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Nebraska Career Scholarship

Central Community College, in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, is offering scholarships to first-time and transfer students pursuing degrees in programs of study leading to high-wage, high-skilled, and high-demand careers.

Awards up to $5,000 per school year are available. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years for students who remain eligible.

To be eligible for funding for the 2026-2027 academic year, you must complete the Central Community College Scholarship application and have a current application on file with the admission office.

Application priority date is March 1, 2026. Final application deadline is September 1, 2026.

Nebraska Career Scholarship Application

Eligibility

  • Must be a first-time or transfer student.
  • Must carry a minimum of 9 credits per semester.
  • Must maintain at least a 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) 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 PhD.

  • First-time students are defined as individuals who are enrolling in a for-credit program of study who have not been previously enrolled in a post-secondary institution, and
  • Have not previously earned a post-secondary credential. This includes a certificate, diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or PhD.

  • Transfer students are individuals who have one or more college credits, or
  • Have not previously earned a post-secondary credential. This includes a certificate, diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or PhD, and those who have transferred their enrollment from one or more institutions of higher education to Central 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. They must follow the scholarship application process of the incoming college.

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

  • Scholarship recipients must maintain satisfactory academic standing, with
  • a 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average,
  • Maintain an adequate enrollment pace that will enable completion of the program of study within 3 years, in accordance with their educational plan.

The Nebraska Career Scholarship can be combined with other scholarships and financial aid. Once awarded, it may be renewable for up to 3 years if the student maintains at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA and continues to be enrolled as a full-time student in one of the programs listed below. (Note: Only programs listed below will be considered for the scholarship.)

Additional Information

Eligible Programs of Study

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

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.

To receive the disbursement of the scholarship for the final term, the scholarship recipient must have participated in a career-related work experience. Colleges will document each scholarship recipient’s career-related work experience.

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.

*Prerequisites required. Please contact Admissions for more information.*

Contact Admissions

Our Admissions team members are here to help you with any questions at any point in the process. Reach out to your campus of choice or call our main phone.

Office Hours

Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Contact Us

308-398-7901
Toll-Free 877-222-0780
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