It’s well known that higher education can serve as a stepping stone to a career. As Nebraska, and especially rural Nebraska, sees a workforce shortage of important careers such as healthcare professionals and educators, higher education is quite important. But for many young Nebraskans, the price tag simply seems too high. Despite this, there are some great opportunities here in Nebraska that equip students to better take on the cost of education.

This year, the Legislature worked to strengthen Nebraska’s Career Scholarships program which provides scholarships to students studying to take on high-demand careers in our workforce such as healthcare, engineering, computer science, and education. The scholarships connect students with an internship, apprenticeship, or clinical position while in school to allow students to learn hands-on in their field and have a foot in the door for a new career.

Additionally, the University of Nebraska offers the Nebraska Promise scholarship which covers tuition for students with family incomes up to $65,000. The University has also announced the Presidential Scholars Program. To qualify, if a student can achieve a 36 on the ACT, not only will that student receive a full-ride scholarship, but also a yearly $5,000 stipend. Achieving a 36 is no easy task, but the ACT can be taken as many times as desired. For our best and brightest students, this is a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of.

Finally, serving in the Nebraska National Guard provides students with tuition or credentialing assistance covering the cost of tuition at the University of Nebraska rate. This can be combined with the GI Bill which offers an extra monthly stipend, and if a student enrolls in ROTC while in school, is eligible for the minuteman scholarship which provides another $12,000 per year. Not everyone is called to service, but to those who are, the National Guard provides top-level financial assistance for college or trade school.

It’s also worth noting that not everyone wants to go to school for four years and certainly doesn’t have to do that to have a rewarding career. Some of our highest-demand careers we need right here in Nebraska such as truck drivers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, welders, and plumbers, just to name a few. These programs can be enrolled at a competitive and affordable rate at your local community college such as Central Community College or Mid-Plains Community College. High school students can even take advantage of community college courses to get a jump-start on their higher education. Another exciting new opportunity is Tallgrass Energy’s partnership with Southeast Community College with full-ride scholarships being offered for students to learn to be qualified operators or technicians through the Energy Generations Operations Program.

To conclude, when looking at the cost of education, the sticker shock can be very real. Despite this, Nebraska offers a variety of pathways to enable students to take on the high cost of education. If you are a student or a soon-to-be student, consider researching these programs to take on education without going into major student loan debt.