The Door to College Scholarship Program (DTC) provides up to $5,000 per year toward the educational expenses of undergraduate students enrolled at Nebraska postsecondary educational institutions who graduated high school from a Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC) or from an approved or accredited public, private, nondenominational or parochial high school after being discharged from a YRTC.
An eligible applicant will be an undergraduate student who:
1. Graduated high school from an accredited education program at a YRTC operated and utilized in compliance with state law or from an approved or accredited public, private, denominational, or parochial school after being discharged from a YRTC operated and utilized in compliance with state law;
2. Authorizes the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to verify for the Commission the applicant’s name and previous status at a YRTC.
3. Is enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution (college or university) in Nebraska ;
4. Has applied for federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the applicable award year;
5. Is a resident student who is domiciled in Nebraska as provided by section Neb. Rev. Stat. § 85-502;
6. Complies with all other provisions of the Door to College Scholarship Act and any rules and regulations and/or guidelines adopted and promulgated pursuant to the act; and
7. In the case of an eligible student beginning the first year in attendance at an eligible institution, has satisfied requirements for admission and has enrolled or indicated an intent to enroll in an eligible institution; or
8. In the case of an eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution following the successful completion of the student's first year in attendance, continues to meet the requirements of the Door to College Scholarship Act and has maintained the minimum standards of performance as required by the eligible institution in which the eligible student is enrolled.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have legal status in the United States. Students without legal status, including students who have been granted DACA status, are not eligible to apply for a Door to College DTC Scholarship Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 4-108 through 4-112.
The DTC Scholarship is awarded by the Commission through participating colleges and universities. Students must submit their Door to College Scholarship application to the financial aid office of the college or university they are planning to attend. In addition, DTC Scholarship applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available from high school counselors, EducationQuest College Planning offices located in Nebraska, or on line at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. For additional financial aid information, students can contact EducationQuest or online at the Federal Student Aid website.
DTC Scholarship Information
DTC List of Eligible Postsecondary Institutions
DTC Student Application (must be submitted to your institution)
DTC Scholarship Guidelines
DTC Institution Application
For any questions regarding the DTC Scholarship program, please contact Ritchie Morrow via email at Ritchie.Morrow@nebraska.gov or at 402-471-0032.