Scholarships

Current Students

Continuing undergraduate students can apply for scholarships through the Scholarship Application in MyRED.

  • Current students can apply for scholarships through the Scholarship Application for the next academic year beginning in October. The application deadline is February 1st. 
  • To apply, log in to MyRED and select the Scholarship Application under the Financial Aid tab. Submission of this application allows you to be considered for scholarships awarded by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and to have your information made available to your academic college or department.

Incoming Freshmen

Apply to Nebraska with your cumulative high school GPA and ACT/SAT score (test scores are preferred; not required) to be considered for academic scholarships.

Complete your application for admission by November 1, 2024, to receive your scholarship award notification on February 12, 2025. If you file the FAFSA Form by February 1, 2025, you will receive a comprehensive scholarship and financial aid offer on February 12, 2025. To maximize your scholarship consideration, complete the supplemental Scholarship Application by February 1, 2025.

Upload your current high school transcript in MyRED. We will offer you the best academic scholarship award possible based on either your GPA alone or the combination of your GPA and highest composite ACT/SAT score.

In addition, all students who apply to the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film will be considered for Carson School Scholarships based upon their audition/portfolio materials.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who want to apply for scholarships must follow these steps:

  1. Have your admission materials to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible.
  2. If you would like to be considered for need-based scholarships, you will need to complete the FAFSA.
  3. All students who apply to the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film will be considered for Carson School Scholarships based upon their audition/portfolio materials.

Majors in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film are eligible for the following scholarships.

Anne And William L. Porter Awards For Creativity In Theatre Arts And Dance
Awarded to 1 undergrad and 1 graduate on the basis of outstanding creativity.

UNL Donald Walters Miller scholarship
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors based on Academic excellence, professional goals, recommendations, particularly in college activities.

Leta Powell Drake University Theatre Acting Awards
Awarded to Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role cast in Mainstage production.

Williams—H Alice Howell Award In Theatre Arts
Based on financial aid and GPA, awarded to sophomore, junior, senior or graduate, usually not graduates.

Dame Judith Anderson Acting Awards
Awarded to Best Freshman, Best Actor, and Actress in Supporting Roles in a University Theatre production.

Romulo Soldevilla Theatre Awards
Awarded for artistry in acting, directing, playwriting or design, used for design & tech excellence awards

Hixson-Lied Undergraduate Scholarships
The Hixson-Lied Undergraduate Scholarships are prestigious awards given to new, incoming, in-state or out-of-state students (freshmen or transfer). Awards are based on merit and talent. A high priority of the scholarship is increasing the diversity of the student body of the Hixson-Lied College. Scholarships are awarded for two years as long as the student is making satisfactory progress towards at degree in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. The current award amounts are $2,000 for in-state students and $5,500 for out-of-state students per year. All students applying for entrance to a degree program in the Hixson-Lied College will be considered for the scholarship. In some cases, a student may be asked to provide a portfolio or audition for review.

Nellie Powley Hills And John Willard Hills Scholarship
Based on creativity, financial need, GPA and usually awarded to undergraduate.

Eunice Vivian Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Based on financial aid, awarded to regularly enrolled incoming freshmen.

Emma Idalene Sharpless Scholarship Fund
Awarded to upper division graduate student capable of benefiting from further education based on creativity, financial need.

Helen Hayes Macarthur Scholarship In Dramatic Arts
Final year undergraduate or graduate to help support an internship, typically not designated for graduate students, awarded based on creativity, GPA.

Felton-Alice Howell Awards
Awarded to previously enrolled students based on exceptional creativity, GPA, financial need, professional promise.

Ann Keyser Rawley Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate with 3.0 or better GPA, freshman with exceptional promise based on creativity, GPA.

Undergraduate Creative Activities And Research Experiences (UCARE) Grants
Awarded to full-time UNL undergraduates who have completed at least 30 semester hours--GPA of 3.0 or higher--applicants must work with a faculty sponsor - typically for a 2 year project. These grants create intellectual partnerships between UNL faculty and undergraduates by providing funds for research and creative activities. Find out more information on the UCARE website.