Any member of the Nebraska National Guard who enrolls in any state-supported university, college, or community college or any independent, not-for-profit, accredited college or university in this state shall be entitled to a credit of one hundred percent of the resident tuition charges of such school for a diploma, certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program or fifty percent of the resident tuition charges of such school for a graduate or professional degree program, except that any member who attends an independent, not-for-profit, accredited college or university in this state shall receive a credit in an amount no higher than such member would receive if attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Such entitlement shall, subject to the requirements of sections 85-505 to 85-508, continue for as long as the member maintains satisfactory performance with the guard and pursues a course of study in such institution in a manner which satisfies the normal requirements of the institution. The number of individuals granted tuition credit shall not exceed the number specified in section 85-505.01 during any fiscal year. When determining to whom such tuition credit shall be awarded, priority shall be given to those individuals who have previously received tuition credits while a National Guard member, and the Nebraska National Guard shall apply those program qualifications and limitations consistent with efficient and effective program management as determined by the Adjutant General.