Scholarships at University of Nebraska at Kearney

The Department of Art and Design offers talent-based entering freshmen scholarships of three thousand dollars or more applied as tuition reductions for admitted art majors. High school seniors must apply to UNK, declare a major in Studio Art, Visual Communications, or Art Education, and submit two short essays plus ten portfolio images through the Incoming Freshman Scholarship Application in MyBLUE by March 1. A faculty committee evaluates academic status, essays, and portfolios demonstrating creative thought and technical ability across at least two art disciplines. ACT or SAT scores are required. Recipients must enroll as art majors in the fall; some awards may span two academic years conditionally.

The Lahaye Nursing Scholarship provides five thousand dollars per year for two years, totaling ten thousand dollars, to UNK pre-nursing students from central and western Nebraska counties. Funded by the Glenn and Pearle Lahaye estate and the Health Sciences Excellence Fund, the award supports students who enroll in UNK's pre-nursing program with intent to continue at the UNMC College of Nursing. Applicants need a minimum 3.0 high school GPA, a 20 or higher ACT composite, and must complete a brief essay on their motivation for a nursing career. Students must be from one of the listed Nebraska counties in the Adams through Wheeler county set. Apply through the Admitted Incoming Freshman Scholarship Application in MyBLUE by March 1.

The Davis-Chambers Scholarship recognizes academically promising Nebraska high school graduates from diverse backgrounds who face financial obstacles to college. Typical awards at UNK range from two thousand to four thousand dollars per year, though amounts can equal up to the full direct cost of attendance. Applicants must be Nebraska residents, graduates of a Nebraska high school, admitted to UNK, and submit the Davis-Chambers application with essay responses by February 1. A FAFSA is also required. UNK applicants must take the ACT or SAT by December national test dates and submit admission materials, transcripts, and scores by February 1. Materials are mailed to the UNK Office of Financial Aid.

The Buckle Excellence Scholarship provides three thousand dollars over two years to incoming UNK freshmen majoring in the Department of Cyber Systems. Funded by a permanent endowment at the University of Nebraska Foundation, the award supports students interested in computer science and information technology careers. Applicants complete the Admitted Incoming Freshman Scholarship Application in MyBLUE and declare a Cyber Systems major. Preference goes to students with a minimum 26 ACT composite including at least 24 in math, though all new Cyber Systems students are encouraged to apply. The scholarship deadline follows the March 1 freshman scholarship cycle. Recipients may also receive internship and career development opportunities with Buckle.

Students selected for the Kearney Law Opportunities Program receive a full tuition scholarship at UNK for up to 120 credit hours as part of a pipeline to the University of Nebraska College of Law. The program recruits rural Nebraska high school students interested in returning to practice law in rural communities. Applicants must apply and be admitted to UNK, hold a minimum 3.5 high school cumulative GPA, and preferably score 27 or higher on the ACT. Rural Nebraska residency is required; students from Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, and several other listed communities are ineligible. The separate KLOP application includes two essays and two reference letters and is due November 15.

The Omaha World Herald/Kearney Hub Scholarship is the premier academic award for incoming UNK Honors Program freshmen, traditionally given to up to three students per class. The scholarship covers tuition, room, board, fees, and books for four years, with a total value exceeding eighty-five thousand dollars at current costs. Applicants must apply to the UNK Honors Program with high school GPA, ACT or SAT scores, a letter of recommendation, and a writing sample. Honors scholarship applicants should apply by December 1 for full consideration. Recipients must remain in the Honors Program in good standing and maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA to retain the award each year.