Military
& Veterans
Turning Experience into Opportunity
If you're a veteran or active duty service member transitioning out of military service, Nebraska might just be the warmest “welcome home” you’ll find.
The state is proud of its military community, and it shows — from everyday respect to real, meaningful support. Nebraska veterans’ benefits include expanded tuition credits and assistance, full exemption of military retirement pay from state income taxes and a wide range of healthcare and wellness services for veterans and their families.
Whether you’re seeking a civilian role, dreaming of entrepreneurship, or want to serve at the 44,000-strong Offutt Air Force Base, resources like the Nebraska Veterans’ Gateway and the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs make it easier to thrive in The Good Life. For a full list of VA benefits, to learn more about eligibility requirements for VA disability benefits for disabled veterans, or if you have any additional questions, reach out to your county veterans service office or a state service officer.
Nebraska Veterans Business Outreach Center
Envisioning yourself as an entrepreneur? The Nebraska Enterprise Fund’s Veteran Business Outreach Center provides veterans and members of the National Guard with business education, development services and access to capital.
Veteran Benefits & Services
Get the Assistance You Deserve
Step confidently into your next chapter with the welcoming support of a state that truly values service. Nebraska veterans benefits are real and tangible, making settling for The Good Life a smart choice too.
Military retirement pay is fully exempt from state income tax in Nebraska, making your money go further. The state of Nebraska also:
- Provides VA-backed home loan support to buy, build or renovate
- Offers the Homestead Exemption, a full or partial property tax exemption for eligible Veterans and surviving spouses on their homestead and one acre of land
- Gives education benefits to eligible veteran dependents
- Offers faster pathways to teaching permits and licenses for spouses and service members
- Simplifies occupational licensing for fields like healthcare, law, and real estate
- Gives tax free monetary benefits to qualifying survivors of U.S armed forces or survivors of veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected disability or disease
- Offers veterans preference in government hiring processes
If you’re seeking employment, the Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs helps veterans and military personnel find meaningful employment via its Job Converter Tool. Meanwhile, Major Talent, a veteran-owned business in Nebraska, can also help you navigate civilian life and find a role with a local veteran-friendly employer who values your skills.
And when it’s time to relax, enjoy a free lifetime entrance to Nebraska’s stunning parks and trails, which have made Nebraska the No. 11 state for natural environment.
Higher Education & Training
Pathways to Your Second Act
Nebraska is a fantastic place for veterans and military-connected individuals to build a strong future through enrollment in higher education. If you’ve recently transitioned out of service, are planning ahead or supporting a military family member, Nebraska’s colleges and universities are here to help you succeed.
At the University of Nebraska campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney — as well as state colleges like Wayne State and Peru State and community colleges like Metropolitan and Northeast — you’ll find programs tailored to your unique needs. Most schools offer dedicated veteran support centers that can help you understand and access your GI Bill benefits, offer tutoring and counseling, and provide career planning services tailored to your goals. UNO’s Military & Veteran Services and UNL’s Veteran Success Center are just a couple of examples.
Members of Nebraska’s Active Selected Reserve may qualify for 75% off undergraduate tuition, or 50% off graduate and professional programs at public institutions statewide.
For those transitioning from military bases in Nebraska or anywhere else in the nation, DoD SkillBridge can help you find civilian work experience and career pathways before you even leave the military. UNO even offers its own campus-based SkillBridge program which can connect you to a variety of occupations available throughout the University of Nebraska System.
No matter your background or where you’re headed next, Nebraska’s higher education network makes it easier to learn, grow, and thrive.
The Good Life Stories
Building a Home in Nebraska’s Family-Friendly Community of Chadron
The hectic pace, racing from place to place, was taking a toll on Sydney Holmes. Based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Sydney was working for a national healthcare provider offering wound care services to 28 different clinics across multiple states. In her role as regional director of operations, she was regularly on the road to visit with […]
Nebraska’s Family Values and Golf Opportunities bring a Veteran Home
While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Ben Davis had not considered returning to his childhood home of Nebraska. “During the military, Nebraska was really nowhere on our radar of places we could be assigned,” he remarked. “Then out of nowhere my career path landed me here and brought us back to the area in […]
Veteran Finds Opportunity, Work-Life Balance after Coming Home to Nebraska for Civilian Career
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Jerome Creasy, Jr. could have taken his skills to almost any state. After considering his next step, he chose Nebraska as the place to pursue his post-military career. Jerome had first experienced Nebraska in the mid-1990s when he moved to Omaha with his father, a military veteran. “I […]