University aid for free tuition to NCTA

By NCTA News and University Communications

Nebraska students with family incomes of $65,000 or less will be able to attend the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis tuition-free for 2022-23 under the expanded Nebraska Promise program.

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter last week announced two main changes to Nebraska Promise, which the NU system established in 2020 for its campuses at Curtis, Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha.

• The online FAFSA application priority deadline for Nebraska Promise has been moved to June 1 to allow more time for Nebraska families to apply.

•  The annual gross income level was increased from the previous $60,000 to $65,000.

 “This is very helpful for our NCTA students who may be eligible to meet the free tuition criteria,” said Larry Gossen, dean of NCTA.

 “No matter their circumstances, a certificate or associate of science degree is within reach for them here at NCTA in Curtis,” Gossen said.

 Nebraska Promise key points:

• Applicants must be Nebraska residents
• Undergraduates can have up to 30 credit hours covered per academic year
• Gross family income must be $65,000 or less
• Applies to returning, transfer or new students to NCTA
• Does not include fees, books, or room and board. NCTA grants, scholarships or campus employment can cover other costs

Applicants must be admitted to NCTA and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the June 1 priority deadline.

Currently, more than 7,000 students at NCTA, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and University of Nebraska Medical Center are attending college tuition-free under Nebraska Promise.

“Over the past two years, the chancellors and I have heard so many stories of students whose dreams of a college education have been made possible because of the Nebraska Promise,” said NU President Ted Carter.

“We know times are still uncertain and that every dollar matters to students and families,” Carter said.

The University of Nebraska froze tuition at its campuses in 2020. Tuition at NCTA is $139 per credit hour for all in-state and out-of-state residents.

Details on Nebraska Promise can be found at:  https://nebraska.edu/nebraska-promise.

 Part of the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a two-year institution with a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology and related industries. NCTA is known for its affordable tuition, high job-placement rate for its graduates, and for the success of student teams in competitive activities including crops judging, ranch horse events, livestock judging, shotgun sports, stock dog trials, and intercollegiate rodeo. The college is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year schools in the nation.