FAQs: Applicant
1. Am I eligible to apply for the scholarship?
To be eligible to apply for the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship, you must:
- Live in Nebraska and meet in-state residency requirements of the college you plan to attend
- DACA, undocumented, or DACA eligible students are still eligible to apply
- Graduate from a Nebraska high school or earn a Nebraska GED
- Earn at least a 2.0 cumulative unweighted GPA in high school (or 77 on a 100 point scale)
- Be a first-time freshman when entering college
- Students obtaining dual enrollment credits in high school are still eligible
- Be in need of financial assistance in order to attend college
- You do not need to be Pell Grant eligible to qualify
- You must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) below 10,000 in order to apply
*What if I applied last year and completed the application, but did not receive the scholarship. Can I reapply this year?
No, unfortunately, you cannot reapply for the scholarship if you already applied and completed an application.
2. Where can I use the scholarship?
You can use the Buffett Scholarship at any of the following Nebraska public colleges:
Nebraska Community Colleges-
- Central Community College (CCC)
- Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC)
- Metropolitan Community College (MCC)
- Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC)
- Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC)
- Northeast Community College (NECC)
- Southeast Community College (SCC)
- Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC)
Nebraska State College System-
- Chadron State College (CSC)
- Peru State College (PSC)
- Wayne State College (WSC)
University of Nebraska System-
- Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA)
- University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
- University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)
The scholarship can only be used at the above Nebraska public colleges. The scholarship cannot be used at private or out-of-state colleges.
3. When should I apply for the scholarship?
The application is available online every November 1st. The online application is due on February 1st before 5 pm CT/4 pm MT. For the 2024 application, the financial document is the only part of the application that you will have more time to submit, if needed. The financial document is due April 17th before 5 pm CT/4 pm MT.
4. How are students selected for the scholarship?
All eligible applications will be reviewed and awards will be determined based on the following criteria:
- Financial need
- Academic merit
- Short answers
- Recommendation
Note: This is a competitive scholarship and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a scholarship award.
5. When do applicants find out if they have received the scholarship?
Every applicant who completes an application will receive an award notification email before May 1st.
6. Do I need to submit a high school transcript?
Yes. A copy of your high school transcript PDF must be uploaded to the online application. It must include the following information:
- Full name, DOB, & high school name
- Cumulative unweighted GPA
- All high school coursework with grades
- Current work in progress (if provided by high school)
If your transcript is missing any of the information above, it is invalid and will not be accepted until it is corrected.
7. Am I required to file a FAFSA?
Yes. If you are eligible for federal financial aid, you are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa, because financial need is one of the application requirements. If you are not eligible for federal financial aid due to your citizenship status (DACA, undocumented or DACA eligible), you will be required to complete and upload the FAFSA Estimator, https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/. This will also be listed on the online application.
8. How do I submit the recommendation?
You must enter the full name, title, email address, and phone number for your Recommender in the Recommendation section of the application. The recommendation must be professional and come from a teacher, school administrator, counselor, coach, employer, clergy, or other adult mentor in your life. A recommendation from a family member, family friend (including neighbor), or personal friend will NOT be accepted. The Recommender will receive an email with the recommendation form. Once they fill out and submit the form, the recommendation will automatically upload to your application. You will receive an email confirmation once the recommendation is complete.
9. If I receive a scholarship, do I need to reapply each year?
No. The Buffett Scholarship will automatically renew each semester for up to five years at a four-year college or up to three years at a two-year college if you continue to meet the scholarship requirements, or until you graduate, whichever comes first.
10. What costs are covered with this scholarship?
The table below shows the maximum term (semester or quarter) award of The Susan T. Buffett Foundation Scholarship at each public college in Nebraska for the 2023-2024 academic year based on tuition and fee amounts at each college. The scholarship funds can be applied to any part of your cost of attendance (COA) at any of the eligible Nebraska public colleges. COA can include resident tuition, fees, books, room and board, personal expenses and transportation. You must be considered a Nebraska resident at the college where you enroll. Any unused portion of this award does not accrue and may not be applied to subsequent terms.
11. Can other scholarships be combined with the Buffett Scholarship?
You can accept the Buffett Scholarship along with other federal and state aid such as Pell grant and Nebraska Promise. You cannot accept the Buffett Scholarship and the following: Scott Career Pathway Scholarship at CCC, MCC, and SCC, Goodrich Scholarship at UNO, Nebraska College Preparatory Academy (NCPA) at UNL, Avenue Scholars at MCC, PKF Engineering Academy at UNL, Learn to Dream at SCC, and Kearney Bound at UNK. Additionally, you will not be able to accept any other scholarships that conflict with the ability to complete the requirements of the scholarship and/or Learning Community. If you have specific questions about your scholarship and financial aid package, please reach out to your college's financial aid office.