Editor’s note — The application fee waiver has been extended through Oct. 5. It was originally set to expire Oct. 3.

The University of Nebraska is temporarily waiving the undergraduate admissions application fee for in-state students. The move is part of an ongoing NU systemwide effort to expand access and encourage college-going among students and families.

Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 5, resident students using NU’s shared application for admission to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska at Kearney and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture may have the $45 application fee waived. Both first-time freshmen and transfer students applying for admission for fall 2022 are eligible for the waiver.

When applying, students should select “fee waiver” and enter the code “NUforNE” to have the fee waived.

“At a time when affordable access to higher education has never been more important, the University of Nebraska is doing everything we can to reduce potential barriers for students and families,” said Ted Carter, president of the NU system. “The application fee is real money for so many of our students and families. Offering this waiver is a simple, meaningful step we can take to create access and opportunity for the people of our state — especially those who have historically been underrepresented in higher education.”

The “NUforNE” application fee waiver campaign aims to grow the campuses’ applicant pools during a critical time in the enrollment cycle. It aligns with many EducationQuest Foundation Apply2College activities, which promote college selection and application across the state.

Additionally, Oct. 1 is the date when the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid becomes available. Students must complete the FAFSA to be eligible for the Nebraska Promise, the University of Nebraska’s financial aid program that provides full tuition coverage for Nebraska students with family incomes of $60,000 or less.

In addition to the Nebraska Promise, other steps the university has taken recently to expand access include a two-year tuition freeze that takes effect this year, reduction of undergraduate online tuition rates, and the addition of a student’s GPA as a qualifying factor for admission.