Nebraska Career Scholarships

Looking for a high wage and high demand career? Western Nebraska Community College, in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, is offering scholarships awarding up to $3,500 per school year for students pursuing degrees in programs of study leading to high wage, high skill, and high demand careers. Scholarships are available to students who are:

Interested in training for their Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); OR
First-time freshmen or first-time transfer students pursuing a credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) in a program of study identified as high wage, high skill, and high demand by the Nebraska Department of Labor

Eligibility Requirements

Class A Commercial Driver’s License
Students interested in scholarship support as they pursue their Class A Commercial Driver's License should contact Workforce Development directly to obtain an application to the program and for the Nebraska Career Scholarship.

First-time Freshmen or Transfer Students

Apply for Admission
Complete the Nebraska Career Scholarships online application
Be a resident of Nebraska or border states Colorado, South Dakota, or Wyoming
Be a first-time student enrolling at WNCC or a first-time transfer student to WNCC
Enroll in an approved program of study:

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Nebraska Career Scholarship worth?

Scholarship awards are up to $3,500 per person per academic year. Awards will be prorated for less than full-time enrollment. Awards will be prorated for less-than-full-time enrollment.

What commitments will I need to make by accepting the Nebraska Career Scholarship?

All scholarship recipients will need to:

Meet with a WNCC career advisor
Sign the statement of commitment form
Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours or more). Students must be on track to complete their program of study within three years.
Engage in WNCC career coaching
Each scholarship recipient enrolled in more than a one-semester or sixteen-credit-hour program of study must complete a work-based learning experience with a Nebraska-based employer prior to their completion of the program of study.
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

If I am not a resident of Nebraska, am I eligible?

If you are a resident of a bordering state (Colorado, South Dakota, or Wyoming), you are eligible. You will be required to confirm your living situation (address) each semester prior to receiving the scholarship.

Is the Nebraska Career Scholarship renewable?

Yes, the Nebraska Career Scholarship has the potential to be renewable for a maximum of three years for students who maintain eligibility. To ensure ongoing eligibility, a scholarship recipient must maintain satisfactory academic standing as detailed in our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. This requires students to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 and maintain an adequate enrollment pace of 67% or higher.

Scholarship recipients must also continue enrollment in one of the approved Nebraska Career Scholarship programs of study identified by WNCC. Should a scholarship recipient elect to change his/her program of study to one not eligible for Nebraska Career Scholarship funds, the student will no longer receive the scholarship beginning the following term.

What expenses are covered by the Nebraska Career Scholarship?

Qualifying expenses include tuition, fees, books, room and board, required tools and equipment.

What is the definition of a first-time student?

For the purpose of this scholarship, first-time students are defined as individuals who are enrolling in college for the first time in a for-credit program of study and have not previously enrolled in a for-credit program of student at any other postsecondary institution; or individuals who are enrolling for the first time in an eligible non-credit workforce training program at a community college and have not previously enrolled in a for-credit program of study at a postsecondary institution.

*Prior participation in high school dual credit courses does not count as previous attendance at a postsecondary institution. Students who enroll in a fall term and enrolled in college for the first time in the prior summer term are also eligible.*

What is the definition of a transfer student?

For the purpose of this scholarship, transfer students are defined as individuals who have one or more college credits, who have not previously earned a post-secondary credential, and who have transferred their enrollment from one or more institution of higher education to the participating community college with continuous enrollment.

Contact

WNCC Admissions
308.635.6010
admissions@wncc.edu

WNCC Financial Aid
308.635.6011
financialaid@wncc.edu