Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship
Offered by Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education · Free to apply
Nebraska pays the tuition and mandatory fees for low-income high school students taking real college courses, through dual-enrollment or early-enrollment agreements with Nebraska colleges and universities. It is one of the few state awards that arrives before senior year, which makes it a way to bank college credit rather than a way to pay for college later. Qualification runs through need programs the family is already in: free or reduced-price lunch, SSI, TANF, SNAP or WIC, with documented extreme hardship affecting family income and designated Career Education programs as alternative routes. The course has to be taken for a grade; audits and credit/no-credit enrolments do not count. Deadlines run per term rather than annually, so each semester has its own window.
How hard is the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship to win?
This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.
- Estimated odds
- most eligible students who file early receive it
- Paperwork
- ~1.5 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Nebraska residents
- Fewer rivalsRequires a means-tested benefit
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Nebraska
- Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
- Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
- Family receives a means-tested benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, or free or reduced-price lunch
- The student or family must be approved for free or reduced-price lunch, SSI, TANF, SNAP or WIC; alternatively, have documented extreme hardship affecting family income, or participate in a designated Nebraska Career Education program
- Documentation verifying the qualifying program or the hardship must be provided
- The college course must be taken for a grade; audit and credit/no-credit enrolments are not eligible
- Students without legal status in the United States, including DACA recipients, are not eligible under Nebraska state law
- Course must be through a dual-enrollment or early-enrollment agreement with a Nebraska college or university
- Applications are reviewed by the Coordinating Commission for award consideration
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is December 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around December 15 each year. Applications open August 1 for fall term. Deadlines are per term, not per year, so a student can pick this up mid-year. Career Program of Study courses run on a later opening date than standard courses.
- Winter term window
- opens November 1, deadline February 15, 2026
- Fall term applications open
- August 1 (October 15 for Career Program of Study courses) 2026
- Spring term applications open
- November 15 (March 15 for Career Program of Study courses) 2026
- Fall term deadline
- December 15, 2026
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship
How much is the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship worth?
The Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship awards tuition and mandatory fees for eligible college courses taken in high school and is renewable in later years.
When is the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is December 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around December 15 each year. Applications open August 1 for fall term. Deadlines are per term, not per year, so a student can pick this up mid-year. Career Program of Study courses run on a later opening date than standard courses.
When do Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship applications open?
Applications open August 1 for fall term, and close December 15, 2026. Deadlines are per term, not per year, so a student can pick this up mid-year. Career Program of Study courses run on a later opening date than standard courses.
Who is eligible for the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Nebraska; Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card); Family receives a means-tested benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, or free or reduced-price lunch.
Does the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1.5 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship?
This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning most eligible students who file early receive it. Plan on about 1.5 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Nebraska Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.