Ricketts announces new tuition reimbursement benefit for kids of state employees

LINCOLN — Children of Nebraska’s 16,000 state employees will get 100% reimbursement for two years of tuition at state community colleges under an initiative highlighted Monday at a press conference held by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The new benefit, officials said, will not only serve to improve benefits for state workers, but will also train recent high school graduates for skilled jobs now unfilled in Nebraska.

In recent months, the state has increased wages for workers in state prisons and other 24/7 state facilities to combat a workforce shortage in Nebraska and to compete with rising wages in the private and public sectors.

The new program, officials said, could assist up to 1,000 children of state employees.

“We need to do things that differentiate us as an employer,” said Jason Jackson, the state’s chief human relations officer.

The program will provide 100% tuition reimbursement at any community college in the state. Students must enter school prior to their 25th birthday and complete their studies by age 27.

Paul Illich, president of Southeast Community College, said participants in the tuition reimbursement program could help fill a statewide shortage of skilled workers in fields such as health care, construction and information technology.

Illich added that 90% of those graduating from community colleges in Nebraska stay in the state.

The cost of the program, approved by the Nebraska Legislature during the recently ended 2022 session, was estimated to rise to about $1 million a year. The community college system has agreed to give such students a 25% discount on tuition, so the state reimbursement will cover 75% of the normal cost.