»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË

If you meet the following criteria, you automatically qualify for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise.

• Family income of $65,000 or less (Adjusted Gross Income or AGI) or Pell Grant recipient. For dependent students, family income will be measured as parent plus student AGI on the FAFSA.

• »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË resident

• Full-time (12 credits or more) undergraduate student at the University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË

• Maintain a 2.5 grade point average

• Annually complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the University's deadline (May 1)

• Meet Title IV eligibility

A student’s dependency status for the purposes of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is based on the FAFSA. The FAFSA uses various to determine whether a student is dependent or independent, which does not include whether or not a student is claimed on a federal tax return.

If a student is dependent based on the FAFSA, then family income includes the parent Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) plus the student AGI on the FAFSA. If a student is independent based on the FAFSA, then parent information is not included and the income determination is made based on the student’s income (and spouse, if applicable).

As stated in the question above, a student’s dependency status for the purposes of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is based on FAFSA . If you were born before January 1, 2001, then you are considered independent. You can see other questions that determine your dependency status . If a student is independent, then parent information is not included and the income determination is made based on the student’s income (and spouse, if applicable).

Yes, a full-time undergraduate »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË resident transfer student with a family income of $65k or less (AGI) or recipient of the Federal Pell Grant who maintains a 2.5 GPA qualifies for this program.

No. The program is designed for University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË students who are »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË residents.

The definition of a »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË resident, for the purposes of the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise, is based upon the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Policy 5.7.1, Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes (p. 167). If you believe that you have been incorrectly denied a resident tuition determination, you may appeal that decision through the individual campus you applied to.

Yes. Please check with your campus financial aid office for details. If online tuition is covered by the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise, students are still responsible for any distance education fees.

No. The program is designed for undergraduate University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË students.

The program is designed for undergraduates pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Check with your campus financial aid office for more details.

Yes, because qualification for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is based on either a family income of $65,000 (AGI) or being a Pell Grant recipient. Eligibility for a Pell Grant is based on your Student Aid Index. This is determined by a formula that considers your family financial situation, family size, and your enrollment status.

The »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is based on both incomes combined, except in cases of divorce or separation. It does not matter whether taxes are filed as married, filing jointly or married, filing separately—both incomes are reported on the FAFSA.

There is a limit to how many credit hours you can take under the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise. The program will cover up to 15 credit hours a semester or 30 credit hours per academic year, and you need to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per fall/spring semester to qualify. The Promise is not applicable over the summer.

Because the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is applied for an entire academic year, if you don’t start in the fall, there is not a guarantee you will receive the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise.

To qualify for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise, you must meet all applicable deadlines—which includes filing the FAFSA by May 1.

Students who begin in the spring may still be offered grants and scholarships, but may not receive an amount that covers full tuition.

Yes. First-time and transfer students who would like to attend NCTA—a two-year technical college within the University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË, with programs focused on agriculture and veterinary technology—are eligible for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise if they meet the requirements. Please contact the NCTA financial aid office for more details.

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË College of Technical Agriculture

(308)-367-5207
nctafinancialaid@unl.edu

You can request more information on the college , and you may apply to NCTA .

Undergraduate students meeting the Pell Grant or adjusted gross income criteria—who are seeking their first bachelors degree— are eligible for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise regardless of their UNMC campus location. There are several undergraduate degree available at UNMC, including nursing, dental hygiene and several allied health fields. Graduate and professional students are not eligible for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise program.

Please contact the UNMC financial aid office for more details.

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medical Center

(402)-559-4199
finaid@unmc.edu

No. There is no separate application. Eligible students are identified automatically through the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid () application.

The University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË admissions requirements for UNK, UNL and UNO are as follows:

• 20 or higher on the ACT or ranking in the top 50 percent of the graduating class or have a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

• 16 core units must be completed:

  • 4 units English

  • 3 units math (Alg I and II and Geometry); UNL requires 4 units; the fourth unit must build upon concepts learned in Algebra II

  • 3 units of natural science

  • 3 units of social science

  • 2 units of the same foreign language

  • 1 academic elective from anything within the core area (UNK & UNO)

Students that do not meet the assured admission requirements may still be eligible for admission by review. Please contact the appropriate admissions office for more information.

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Kearney

(308)-865-8526
admissions@unk.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË–Lincoln

(402)-472-2023
admissions@unl.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Omaha

(402)-554-2393
unoadmissions@unomaha.edu

All undergraduates admitted to UNMC are transfer students and have admission criteria that are specific to the academic program. The University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medical Center (UNMC) application process varies by academic program. All applications made to UNMC academic programs are made through national application services and they differ by program. For more information, please review UNMC’s undergraduate program admissions requirements ; for assistance, please contact the appropriate college as listed.

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medical Center

(402)-559-4199
finaid@unmc.edu

You can apply to any of our three undergraduate institutions—UNK, UNL and UNO—using one application. The application fee is $45. You will only need to pay the application fee once, regardless if you apply to multiple campuses.

UNK, UNL and UNO application fees may be waived for students eligible for free/reduced lunch, or active military status and their dependents. Students should complete the applicable questions regarding their free/reduced lunch or military/dependent status.

The application fees for UNMC undergraduate programs vary. Please visit the website of the you are interested in for more information. UNMC does not waive applications fees.

GPA is reviewed at the time of awarding. If a student does not have a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of review, the student is not guaranteed to receive enough scholarships and grants to cover tuition through the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise for the following year. The time of awarding depends on when the student files the FAFSA.

In other words, GPA is not reviewed semester by semester, but as a cumulative for the academic year. »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise qualifications are reviewed annually, not at the end of each semester. 

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is renewable provided eligibility and renewal criteria are met. Students must meet income requirements, maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Recipients will receive full eligibility and renewal policies and expectations when offered the funding.

You need to file a FAFSA each year, remain a full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate student, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and continue to have a family income of $65,000 or less (AGI) or remain eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.

All grants and university scholarships are included in your »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise commitment. This includes federal, state, and institutional grants, such as any Federal Pell Grant, opportunity grant, and/or tuition assistance grants such as military tuition waivers.

Scholarships also contribute toward meeting your »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise, including merit-based, college or departmental scholarships, and University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Foundation scholarships.

There is not a line item called the “»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise” that will appear on your financial aid package. Instead, the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is a promise that these programs combined will cover your tuition each semester for up to 15 credit hours.

(As a note, the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise does not include scholarships from private scholarship donors.)

All students have tuition charges assessed to their university student billing account. Recipients of the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise will still see tuition charges assessed on their account.

The »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is a promise program that guarantees enough scholarships and grants to cover tuition charges for students who qualify. The »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise commitment fulfills actual tuition charges for up to 15 credit hours per semester.

Although the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise will cover the cost of tuition and be a boon for hundreds of college-going students and their families, it does not mean a university education is entirely free from cost. Students will still need to cover costs for fees, books or room and board.

Fortunately, the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise is just one of many financial aid options available for students. Those who receive Federal Pell Grants and »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise funding may be eligible for assistance beyond tuition. For more details, contact the financial aid office at the campus you are interested in.

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Kearney

(308)-865-8520
finaid1@unk.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË–Lincoln

(402)-472-2030
huskerhub@unl.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medical Center

(402)-559-4199
finaid@unmc.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Omaha

(402)-554-2327
unofinaid@unomaha.edu

Scholarships vary by campus. Please see each institution’s scholarship website for more information and deadlines.

• UNK scholarship
• UNL scholarship
• UNMC scholarship
• UNO scholarship

To arrive at free tuition, the University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË first applies Pell Grant funds and other grants and scholarships to your tuition. After your Pell funds and other grants and/or scholarships are applied, the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise covers any gap that remains in paying your tuition—up to 15 credit hours per semester or 30 credit hours per academic year.

The financial aid office at each University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË campus can provide you with information on scholarships and other aid specific to that campus.

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Kearney

(308)-865-8520
finaid1@unk.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË–Lincoln

(402)-472-2030
huskerhub@unl.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Medical Center

(402)-559-4199
finaid@unmc.edu

University of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË at Omaha

(402)-554-2327
unofinaid@unomaha.edu

The FAFSA stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” It determines a student's eligibility for need-based federal financial aid for college, which may include grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. If you don't fill out the FAFSA, you are likely leaving money on the table that you may have qualified for.

Every year, the gives over $120 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds to more than 13 million college students, making it the largest provider of student financial aid in the country. About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate college students receive grant aid, or money you don’t have to repay.

The FAFSA application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is May 1.

After you complete the , you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary which will tell you if you’re eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and the amount of your Student Aid Index.

After you complete the , you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary which will tell you if you’re eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and the amount of your Student Aid Index.

If you file the and are told you are not eligible for a Pell Grant, the university will automatically review your FAFSA to determine if you qualify for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise. If your family income is $65,000 or less, you will qualify.

Yes. You should also fill out the . If your family income is $65,000 or less, you will qualify for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise.

You must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to qualify for the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise. Your past courses and grades are part of your school records. If the GPA you left college with is 2.5 or above, you would be able to qualify for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise. If the GPA you left college with is below 2.5, you would need to get your GPA to 2.5 before you qualified for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Promise.