First Responder Pledge

First Responder Pledge

aerial photo of the University of Nebraska Lincoln City Campus with Memorial Stadium

Nebraska Supports First Responders and Their Families

The First Responder Pledge demonstrates the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s commitment to law enforcement officers, firefighters, firefighter-paramedics, and their dependents who are completing their undergraduate degrees by waiving a portion of tuition costs.

The Nebraska First Responders Pledge waives in-state tuition for Nebraska first responders and their dependent children, after scholarships and grants are awarded.

Do I Qualify?

You must meet all of the requirements to have the in-state tuition waived through the Nebraska First Responder Pledge.

First Responder Affiliation

Law enforcement officer, firefighter, firefighter-paramedic or dependent child (as defined by the FAFSA Form).

In-State Resident

Commitment to staying in the State of Nebraska for five years post-graduation

Registered Full-Time

First-Year or Transfer Undergraduate Student
Minimum of 12 credit hours per semester

Maintain a 2.0 GPA at Nebraska

A collection of small American flags laying on a rustic table

How to be Considered for the Nebraska First Responder Pledge

Upon admission to the university, students can indicate first responder affiliation on the supplemental Scholarship Application or by contacting Husker Hub.

The Nebraska First Responder Pledge Covers

Nebraska First Responder Pledge will cover your in-state tuition costs for the academic year after scholarships and grants are awarded. First-year students can be awarded up to five years. Transfer students with more than 52 credits are eligible for 3 years, and those with fewer than 52 credits are eligible for 4 years. Eligibility is based on years or completion of a bachelor's degree.

Commitment to Staying in Nebraska

After graduation, recipients must be committed to staying in the State of Nebraska for five years to start the foundation of their future careers.

If a recipient decides to not remain a resident in the State of Nebraska for the five-year period following graduation, they must agree to repay the University of Nebraska System for the amount of tuition that was waived.

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Law Enforcement

Firefighters and Firefighter-Paramedics

Dependent children of first responders can choose any undergraduate major offered at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Transferability

Eligibility for this program is based on the Nebraska First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act and participation institutions.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based upon any protected status. Scholarships are subject to change each year for new incoming students. As a public tuition benefit under Nebraska State Statute 4-110, individuals awarded these funds must be citizens of the United States or if a qualified alien have been verified as lawfully present in the United States (Nebraska State Statutes 4-111 and 4-112).

The National First Responders Pledge offers an in-state tuition rate for out-of-state first responders and their dependent children.

Do I Qualify?

You must meet all of the requirements to have the out-of-state portion of tuition waived through the National First Responder Pledge.

First Responder Affiliation

Law enforcement officer, firefighter, firefighter-paramedic or dependent child

Out-of-State Resident

Registered Full-Time

First-Year or Transfer Undergraduate Student
Minimum of 12 credit hours per semester

Maintain a 2.0 GPA at Nebraska

A collection of small American flags laying on a rustic table

How to be Considered for the National First Responder Pledge

Upon admission to the university, students can indicate first responder affiliation on the supplemental Scholarship Application or by contacting Husker Hub.

A first responder includes a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other individual, including an employee of a legally organized and recognized organization who is compensated for their services, who, in the course of their professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies.

The National First Responder Pledge Covers

The National First Responder Pledge will cover the out-of-state portion of tuition for the academic year. First-year students can be awarded up to five years. Transfer students with more than 52 credits are eligible for 3 years, and those with less than 52 credits are eligible for 4 years. Eligibility is based on years or completion of a bachelor's degree.

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Out-of-state first responders and their dependent children can choose any undergraduate major offered at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Transferability

This scholarship is offered by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The scholarship is not transferable in part or in whole to any other university or campus, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) or the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). This scholarship will not cover the cost of tuition for classes taken at UNO, UNK or UNMC.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based upon any protected status. Scholarships are subject to change each year for new incoming students. As a public tuition benefit under Nebraska State Statute 4-110, individuals awarded these funds must be citizens of the United States or if a qualified alien have been verified as lawfully present in the United States (Nebraska State Statutes 4-111 and 4-112).

We're Here to Help

First Responder Pledge

Email
huskerhub@unl.edu
Phone
402-472-2030

Admission Process

Email
admissions@unl.edu
Phone
402-472-2023

Move Your Future Forward

We can’t wait for you to join the Husker community—take your next step to Nebraska today.