Paying for College

Ways to Apply:

1. Go to the website of the college and find "Apply" link.

2. Use CommonApp if you plan to apply to many out of NE colleges.

(Make sure they are schools on the CommonApp).

UNL- University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Use the code "HUSKER" to apply for free through November 1

You can apply to UNO, UNL, and UNK through this website

UNO- University of Nebraska at Omaha

UNK- University of Nebraska at Kearney

MCC- Metropolitan Community College (click on GET STARTED)

SECC- Southeast Community College

WSC- Wayne State College

PSC- Peru State College

NE Private Universities

Creighton University

Bellevue University

College of Saint Mary (female only)

Nebraska Wesleyan

Nebraska Methodist

School Counselors and College Reps will help you apply to colleges and universities in the Benson HIgh School Library. All Seniors will be invited!

The ACT is offered 7 times per year at test centers across the United States. Scores are released approximately 2–4 weeks after each test. Register through your MyACT account to secure your spot and find an approved test center near you.

September 19, 2026

October 17, 2026

December 12, 2026

February 27, 2027

April 10, 2027

June 12, 2027

July 10, 2027

1. Create a FSA ID

• Social Security #
• Date of Birth
• address
• phone number
• email (not school email!)

2. Complete the FAFSA using your FSA ID

(Question about which Parent is required for FAFSA? Use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form).

Want to practice or need to see if you qualify for a Pell Grant? FAFSA Aid Estimator

Need Help with FAFSA? You can make an appointment with Education Quest!

Education Quest <--- Appointment through their office (Virtual, phone, or in-person)

Appointment at Benson High 👇 (Sign up on 'Events' in SchooLinks)

(Click on links below to apply)

Ron Brown Scholarship

• September 1 - December 1
• Black/African American
• Excel Academically, Exceptional Leadership Qualities, and Community Service
• 20- $10,000 annual scholarships awarded (That's $40,000 a year!)

Benson Alumni Scholarships (paper or PDF posted below)

• October 1- January 31 (get paper copy in room 222 or download below)
• 2.0 GPA
• 6 or more $1,500 awarded

• October 1-January 31
• 2.5 GPA
• Over $76,000 awarded to various Benson Students

• October 1- February 28
• No GPA requirement
• From an unrecognized community (minority)
• Up to $15,000 /yr awarded for a 4-year university or up to $12,500/yr for 2-year trade school

• November 1-February 1
• 2.0 GPA
• Full-ride scholarship to any public Nebraska university/college

Do the FAFSA Nebraska Scholarship

• Processed FAFSA
• NE Senior
• 60 Scholarships given, each $1,000

• November 5- March 3
• hundreds of scholarships offered for various OPS students

D.J. Hero Award Scholarship

• December 18-February 25
• $3,000 per year for 4 years
• Must have a nominator
• Must be a senior and attend college in Fall 2026

• January...? - March 28
• 2.0 or higher
• Have completed at least 10 hours of documented community involvement
• Have taken the ACT or SAT

UNO (University of Nebraska at Omaha)

- Goodrich Scholarship

-Teacher Scholars Academy Scholarship

UNL (University of Nebraska at Lincoln)

UNK (University of Nebraska at Kearny)

Wayne State College

Peru State College

MCC (Metropolitan Community College)

Gates Scholarship

• July 15-September 15
• 3.3 GPA, School Leadership
• Pell Eligible

Questbridge National College Match Scholarship

• DUE October 1
• Pell Eligible
• Full ride four-year scholarship to 1 of 55 colleges (Student must want to attend out-of NE college).

Coca-Cola Scholars

• August 1- September 30

Elks National Foundations Scholarship Programs

• August 1- November 12
• No GPA requirement
• US Citizenship

Jack Kent Cooke Foundations College Scholarship Program

• August 20 - November 12
• up to $55,000 a year
• 3.75 GPA

Hagan Scholarship

• September 1 - December 1
• 3.5 GPA

Burger King Foundation Scholars

• October 15-December 16

Jackie Robinson Foundations Scholarships

• September- January 9

APIA (Asian & Pacific Islanders American Scholars)

• November 15 -January 15
• 2.7 GPA
• Asian ethnicity

Horatio Alger Scholarships

• December 1- March 1
• Financial need
• US Citizenship

Dell Scholarship

• December 15- February 15
• 2.4 GPA
• Pell Eligible
• Must be in a College Readiness Program: Upward Bound/College Possible

Hispanic Scholarship

• January 5-February 5
• - 3.0 GPA
• Hispanic ethnicity

McDonalds HACER Scholarships

Search on Schoolinks, access through Clever > sidebar on left tap "College" > Scholarship Matching

Also... check this Scholarship Excel (same info as SchooLinks)

Scholarships for Nebraska Students

Scholarships 360

College Board Big Future Scholarship Search

Top 175 Scholarships

Education Quest Scholarships

Make a Resume through SchooLinks OR Education Quest

• Go to Education Quest website
• Click "tools"
• Click "Activities Resume"
• Create an account

Benson High School Counseling Team

Education Quest

Come to room 212 on Mondays and Wednesdays during LEAD

https://educationquest.org/myeducationquest/