who have one or more college credits,
  • who have not previously earned a post-secondary credential. This includes a certificate, diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D. and who have transferred their enrollment from one or more institutions of higher education to the Southeast Community College with continuous enrollment.
  • Scholarship recipients are awarded Career Scholarships by an individual community college.
  • Transfer students between Nebraska colleges who were awarded a scholarship at the original college may receive a scholarship from the incoming college, at the discretion of the incoming college, and must follow the incoming college’s scholarship application process.

 

Renewable

The Career Scholarship is automatically renewable if the scholarship recipient continues to meet eligibility requirements of the scholarship and remains eligible to enroll. To maintain ongoing eligibility in the program:

  • Scholarship recipients must maintain satisfactory academic standing,
  • a 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average.
  • Maintain an adequate enrollment pace that will enable completion of the program of study within three years, in accordance with their educational plan.

 

Eligible Programs of Study

Students may select programs of study below to receive a two-year degree.

Preprograms and Future Matriculation

Students who received a scholarship by enrolling in a preprogram for a selective admission eligible program may only receive a subsequent scholarship if the student is accepted into the eligible program of study.

Students who received a scholarship by enrolling with a future matriculation record for a limited enrollment eligible program may only receive a subsequent scholarship if the student is accepted into the eligible program of study.

Additional Requirements

  1. Career-Related Work Experience
    Every scholarship recipient must participate in a Nebraska-based internship, apprenticeship, clinical position, or employment in the field of study prior to their final term of the program of study. In order to receive disbursement of the scholarship for the final term, the scholarship recipient must have participated a career-related work experience. Colleges will document career-related work experiences for each scholarship recipient.
  2. Major Changes
    Scholarship recipients who change their major to one not included as an eligible program of study will no longer receive the scholarship beginning the following term. Scholarship recipients who change their major must inform the scholarship Coordinator or risk losing their scholarship.
  3. Registration with Career Services
    Every scholarship recipient must register with SCC’s Career Services job resource system.

*Prerequisites required. Please contact Admissions for more information.

Please note: Scholarships will be awarded based on registered credit hours at the time of decision-making.

Please email ncsp@southeast.edu with any questions.

By submitting this scholarship application, I agree to:

  • Participate in a Nebraska-based internship, apprenticeship, clinical position or employment in the field of study prior to my final term of my program of study.
  • Inform the Scholarship Coordinator at ncsp@southeast.edu if I change my major or risk losing my scholarship.
  • Maintain a minimum 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
  • Maintain an adequate enrollment pace that will enable completion of my program of study within three years, in accordance with my educational plan.
  • Register with SCC’s Career Services job resource system.

By submitting this scholarship application, I affirm that:

  • I will live in Nebraska while receiving the Nebraska Career Scholarship.
  • I am either a first-time student or a transfer student enrolling at SCC.
  • If I am a transfer student, I have not earned a post-secondary credential and I am transferring my enrollment to SCC from my previous institution with continuous enrollment.
  • If I am a first-time student, I have not been previously enrolled in a post-secondary institution in the past three years.
  • I have not previously earned a post-secondary credential, such as a certificate, diploma, Associate degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or Ph.D.
  • I understand that SCC will report information to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development each year. This report will include the following information on each scholarship recipient: name; address; email address; program of study; program of study category; program of study credit status; the certificate/diploma/degree awarded; how the student met initial eligibility; date of program completion; whether they completed the program on time; a short description of their career-related work experience; their enrollment status and scholarship amounts per term; and year 2 enrollment and scholarship status. The college must also retain this information for a minimum of five years after the scholarship recipient completes the program.
  • The Nebraska Department of Economic Development may collaborate with the Nebraska Department of Labor to track scholarship recipient employment in Nebraska. In all cases, DED will not share sensitive personally identifiable information and reporting will be provided in aggregate form.

If you do not agree, the application will not be processed.

The application deadline for Spring 2025 is Friday, Dec. 20th