Nebraska sees increase in financial student aid awards

The state of Nebraska saw about a 10 percent increase in the total amount of student aid given from 2009-2010, according to the National Association of State Government Grant and Aid Programs.

Craig Munier, director of scholarships and financial aid at UNL, said that number doesn't tell the entire story.

During the past year, there has been a modest increase of need-based grant money given from the state due to a higher percentage of need-based students coming to the Nebraska University system, he said. The Board of Regents also set aside $100,000 for need-based funds and a 5 percent increase of money set aside for need-based students.

The state also lost about $2.5 million in federal grant assistance, like the SMART Grant program, Munier said.

With talk in Washington, D.C., about changing the qualifications for Pell Grants, money set aside by the federal government for need-based students that does not have to be repaid, this could affect how much student aid is given to Nebraska students.

Munier said the University of Nebraska is continuing to monitor the situation in the state.

"The Pell Grant program is critical to students to get access to college in the country," he said.

Munier encouraged students to contact Nebraska's congressmen in Washington, D.C., and tell them how much Pell Grants are needed.

The number of students qualifying for Pell Grants has increased for a number of reasons, Munier said. A part of it is a reflection of the struggling economy during 2008 and 2009.

"I'd like to think the Collegebound Nebraska program is having an impact on getting the word out for college students that college is affordable," he said, adding that he hopes that continues.

Other schools in the University of Nebraska system have seen similar increases of students qualifying for Pell Grants.

Randy Sell, director of financial aid at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said in the past few years, the number of applicants for student aid has increased.

"I think a lot of it has to do with economy," he said, calling it the primary driver.

There has also been a significant increase in Pell Grant eligibility in the past couple of years, he said.

Sell said changing the qualifications to get Pell Grants would affect a percentage of students at UNO, though some students may still be eligible to receive funding.

Munier said he thinks the increase of student aid will reverse. This is because aid money lags behind another year of the economy, he said. Because of a rebounding economy, he expects the amount of student aid will decrease.

While the increase in the amount of student aid in Nebraska is an indicator of a struggling economy, Munier said there was good news in the increase of funds also.

"The good thing is that we've made more funding available for those students," he said. "The funds were there when they were needed."    

Sell agreed that there was good news in the increase of state funding.

"It's a good thing the state of Nebraska has been sensitive to the needs of our students," he said.

kimbuckley@dailynebraskan.com