LINCOLN - Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State Colleges are lowering their undergraduate online tuition rate to $299 per credit hour with no additional fees, making them  the best education value in Nebraska.

      The $299 rate, which is expected to be approved by the Board of Trustees next Tuesday, is part of a plan to help get students back on track to complete their college degrees in light of the social and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

       State College System Chancellor Dr Paul Turman says affordability and accessibility are core pillars of the Nebraska State Colleges because their students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and often must balance classes with work and family commitments.

     Turman says those challenges are why Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State are removing as many barriers as possible to enable students to complete their degrees.

      That's also the reason behind the popular and successful Bachelor of Applied Science degree program, which offers flexible and fully online paths forward for anyone who looking for a faster and less expensive alternative to completing an unfinished four-year degree. 

      The BAS degree gives students credit for substantial career experience and experience earned as veterans and members of the armed forces. There are transfer options students with an associate's degree from an accredited community college or technical associate's degree

      It accepts up to 66 credit hours from accredited community colleges and up to 90 credit hours from other accredited four-year institutions.

Chadron State Distributes $541K In Coronavirus Relief Funds To 458 Students

     CHADRON - Chadron State College has distributed nearly $541,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to 458 students.

      Associate Vice President of Student Services Sherry Douglas says the average grant was $1,180 with grants awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

      The student relief money from the CARES Act was to cover costs related to the switch to remote learning such increased home technology expenses, food insecurity, travel, health care, and childcare for students.

     Douglas says CSC split eligible students into two groups - those who had completed the required student aid form and passed all eligibility requirements and those who hadn't finished the form but might be eligible if they did. The second group was required to upload support documentation to validate eligibility.

      Douglas says the college emailed all eligible students with a link to a survey. The grant amount was determined based on the individual’s responses, estimated costs for each category based on the estimated cost of attendance components, and available funds.