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The Susan T. Buffett Foundation has awarded the Susan Buffett Scholarship to Nebraska college students for more than 50 years. Applicants must live in Nebraska, graduate from a Nebraska high school (or GED) and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the scholarship. If successful, it will automatically renew each semester for up to five years.
The reward is determined by the cost of tuition and fees at each college. The scholarship money can be used to cover any percentage of your tuition at any of the qualifying Nebraska public colleges. Prizes will be given out based on financial need, academic merit, short responses, and recommendations.
If you are a Nebraska resident looking for additional financial resource to fund your college, this scholarship is for you. Learn more about the Susan Buffett Scholarship through the following guide. Without further ado, let’s get started.
About the Susan Buffett Scholarship
For more than 50 years, the Susan T. Buffett Foundation has awarded the Susan Buffett Scholarship to Nebraska college students. First-time freshmen attending college who live in Nebraska, graduate from a Nebraska high school (or GED) with plans to attend a Nebraska public college, and demonstrate financial need are eligible for scholarships.
Because the Susan Buffett Scholarship is a competitive program, achieving the eligibility conditions by themselves does not always guarantee you a scholarship award. However, it will almost certainly improve your chances of winning. All qualified applications will be assessed, and prizes will be given out based on financial need, academic merit, short responses, and recommendations.
Selected awardees are not required to reapply for the prize each year. If Buffett Scholars continue to meet the scholarship requirements, the Susan 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, or until they graduate, whichever comes first.
The good news is that you can apply for the Susan Buffett Scholarship while also receiving other federal and state assistance, such as the Pell Grant and Nebraska Promise! However, you will not be able to accept any additional scholarships if they conflict with your ability to complete the scholarship and Learning Community requirements.
The William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community was established at the University of Nebraska System in 2008 by the Susan T. Buffett Foundation. The Thompson Scholars Learning Community was created to assist students get the most out of their university experience by providing academic and social support. The Learning Community is open to students who receive the Susan Buffett Scholarship and attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, or the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Program Benefits
The Susan Buffett Scholarship amount varies depending on the college. The maximum term (semester or quarter) grant of the Susan Buffett Scholarship at each public college in Nebraska can be found in this table.
The reward is determined by the cost of tuition and fees at each college. The scholarship money can be used to cover any percentage of your tuition at any of Nebraska’s public colleges that are qualified.
This cost can include:
- Resident tuition;
- Fees;
- Books;
- Room and board;
- Personal expenses; and
- Transportation
At the college where you enroll, you must be considered a Nebraska resident. Also, any percentage of this prize that is not used does not accrue. As a result, it cannot be used in future terms.
You can use the scholarship at any of the following Nebraska public colleges:
- Nebraska Community Colleges, including the Central Community College (CCC), the Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC), the Metropolitan Community College (MCC), the Mid-Plains Community College (MPCC), the Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC), the Northeast Community College (NCC), the Southeast Community College (SCC), and the Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC);
- Nebraska State College System, including the Chadron State College (CSC), the Peru State College (PSC), and the Wayne State College (WSC); and
- University of Nebraska System, including the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA), the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), and the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO).
The scholarship is exclusively valid at the above-mentioned Nebraska public colleges; you cannot use it at private or out-of-state institutions.
The Susan Buffett Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
You must live in Nebraska and meet the in-state residency criteria of the college you plan to attend to be eligible for the Susan Buffett Scholarship. Furthermore, DACA, undocumented, or DACA-eligible students can still apply. To be considered for an award, you must first graduate from a Nebraska high school or obtain a Nebraska GED.
Also, you must have a 2.0 cumulative unweighted GPA (or 77 on a 100-point scale) in high school and be a first-time freshman when entering college. However, assume that you are a high school student earning dual enrollment credits. In that case, you are still eligible for the scholarship.
Most importantly, confirm that you require financial aid to attend college at the time of application. You do not, however, need to be a Pell Grant recipient to be eligible. In order to apply, you must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $10,000. If you are confident that you can fulfill these requirements, let’s learn how to apply for the Susan Buffett Scholarship the right way.
The Susan Buffett Scholarship Application
You will have to submit the following documentation for the online application:
- Application forms;
- One recommendation;
- Student Aid report;
- A copy of your high school transcript including your full name, date of birth, high school name, cumulative unweighted GPA, all high school coursework with grades, and current work in progress;
- Short answers (see below for prompts); and
- Consent form.
Your short answers must respond to the following questions:
- Tell the scholarship committee about you, your life, your family and/or your communities. (In your response, discuss people, communities/organizations, and experiences that have shaped your life and your values).
- You must tell the scholarship committee about a time you worked hard to achieve something in school and why it was meaningful. Additionally, write down about a time you worked hard to achieve something outside of school and what you learned from it.
- Tell the scholarship committee why you want to go to college. How will this school help you reach your goals?
Additionally, you will be required to file a FAFSA. If you are eligible for federal financial aid, you are required to complete it 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 are required to complete the College Funding Estimator (CFE) instead of the FAFSA.
Finally, you must enter the full name, title, email address, and phone number for your recommender in the “Recommendation” section of the application to submit your letter of recommendation. It must be professional and come from a teacher, school administrator, counselor, coach, employer, clergy, or other adult mentor in your life. In other words, a letter of recommendation from a family member, family friend, or personal friend will not be accepted.
Closing Date
Make sure to submit your application form by the due date at February 1 before 5:00 p.m. CST. You will receive a decision notification via email before May 1.
Contact Details
If you have questions about the Susan Buffett Scholarship, send an email to scholarships@stbfoundation.org or call at (402) 943-1383.
The Susan Buffett Scholarship Official Website
Finally, apply to or learn more about the program at buffettscholarships.org. Need more resources on a program like this? Check out this guide on the Union Plus Scholarship Program.
