NU offering full-ride scholarship for students with perfect ACT score

The University of Nebraska announced a new full-ride scholarship starting in the fall for in-state students who receive a perfect score on the ACT.

The President’s Scholarship will cover all costs to attend the University of Nebraska – including room, board and books — plus a $5,000 stipend.

Last year, 31 Nebraska high schoolers scored perfectly on the ACT. Gov. Jim Pillen said 20 of them were going out of state for college.

“Most want to be here, but they couldn’t afford to because of our scholarship programs,” Pillen said.

The scholarship is funded with a $5 million endowment from private donations.

Interim NU President Chris Kabourek said he wants every single student with a perfect ACT score to at least consider Nebraska for college.

“Even if we can only get one, it’s a win,” Kabourek said. “Because who knows, that might be the next great farmer, or rancher, or cancer doctor researcher or nuclear physicist or great business owner. Who knows what the stories, what the dreams of that student may be.”

Kabourek said the university hopes to continue fundraising so that they can offer a full-ride scholarship to those with a score of 33 or higher on the ACT in the future.