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, and the amount of tuition credits granted shall not exceed nine hundred thousand dollars 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.