Buffett Scholar FAQs

1. What costs are covered with my Susan T. Buffett Scholarship?

The table below shows the maximum term (semester or quarter) award of The Susan T. Buffett Scholarship at each public college in Nebraska for the 2024-2025 academic year based on tuition and fee amounts at each college. Here is some additional information:

• The Buffett Scholarship award amount may cover most of tuition and fees and it is applied to your student account by the financial aid office.
• The scholarship can combine with other financial aid (i.e. Pell Grant and Nebraska Promise) and is 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.
• Scholarships are provided only to Nebraska residents at the college where you enroll.
• The Buffett Scholarship award amount may be less than the maximum term award depending on your cost of attendance, enrollment status, and other factors. Please speak with the financial aid office at your college if you have questions.
• Any unused portion of the scholarship award does not accrue and may not be applied to subsequent terms.

2. How do I receive my scholarship funds?

Once you officially accept the scholarship, the Foundation informs the Financial Aid Office at your college. The scholarship will be disbursed by the Financial Aid Office at the beginning of each term (semester or quarter). If you have questions about how the scholarship will be applied to your account, you will need to contact your college's Financial Aid Office.

3. When does my scholarship start? How do I renew the scholarship each year?

The Buffett Scholarship begins the fall term of your award year and is granted on a term basis, subject to the discretion of the Foundation. It renews every year for up to 5 years at a four-year college or up to 3 years at a two-year college; OR until graduation, whichever comes first.

4. What is expected to maintain the scholarship?

The Foundation expects that students who receive scholarships will:

• enroll in at least 12 credits per term (at least 9 credits per term for spring 2025);
• obtain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of all terms;
• earn at least 1 credit hour each term; and
• earn at least 24 credit hours or 36 quarter hours by the end of each academic year (August to July). (Earn at least 18 credit hours or 27 quarter hours for the 2024-2025 academic year.)
• complete and receive a grade for any course for which an “Incomplete” is initially received.

The Foundation reserves the right to end scholarship funding for any student who does not meet its academic standards.

5. What if I add classes after my scholarship has been paid?

The costs of these classes are your responsibility. If classes are added between the early registration period and the first week of classes for fall or spring, or the first day of summer session, scholarship funds will pay the additional tuition/fees up to the maximum scholarship amount.

6. What happens if I drop classes, or I cannot enroll in 12 credit hours?

Starting Fall 2025, you are expected to enroll in at least 12 credits per term, earn at least one credit hour each term, and earn at least 24 credit hours or 36 quarter hours in each academic year. If you are unable to enroll in 12 credit hours for the term OR you need to drop classes after the Drop/Add deadline, please complete this form: https://app.buffettscholarships.org/request/lesshour. If you earn 0 credit hours at the end of the term, it may result in a scholarship priority. You will receive an email communication if you did not meet the scholarship expectations for that term, and we may ask you for more information.

7. What happens if I do not earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of the term?

If you do not meet the scholarship expectations (see #4), you may submit a scholarship review form. The Foundation's Scholarship Committee reviews the forms before decisions about scholarship retention or removal are made. The Foundation reserves the right to revoke your scholarship if you do not submit a form.

8. Does my scholarship cover summer courses?

Yes. The summer term is funded the same as the fall or spring terms, and students are funded based on the number of credits enrolled (see award chart). NOTE: If you receive federal financial aid during the summer, it is your responsibility to contact the financial aid office regarding requirements and funds disbursement.

If you take summer classes, you cannot receive more than full time funding for the entire summer whether your college has 1 session or multiple sessions. For example, if you took 9 hours in 1 session, that equals 3/4 time funding, so you would only be eligible to receive 1/4 time additional funding for another session. Another example is if you took 6 credits in the first session for 1/2 time funding and 6 credits in the second session for 1/2 time funding, then you would not be eligible for any additional funding if you wanted to take classes in a third session. If you have additional questions, please email scholarships@stbfoundation.org.

9. If I take summer courses, does it count as a term?

The Foundation gives the summer term the same weight as any other term. If you take summer courses, you are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and earn at least 1 credit hour. Summer courses are optional. The only time you may be expected to take summer courses is if you need to earn more hours in order to meet the 24 credit hour or 36 quarter hour requirement during the academic year (starting Fall 2025).

10. Can I use my scholarship to Study Abroad or participate in an Exchange Program?

Scholarship funds may be used for any Study Abroad or Exchange programs for which:

• You earn credits toward graduation while abroad or during exchange;
• The program is approved by your primary college/university;
• Tuition and fees are paid directly to your primary college/university OR another Nebraska public college;
  • Funding for Study Abroad is based on the number of credit hours you enroll in during the Study Abroad term (ex. 6 credit hours equals ½ time funding. See Award Table on page 1).
  • Funding is disbursed during, not prior to, the term of Study Abroad.
• You are not participating in academic intervention at the end of the term immediately prior to going abroad; and
• You complete a "Study Abroad Request" form located on the scholarship website prior to the deadline, https://app.buffettscholarships.org/request/StudyAbroad, and received approval from the Foundation to use funding for study abroad. The deadlines to submit this form are:
  • Fall term: August 1st
  • Spring term: December 1st
  • Summer term: April 1st

The Foundation reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decline scholarship funding for Study Abroad or Exchange programs for students who do not meet its academic standards for scholarship eligibility. You must successfully complete four terms with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at your primary college to be eligible for scholarship funding for study abroad or an exchange program. Scholars who have only completed less than four terms may nevertheless request funding and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you started the Study Abroad/Exchange term before the previous term's grades were reported, and you earned a cumulative GPA less than 2.0, the Foundation is not responsible for funding the Study Abroad/Exchange term.

11. May I use my scholarship for CNA class(es)?

Yes. The scholarship can be used for any undergraduate CNA class(es). Please email us to let us know so that we can notify the financial aid office: scholarships@stbfoundation.org.

12. What should I do if I cannot enroll in college for a current or future term?

If you are unable to enroll in college for a term, you can request your scholarship be placed on hold. You must complete an "On Hold Request" form located on the scholarship website https://app.buffettscholarships.org/request/OnHold. Explain the reason for your request and provide any relevant documentation. The Foundation will review your request and send you an email with the decision. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

13. What happens if I applied to a program or I'm on a waitlist and I cannot be enrolled next semester/quarter?

Please contact the Foundation at scholarships@stbfoundation.org about your situation.

14. What if I reach maximum years on scholarship at a community college but still wish to attend a 4-year college?

Please contact the Foundation at or scholarships@stbfoundation.org about your situation.

15. I attend UNK, UNL, or UNO. What is the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TSLC) and how can I find out more information?

The Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TSLC) is a program that all Susan T. Buffett Scholars attending UNK, UNL, and UNO are required to participate in. TSLC is specifically designed to provide a supportive environment that encourages students to succeed during their college experience. The Foundation expects students to fully participate in the Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TSLC). TSLC is specifically designed to provide a supportive environment that encourages students to succeed during their college experience.

Click on the links below to find out more campus-specific information about the TSLC:

At UNK, contact 308-865-8364, or visit www.unk.edu/offices/tslc
At UNL, contact 402-472-1989, or visit www.unl.edu/wht
At UNO, contact 402-554-4080, or visit www.unomaha.edu/academic-affairs/thompson-learning-community/index.php

16. May I transfer my scholarship to another Nebraska public college?

Yes. You may transfer your scholarship to any Nebraska public college as long as you are still an undergraduate student, meet the scholarship expectations, have been admitted to the college you are transferring to, have a $0 or minimal balance at the college you are leaving, and complete a Transfer Request form. The Transfer Request form can be found on the Request Forms page of our website. Your transfer request must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the term, and be approved by the Foundation. The list of colleges that you can transfer your scholarship to are as follows:

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 Medical Center (UNMC)
• University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)

The scholarship may only be transferred to the above Nebraska public colleges. The scholarship cannot be used at private or out-of-state colleges.

17. Can I transfer my Buffett Scholarship to the University of Nebraska Medical Center?

Yes. Your scholarship will transfer to UNMC only for specific programs as long as you pursue an undergraduate bachelor's degree at UNMC (i.e., Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiography), and complete the Transfer Request form here: Request Forms. You cannot use the scholarship for any UNMC programs that are considered graduate or professional.

18. Can I use my scholarship at another Nebraska college even if I am a student at a different campus?

Yes. You are eligible to submit a request to receive scholarship funds at a secondary college unless you are enrolled full time at your primary college. A request for funding at a secondary college is due two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester/quarter. The Funds for a Secondary College Request form can be found on the Request Forms page of our website.

19. May I use my scholarship for graduate classes?

No. The scholarship is for undergraduate classes only.

20. If I had the Buffett Scholarship or College Opportunity Scholarship at one time but never finished my degree, can I get the scholarship back?

We welcome you to reach out to us at scholarships@stbfoundation.org to discuss the possibility of your scholarship being reinstated.

21. Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

If you attend a state or community college, please email scholarships@stbfoundation.org. Please include your name, college, and that you have the Buffett Scholarship.

If you attend NCTA, UNK, UNL, UNMC, or UNO please email scholarships@nebraska.edu. Please include your name, NU ID, campus, and that you have the Buffett Scholarship.