Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

the Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship Program, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG). (It used to be called the Nebraska State Grant (NSG).)

The ACE is available to high school students, enrolled for college courses, who can document that either they or their parents have been approved to receive one of these types of federal benefits:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Free/Reduced Price Lunch Program
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG) is available to students who have an expected family contribution (EFC) of less than 6000. A full-time student who meets this guideline will receive between $200 and $1,500.

Another University of Nebraska tuition assistance program is CollegeBound Nebraska.

Students whose family income makes them eligible to receive a Pell Grant (recently expanded to families just above the cutoff) will be given full tuition at the University of Nebraska.

These are all need-based programs, and the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education requires you to fill out the FAFSA . Check your Nebraska FAFSA deadline.

The National Student Loan Program (NSLP) was Nebraska's guarantee agency for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL). However, all federal student loans are now federal Direct student loans. If you do not qualify for the state grant programs and you still have a tuition gap after federal loans, you may be seeking a private loan lender. Include credit unions as well as banks in your research.

Nebraska does have a program to...

Repay Student Loans

• for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, clinical psychologists, master's level mental health professionals (Licensed Mental Health Practitioners), pharmacists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists who practice within shortage areas designated for each specialty by the Nebraska Rural Health Advisory Commission
• must agree to a three-year practice commitment and accept Medicaid patients
• Communities must apply to become approved loan repayment sites and must agree to provide an equal match to state dollars up to $20,000 per year for three years
• amount repaid for physicians, dentists, and clinical psychologists- up to $40,000 per year
• amount repaid for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, master's level mental health professionals, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists- up to $20,000 per year
• may be used toward the repayment of commercial or government educational loans
• if 3-year practice obligation is not completed- the health professional must repay 125% of the funds received through the program

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

• awards forgivable student loans to Nebraska medical, dental, physician assistant, and graduate-level mental health students
• recipients agree to practice an approved specialty in a state-designated shortage area- 1 year for every loan award
• maximum loan award for a medical, dental, or psychologist student is $20,000 for up to four (4) yearsand $10,000 for a PA or master’s level mental health student for up to two (2) years

• if recipient does not meet the conditions-principal plus 24% simple interest from the date of the loan must be repaid

Nursing Student Loan Program

• for Nebraska residents in approved nursing programs with substantial financial need
• loan amounts are $1,000-$2,000 per year
• forgiveness occurs when loan obligation of one year service in Nebraska for each loan year is met
• if student discontinues the nursing program, the loan must be paid at an interest rate of prime rate- 1%
• if service obligation is not met, the loan must be paid at 125% of the balance