Military-Supportive GI Bill® Approved and Yellow Ribbon Program Colleges Online and in Nebraska

The Nebraska Tourism Commission takes a realistic approach to advertising the state: “It’s not for everyone,” they say on their website. But honesty and humility are perhaps what makes this landlocked state of rolling hills and high plains such an endearing place for people who want a life that offers both city and country, opportunity as well as contentment. With a population of just under 2 million people, Nebraska offers impressive potential: it has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation (2.1%), cities like Lincoln and Omaha offer fine dining, impressive music scenes, and art museums, while the counties in between offer an abundance of outdoor activities like fishing, floating on the Platte River, wildlife, and touring some of the west’s first European-American homesteads. Nebraska can offer something for everyone. The attitude seems to say, “what you see is what you get”– but also, “if you like what you see, we’d love to have you here.”

According to most recent data, just under 6,000 military personnel reside in Nebraska, including activity-duty, reservists, and civilian military employees. There are currently over 110,000 veterans living in the state, according to data gathered by the Housing Assistance Council, with over 40% of them having served in either the Gulf War or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these veterans remain eager to earn a college degree, as do many dependents of veterans who served recently.

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Southern New Hampshire University

Featured Program: SNHU has been helping military service members reach their goals for nearly 80 years—from those coming home from WWII, to those still serving around the globe. See all the ways we can help you maximize your benefits, save time, and save money on the path to your next transition.

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UMass Global

Featured Program: Educating members of the military is at the root of who we are. It’s how we got started more than 65 years ago — providing outreach education to Marines stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro — and our dedication to supporting U.S. service members, veterans, and their families has grown ever since. Military Times ranked us 14th nationwide for primarily online institutions and 19th in the western region in 2023.

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These days, when you enlist in the military, it’s not necessarily a given that you’ll deploy abroad; instead, there’s a high probability that you’ll be stationed somewhere in the United States. A primary benefit of joining the military is more access to a college education. Thanks to a number of programs available to military members, their families, and veterans, getting a college education is becoming more accessible. For those military service members and veterans living in Nebraska, getting a college degree can put them on the track to finding stability and opportunity in this comfortable, “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” state.

Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Military Education Benefits

Like all service members, Nebraska’s service members are eligible for federal programs like the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program. Military members, veterans, and dependents can utilize these funds to make college more affordable. But the state of Nebraska is equally committed to optimizing military service members’ access to a college degree. Service members and their eligible dependents will find that the state of Nebraska offers a few more benefits for being an active service member or veteran, and, like their state culture of integrity and transparency, they want to support their military service members as they seek ways to fund their learning.

Here you’ll find the benefits provided by the state of Nebraska, along with military friendly colleges that familiar with these programs, so that you can maximize your military benefits and start earning your college degree.  

Based in Lincoln, the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (NDVA) is committed to ensuring that veterans receive the highest quality services throughout their lives. The NDVA overseas the Nebraska State Veterans’ Homes for those who need assisted living as well as the Cemetery Alliance, which ensures that Nebraska’s veterans are properly honored. Their Veterans Services Office acts as an alliance between the federal and state agencies that provide benefits and the veterans and dependents who are seeking those benefits. By working with a veterans service officer (VSO), veterans and their families get personalized assistance as they navigate the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon programs; SRO’s also help them navigate the state-provided benefits, like tuition waivers and tuition credit funding.

While the NDVA state office is located in Lincoln, each county does have at least one designated Veterans’ Service Office with at least one certified VSO to help you navigate your benefits. Many of the larger counties, like Douglas and Buffalo counties also have assistant service officers, who can process your claims and help you fill out applications.

In Nebraska, a large portion of the veterans are eligible and eager to advance their education. In addition to helping veterans with many of their needs, the NDVA is there to help veterans and active service members find, apply for, and access their educational benefits. As an active-duty service member or veteran, you’re entitled to federal aid—now, add some of these state programs on top of that, and you may be looking at a generous reduction in the cost of a college education.