Education resources for women include FAFSA-based federal aid (Pell Grants up to ~$7,000/year), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title IX protections against sex discrimination on campus, and dedicated single-mother scholarships through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards, and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Community colleges offer low-cost two-year degrees and trade certificates, often with CCAMPIS-grant subsidized on-campus childcare. AAUW funds career development grants and fellowships for women. GED and HiSET programs run through state adult education offices, usually free. This directory covers FAFSA offices, community colleges, adult education, and women's scholarships.
Nebraska district courts hear family matters in each of its 93 counties, with many counties using county court for paternity and child support. The Child Support Enforcement division operates under DHHS. Omaha and Lincoln dominate the state's population. Legal Aid of Nebraska and the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence provide statewide civil legal aid and safety services to women.
CCPE administers the Nebraska Opportunity Grant (the state's primary need-based aid program), Access College Early scholarships for high schoolers, and Community College Gap Assistance. Mothers returning to school can call 402-471-2847 to ask which CCPE programs they qualify for before applying to schools.
402-471-2847 · 140 N 8th St Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68509 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
UNL, the state's flagship at 14th and R, enrolls 23,000 students with strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and education. The Women's Center in the Nebraska Union offers childcare referrals, lactation rooms, and a Returning Adult Student support group; call 402-472-7211 for general inquiries.
402-472-7211 · 14th & R Sts, Lincoln, NE 68588 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
UNO is the state's metropolitan university — known for evening classes, online undergrad degrees, and a strong public-administration program. The Office of Adult Student Services helps mothers re-enrolling after a gap. Call 402-554-2800 to start the admission process; in-state tuition and Pell typically combine to cover much of cost.
402-554-2800 · 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68182 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
MCC offers 100+ associate degrees and career certificates across four Omaha-area campuses, with a tuition rate near $90/credit-hour — among the lowest in the region. Express enrollment, evening cohorts, and on-campus childcare make MCC particularly accessible to working mothers. Call 402-457-2400.
402-457-2400 · 5300 N 30th St, Omaha, NE 68111 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Southeast Community College's Lincoln campus on O Street delivers associate degrees, technical certificates, and apprenticeships — particularly strong in nursing, welding, and early-childhood education. SCC accepts the Nebraska Career Scholarship and Gap Assistance grant for women in high-demand fields. Call 402-471-3333 for advising.
402-471-3333 · 8800 O St, Lincoln, NE 68520 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Creighton is a private Jesuit university in midtown Omaha with strong professional schools — nursing, pharmacy, law, dentistry. The Magis Catholic Teacher Corps and the Office for Equity and Inclusion run scholarships and mentorship for women, especially first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Call 402-280-2700.
402-280-2700 · 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Filling out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov is the gate for federal Pell, federal loans, work-study, and almost every Nebraska state grant. Mothers without recent tax filings can use the IRS Get Transcript tool to import what they need. Call 800-433-3243 for FAFSA help in English or Spanish.
800-433-3243 · Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
The Nebraska Department of Education funds free GED, HSE, and adult-basic-education classes at community colleges and community-based sites across the state. Mothers without a diploma can call 402-471-4807 to find the nearest class — many offer childcare or have evening cohorts.
402-471-4807 · Statewide Locations · Varies by location · Visit Website
studentaid.gov hosts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Direct Loan portal, repayment-plan calculators, and PSLF certification forms. Mothers with prior student debt can use the loan simulator before borrowing more, and the new SAVE plan can substantially lower payments.
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The federal Pell Grant — up to $7,395 for 2025-26 — is a need-based grant that doesn't require repayment. Pell awards are calculated automatically when you file the FAFSA. Many Nebraska community-college credentials can be earned without out-of-pocket cost when Pell, NOG, and Gap Assistance stack.
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AAUW awards more than $5 million annually in fellowships and grants to women pursuing graduate degrees, especially in STEM and underrepresented fields. American Fellowships range 0,000-$50,000; Career Development Grants fund women changing fields. Applications open each August at aauw.org.
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P.E.O.'s six philanthropic programs together award over
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Live Your Dream Awards from Soroptimist provide
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The Jeannette Rankin Foundation awards ,000-
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The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation awards Education Support Awards (up to $5,000) to low-income mothers pursuing post-secondary education. Named for the first woman of color elected to Congress, the foundation prioritizes women whose education will benefit their children's long-term outcomes.
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Scholarships.com aggregates 3.7 million scholarships into a free searchable database. Filtering by 'women,' 'adult learner,' and 'Nebraska' returns dozens of targeted scholarships — many less competitive than national big-name awards because fewer applicants find them.
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BigFuture by the College Board offers free college-search tools, scholarship search, and the BigFuture Scholarships program that awards $500-$40,000 simply for completing planning steps like building a college list or filing the FAFSA. Open to current high-school students.
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Khan Academy's free official SAT practice — built in partnership with the College Board — personalizes a study plan from PSAT or previous SAT results. Mothers helping high-school children prep can use the parent-portal to see weekly progress. Particularly useful in Nebraska where in-school SAT/ACT prep varies widely by district.
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