ACT & FAFSA - State Requirement for Students
Every spring, Nebraska juniors take the ACT as the state's high school assessment. Its real value, though, is what it tells students: whether they are ready for college coursework and the careers that follow.
The test
The ACT is scored 1–36 in English, math, reading and science. Since LB 930 (2016), every Nebraska public school junior takes it at state expense, including the science and writing sections that are now optional nationally. ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks (English 18, math 22, reading 22, science 23) mark the score that gives a student a 50% chance of earning a B in a matching first-year college course.
How Nebraska does
Because every student tests, Nebraska's results reflect the whole class, not just college-bound students. Even so, the class of 2025 averaged a 19.2 composite, the highest among states that test 100% of students. Averages still trail the math, reading and science benchmarks, which is why junior-year results matter: they leave a full senior year to close gaps.
Why the score matters
The state ACT is a real score, earned free during the school day. Students can use it for admissions, scholarships and placement into credit-bearing courses, and the benchmark report helps guide senior-year coursework, dual credit and career pathway choices.
The FAFSA connection
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the form colleges and the federal government use to award Pell Grants, work-study, student loans and many scholarships. Starting with the class of 2025, Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-729) requires every public high school senior to complete the FAFSA or formally opt out before graduating. In the first year, 63.3% of Nebraska graduates completed it, up nearly 10 points. The year before, graduates left an estimated $27.6 million in federal aid unclaimed.
The two milestones work as a pair. The ACT tells a junior whether they are ready; the FAFSA tells a senior what help is available to pay for it. Together they let families weigh college, a two-year program, an apprenticeship or work with real information.
Additional Resources
Nebraska Department of Education: ACT
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks