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                                                                   Exhibit 10.53

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY



                        NELNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2003-1

                                 $1,005,000,000

                         STUDENT LOAN ASSET-BACKED NOTES



                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                                January 29, 2003


Banc of America Securities LLC
121 W. Trade Street, 12th Floor
NC1-005-12-01
Charlotte, NC 28255

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
31 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

Attn:  Securitized Products Group

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Nelnet Student Loan Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("Nelnet Funding") proposes to cause Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2003-1, a
Delaware statutory trust (the "Company"), to sell to Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC (the "Representatives") and the other
underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto (each an "Underwriter" and collectively
with the Representatives, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to the terms of this
Underwriting Agreement, $1,005,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's Student Loan Asset-Backed Notes (the "Notes") in the classes and
initial principal amounts set forth on Schedule A hereto. Zions First National
Bank, a national banking association, will act as eligible lender on behalf of
the Company. The Notes will be issued under an Indenture of Trust dated as of
January 1, 2003 (the "Indenture") between the Company and Zions First National
Bank, a national banking association, as indenture trustee (the "Trustee"). Upon
issuance, the Notes will be secured by, among other things, Financed Eligible
Loans (as defined in the Indenture) pledged to the Trustee and described in the
Prospectus (as defined in Section 3 below). The Financed Eligible Loans will be
serviced by Nelnet, Inc., a Nevada Corporation ("Nelnet") pursuant to a Master
Servicing Agreement dated as of January 1, 2003 (the "Servicing Agreement"),
among Nelnet, as master servicer, Nelnet, as administrator, Nelnet Funding and
the Company. Nelnet has entered into a loan subservicing agreement with Nelnet
Loan Services, Inc. ("NLS") dated as of January 1, 2003 the "Subservicing
Agreement") pursuant to which NLS will act as subservicer with respect to all of
the Financed Eligible Loans.

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        This Agreement, the Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003
between NEBHELP, Inc. ("NEBHELP") and Nelnet Funding (along with the related
Loan Transfer Addendum, the "NEBHELP Purchase Agreement"), the Loan Purchase
Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003 between NHELP-I, Inc. ("NHELP-I") and
Nelnet Funding (along with the related Loan Transfer Addendum, the "NHELP-I
Purchase Agreement"), the Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003
between NHELP-III, Inc. ("NHELP-III") and Nelnet Funding (along with the related
Loan Transfer Addendum, the "NHELP-III Purchase Agreement"), the Loan Purchase
Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003 between NELnet Student Loan Warehouse
Corporation-1 ("NELnet-1" and, collectively with NEBHELP, NHELP-I and NHELP-III,
the "Sellers") and Nelnet Funding (along with the related Loan Transfer
Addendum, the "NELnet-1 Purchase Agreement"), the Loan Purchase Agreement dated
as of January 1, 2003 between Nelnet Funding and the Company (along with the
related Loan Transfer Addendum, the "Nelnet Trust Purchase Agreement" and,
together with the NEBHELP Purchase Agreement, the NHELP-I Purchase Agreement,
the NHELP-III Purchase Agreement and the NELnet-1 Purchase Agreement, the
"Purchase Agreements"), the Trust Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003, among
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee ("the Delaware Trustee") and
Nelnet Funding, as initial certificateholder and sponsor (the "Trust
Agreement"), the Administration Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003, among
the Company, the Delaware Trustee, the Trustee and Nelnet, as administrator (the
"Administration Agreement"), the Eligible Lender Trust Agreement, dated as of
January 1, 2003, between Zions First National Bank (the "Eligible Lender
Trustee") and Nelnet Funding (the "Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender Agreement"),
the Eligible Lender Trust Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003, between the
Eligible Lender Trustee and the Company (the "Company Eligible Lender Agreement"
and together with the Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender Agreement, the "Eligible
Lender Agreements"), the Custodian Agreement, dated January 1, 2003, among the
Company, the Trustee and NLS, as custodian (the "Custodian Agreement"), the
Servicing Agreement, the Subservicing Agreement and the Indenture shall
collectively hereinafter be referred to as the "Basic Documents."

        Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Indenture or the Prospectus.

        Nelnet Funding proposes to cause the Company, upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein, to sell to each of the Underwriters on the Closing
Date (as hereinafter defined) the aggregate principal amount of each Class of
Notes set forth next to the name of each Underwriter on Schedule A hereto.

        Nelnet Funding wishes to confirm as follows this agreement with the
Underwriters in connection with the purchase and resale of the Notes.

1. AGREEMENTS TO SELL, PURCHASE AND RESELL. (a) Nelnet Funding hereby agrees,
subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to cause the Company
to sell to each of the Underwriters and, upon the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements of Nelnet Funding herein contained and subject to all
the terms and conditions set forth herein, each of the Underwriters severally
and not jointly agrees to purchase from the Company, such principal amount of
each Class of the Notes at such respective purchase prices as are set forth next
to the name of each Underwriter on Schedule A hereto.

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                (b) It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the
Notes for sale to the public (which may include selected dealers) as set forth
in the Prospectus.

           2. DELIVERY OF THE NOTES AND PAYMENT THEREFOR. Delivery to the
Underwriters of and payment for the Notes shall be made at the office of Kutak
Rock LLP, Denver, Colorado, at 11:00 a.m., Denver time, on February 4, 2003 (the
"Closing Date"). The place of such closing and the Closing Date may be varied by
agreement between the Representatives and Nelnet Funding.

        The Notes will be delivered to the Underwriters against payment of the
purchase price therefor to the Company in Federal Funds, by wire transfer to an
account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives, or such other form of
payment as to which the parties may agree. Unless otherwise agreed to by Nelnet
Funding and the Representatives, each Class of Notes will be evidenced by a
single global security in definitive form deposited with the Trustee as
custodian for DTC and/or by additional definitive securities, and will be
registered, in the case of the global Classes of Notes, in the name of Cede &
Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), and in the other cases,
in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters shall request prior
to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, no later than the business day preceding the
Closing Date. The Notes to be delivered to the Underwriters shall be made
available to the Underwriters in Denver, Colorado, for inspection and packaging
not later than 9:30 a.m., Denver time, on the business day next preceding the
Closing Date.

           3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NELNET FUNDING. Nelnet Funding
represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters that:

                (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (No 333-82280),
        including a prospectus and such amendments thereto as may have been
        required to the date hereof, relating to the Notes and the offering
        thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the
        Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), has been filed with the
        Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") and
        such registration statement, as amended, has become effective; such
        registration statement, as amended, and the prospectus relating to the
        sale of the Notes offered thereby constituting a part thereof, as from
        time to time amended or supplemented (including the base prospectus, any
        prospectus supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
        under the Act, the information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to
        Rule 430A(b) under the Act, and the information incorporated by
        reference therein) are respectively referred to herein as the
        "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus" respectively; and the
        conditions to the use of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
        Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to Form S-3, and the
        conditions of Rule 415 under the Act, have been satisfied with respect
        to the Registration Statement;

                (b) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the
        Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed in all respects to
        the requirements of the Act, the rules and regulations of the SEC (the
        "Rules and Regulations") and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
        amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "Trust Indenture
        Act"), and, except with respect to information omitted pursuant to Rule
        430A of the Act, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact


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        or, in the case of the Registration Statement, omit to state any
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein not misleading and, in the case of the Prospectus,
        omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
        therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
        not misleading, and on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing
        Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform in all
        respects to the requirements of the Act, the Rules and Regulations and
        the Trust Indenture Act, and neither of such documents included or will
        include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
        statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing
        does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
        Statement or the Prospectus based upon written information furnished to
        Nelnet Funding by the Underwriters, specifically for use therein.

                (c) The Commission has not issued and, to the best knowledge of
        the Company, is not threatening to issue any order preventing or
        suspending the use of the Registration Statement.

                (d) As of the Closing Date, each consent, approval,
        authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or governmental
        agency or body which is required to be obtained or made by Nelnet
        Funding or its affiliates for the consummation of the transactions
        contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained, except as
        otherwise provided in the Basic Documents.

                (e) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by Nelnet
        Funding and, upon its execution and delivery by the Company and assuming
        due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, will be a
        valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance
        with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
        bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
        generally and conform in all material respects to the description
        thereof in the Prospectus. The Indenture has been duly qualified under
        the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Notes.

                (f) The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and the
        Notes to be issued on the Closing Date, when executed by the Company and
        authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, and
        delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance
        with the terms hereof, will have been validly issued and delivered, and
        will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to
        the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their
        terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
        insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
        relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and court decisions
        with respect thereto, and the Notes will conform in all material
        respects to the description thereof in the Prospectus.

                (g) Nelnet Funding is a limited liability company duly
        organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
        State of Delaware with full power and authority to own, lease and
        operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
        Prospectus Supplement and as conducted on the date hereof, and is duly


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        registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing
        in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the
        conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification,
        except where the failure so to register or qualify does not have a
        material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business,
        prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations of Nelnet
        Funding.

                (h) Other than as contemplated by this Agreement or as disclosed
        in the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party that is
        entitled to receive from Nelnet Funding or any of its affiliates any
        brokerage or finder's fee or other fee or commission as a result of any
        of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                (i) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
        threatened or, to the knowledge of Nelnet Funding contemplated, against
        Nelnet Funding, or to which Nelnet Funding or any of its properties is
        subject, that are not disclosed in the Prospectus and which, if
        adversely decided, would individually or in the aggregate have a
        material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business,
        properties or results of operations of Nelnet Funding, or would
        materially and adversely affect the ability of Nelnet Funding, or the
        Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other
        Basic Documents or otherwise materially affect the issuance of the Notes
        or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the
        Basic Documents.

                (j) Neither the offer, sale or delivery of the Notes by the
        Company nor the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or
        the Basic Documents by Nelnet Funding or the Company, nor the
        consummation by Nelnet Funding or the Company of the transactions
        contemplated hereby or thereby (i) requires or will require any consent,
        approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing
        with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other
        governmental body, agency or official (except for compliance with the
        securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, the qualification
        of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such other consents,
        approvals or authorizations as shall have been obtained prior to the
        Closing Date) or conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will
        constitute a breach of, or a default under, the organizational documents
        of Nelnet Funding or the Company or (ii) conflicts or will conflict with
        or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, in
        any material respect, any agreement, indenture, lease or other
        instrument to which Nelnet Funding or the Company is a party or by which
        Nelnet Funding or the Company or any of its respective properties may be
        bound, or violates or will violate in any material respect any statute,
        law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction, order or decree
        applicable to Nelnet Funding or the Company or any of its respective
        properties, or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
        charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of Nelnet Funding or
        the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to
        which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its
        properties is subject other than as contemplated by the Basic Documents.

                (k) Nelnet Funding has all requisite power and authority to
        execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and
        the other Basic Documents to which it is a party; the execution and
        delivery of, and the performance by Nelnet Funding of its obligations
        under, this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which it is a
        party have been duly and validly authorized by Nelnet Funding and this


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        Agreement and the other Basic Documents have been duly executed and
        delivered by Nelnet Funding and constitute the valid and legally binding
        agreements of Nelnet Funding, enforceable against Nelnet Funding in
        accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforcement hereof
        and thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
        fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting
        creditors' rights generally and court decisions with respect thereto and
        subject to the applicability of general principles of equity, and except
        as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder and thereunder may be
        limited by Federal or state securities laws or principles of public
        policy.

                (l) Nelnet Funding's assignment and delivery of Financed
        Eligible Loans to the order of the Trustee on behalf of the Company
        pursuant to the Purchase Agreements will vest in the Trustee on behalf
        of the Company all of Nelnet Funding's right, title and interest
        therein, subject to no prior lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge,
        adverse claim, charge or other encumbrance.

                (m) The Company's assignment of the Financed Eligible Loans to
        the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture will vest in the Trustee, for the
        benefit of the Noteholders, a first priority perfected security interest
        therein, subject to no prior lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge,
        adverse claim, charge or other encumbrance.

                (n) The Company is not, nor as a result of the issuance and sale
        of the Notes as contemplated hereunder will it become, subject to
        registration as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act
        of 1940, as amended.

                (o) The representations and warranties made by Nelnet Funding in
        any Basic Document to which Nelnet Funding is a party and made in any
        Officer's Certificate of the Company will be true and correct at the
        time made and on and as of the applicable Closing Date.

                (p) Since the date of the Prospectus, no material adverse change
        or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in,
        or affecting particularly the business or properties of, Nelnet Funding
        has occurred.

           4. AGREEMENTS OF NELNET FUNDING. Nelnet Funding agrees with each of
the Underwriters as follows:

                (a) Nelnet Funding will prepare a supplement to the Prospectus
        setting forth the amount of the Notes covered thereby and the terms
        thereof not otherwise specified in the Prospectus, the price at which
        the Notes are to be purchased by the Underwriters, either the initial
        public offering price or the method by which the price at which the
        Notes are to be sold will be determined, the selling concessions and
        reallowances, if any, and such other information as the Underwriters and
        Nelnet Funding deem appropriate in connection with the offering of the
        Notes, and Nelnet Funding will timely file such supplement to the
        prospectus with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, but


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        Nelnet Funding will not file any amendments to the Registration
        Statement as in effect with respect to the Notes or any amendments or
        supplements to the Prospectus, unless it shall first have delivered
        copies of such amendments or supplements to the Underwriters, with
        reasonable opportunity to comment on such proposed amendment or
        supplement or if the Underwriters shall have reasonably objected thereto
        promptly after receipt thereof; Nelnet Funding will immediately advise
        the Underwriters or the Underwriters' counsel (i) when notice is
        received from the SEC that any post-effective amendment to the
        Registration Statement has become or will become effective and (ii) of
        any order or communication suspending or preventing, or threatening to
        suspend or prevent, the offer and sale of the Notes or of any
        proceedings or examinations that may lead to such an order or
        communication, whether by or of the SEC or any authority administering
        any state securities or Blue Sky law, as soon as Nelnet Funding is
        advised thereof, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
        of any such order or communication and to obtain as soon as possible its
        lifting, if issued.

                (b) If, at any time when the Prospectus relating to the Notes is
        required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of
        which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
        untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
        necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
        circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is
        necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply
        with the Act or the Rules and Regulations, Nelnet Funding promptly will
        notify each of the Representatives of such event and will promptly
        prepare and file with the SEC, at its own expense, an amendment or
        supplement to such Prospectus that will correct such statement or
        omission or an amendment that will effect such compliance. Neither the
        Representatives' consent to, nor the Representatives' delivery of, any
        such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the
        conditions set forth in Section 6 hereof.

                (c) Nelnet Funding will immediately inform the Representatives
        (i) of the receipt by Nelnet Funding of any communication from the SEC
        or any state securities authority concerning the offering or sale of the
        Notes and (ii) of the commencement of any lawsuit or proceeding to which
        Nelnet Funding is a party relating to the offering or sale of the Notes.

                (d) Nelnet Funding will furnish to the Representatives, without
        charge, copies of the Registration Statement (including all documents
        and exhibits thereto or incorporated by reference therein), the
        Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents
        relating to the Notes, in each case in such quantities as the
        Representatives may reasonably request.

                (e) No amendment or supplement will be made to the Registration
        Statement or Prospectus which the Underwriters shall not previously have
        been advised or to which it shall reasonably object after being so
        advised.

                (f) Nelnet Funding will cooperate with the Underwriters and with
        their counsel in connection with the qualification of, or procurement of
        exemptions with respect to, the Notes for offering and sale by the
        Underwriters and by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
        such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may designate and will file such
        consents to service of process or other documents necessary or


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        appropriate in order to effect such qualification or exemptions;
        provided that in no event shall Nelnet Funding be obligated to qualify
        to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or
        to take any action which would subject it to service of process in
        suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the
        Notes, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

                (g) Nelnet Funding consents to the use, in accordance with the
        securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions in which the Notes are
        offered by the Underwriters and by dealers, of the Prospectus furnished
        by Nelnet Funding.

                (h) To the extent, if any, that the rating or ratings provided
        with respect to the Notes by the rating agency or agencies that
        initially rate the Notes is conditional upon the furnishing of documents
        or the taking of any other actions by Nelnet Funding, Nelnet Funding
        shall cause to be furnished such documents and such other actions to be
        taken.

                (i) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, Nelnet Funding
        will furnish to the Underwriters (i) as soon as available, a copy of
        each document relating to the Notes required to be filed with the SEC
        pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
        "Exchange Act"), or any order of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) such other
        information concerning Nelnet Funding as the Underwriters may request
        from time to time.

                (j) If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated
        after execution and delivery pursuant to any provisions hereof
        (otherwise than by notice given by the Representatives terminating this
        Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 hereof) or if this
        Agreement shall be terminated by the Representatives because of any
        failure or refusal on the part of Nelnet Funding to comply with the
        terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, Nelnet Funding
        agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses
        (including fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by it
        in connection herewith, but without any further obligation on the part
        of Nelnet Funding for loss of profits or otherwise.

                (k) The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will
        be applied substantially in accordance with the description set forth in
        the Prospectus.

                (l) Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus,
        Nelnet Funding has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly,
        any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or
        result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes to
        facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

                (m) For a period from the date of this Agreement until the
        retirement of the Notes, the Company will deliver to you the annual
        statements of compliance and the annual independent certified public
        accountants' reports furnished to the Trustee or Nelnet Funding pursuant
        to the Servicing Agreement as soon as such statements and reports are
        furnished to the Trustee or Nelnet Funding.

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                (n) On or before the Closing Date, Nelnet Funding shall mark its
        accounting and other records, if any, relating to the Financed Eligible
        Loans and shall cause the Servicer and NLS to mark their respective
        computer records relating to the Financed Eligible Loans to show the
        absolute ownership by the Trustee, as eligible lender of, and the
        interest of the Company in, the Financed Eligible Loans, and Nelnet
        Funding shall not take, or shall permit any other person to take, any
        action inconsistent with the ownership of, and the interest of the
        Company in, the Financed Eligible Loans, other than as permitted by the
        Basic Documents.

                (o) For the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and
        ending 90 days hereafter, none of Nelnet Funding and any entity
        affiliated, directly or indirectly, with Nelnet Funding will, without
        the prior written notice to the Underwriters, offer to sell or sell
        notes (other than the Notes) collateralized by FFELP Loans; provided,
        however, that this shall not be construed to prevent the sale of FFELP
        Loans by Nelnet Funding.

                (p) If, at the time the Registration Statement became effective,
        any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule
        430A under the 1933 Act, then, immediately following the execution of
        this Agreement, Nelnet Funding will prepare, and file or transmit for
        filing with the Commission in accordance with such Rule 430A and Rule
        424(b) under the 1933 Act, copies of an amended Prospectus containing
        all information so omitted.

                (q) As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months after
        the date of this Agreement, Nelnet Funding will make generally available
        to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at
        least 12 months beginning after the later of (i) the effective date of
        the Registration Statement, (ii) the effective date of the most recent
        post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to become
        effective prior to the date of this Agreement and (iii) the date of the
        Company's most recent Annual Report or Form 10-K filed with the
        Commission prior to the date of this Agreement, which will satisfy the
        provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

           5. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) Nelnet Funding agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each person, if any,
who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of
or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus, or arising out
of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action as
such expenses are incurred, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission which has been made therein or
omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with the information
relating to an Underwriter furnished in writing to Nelnet Funding by such
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being


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understood that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of the information described as such in Section 10 of this Agreement; provided,
however, that the indemnification contained in this paragraph (a) with respect
to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of an Underwriter
(or to the benefit of any person controlling an Underwriter) on account of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arising from the sale of the of
Notes by an Underwriter to any person if the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact contained in such
preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final Prospectus and such
Underwriter sold Notes to that person without sending or giving at or prior to
the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the final Prospectus (as then
amended or supplemented but excluding documents incorporated by reference
therein) if Nelnet Funding has previously furnished sufficient copies thereof to
such Underwriter at a time reasonably prior to the date such Notes are sold to
such person. The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liability which Nelnet Funding may otherwise have.

                (b) If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against
        an Underwriter or any person controlling an Underwriter in respect of
        which indemnity may be sought against Nelnet Funding, such Underwriter
        or such controlling person shall promptly notify the parties against
        whom indemnification is being sought (the "indemnifying parties"), but
        the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it
        from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under
        Sections 5(a) and 5(c) hereof, except to the extent that the
        indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such omission, and in no
        event shall the omission so to notify relieve Nelnet Funding from any
        liability which it may otherwise have. In case any such action is
        brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying
        party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
        entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish,
        jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
        the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party
        (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be
        counsel to the indemnifying party). The applicable Underwriter or any
        such controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel
        in any such action, suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense
        thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
        expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person unless (i) the
        indemnifying parties have agreed in writing to pay such fees and
        expenses, (ii) the indemnifying parties have failed to assume the
        defense and employ counsel, or (iii) the named parties to any such
        action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
        both the Underwriter or such controlling person and the indemnifying
        parties and the Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been
        advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
        available to it which are different from or additional to or in conflict
        with those available to the indemnifying parties and in the reasonable
        judgment of such counsel it is advisable for the Underwriter or such
        controlling person to employ separate counsel (in which case the
        indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of
        such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of the Underwriter or such
        controlling person). It is understood, however, that the indemnifying
        parties shall, in connection with any one such action, suit or
        proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions,
        suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
        general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees
        and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any
        local counsel) at any time for each Underwriter and controlling persons
        not having actual or potential differing interests with such Underwriter
        or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by such


                                       10
<PAGE>

        Underwriter, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed on
        a monthly basis as provided in paragraph (a) hereof. An indemnifying
        party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
        party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
        respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding
        in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
        hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
        potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement,
        compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
        indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
        suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an
        admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of
        an indemnified party.

                (c) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
        indemnify and hold harmless Nelnet Funding and its directors and
        officers, and any person who controls Nelnet Funding within the meaning
        of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same
        extent as the indemnity from Nelnet Funding to the Underwriters set
        forth in paragraph (a) hereof, but only with respect to information
        relating to such Underwriter furnished in writing by such Underwriter
        through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration
        Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
        any related preliminary prospectus therein, it being understood that the
        only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
        information described as such in Section 10 of this Agreement. If any
        action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against Nelnet Funding, any
        of its directors or officers, or any such controlling person based on
        the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or
        supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus and in respect
        of which indemnity may be sought against an Underwriter pursuant to this
        paragraph (c), such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given
        to Nelnet Funding by paragraph (b) above (except that if Nelnet Funding
        shall have assumed the defense thereof the Underwriter shall have the
        option to assume such defense but shall not be required to do so, but
        may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense
        thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such
        Underwriter's expense), and Nelnet Funding, its directors and officers,
        and any such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given
        to the Underwriters by paragraph (b) above. The foregoing indemnity
        agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters
        may otherwise have.

                (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
        unavailable to an indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (c) hereof
        in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
        referred to therein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying
        such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable
        by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages,
        liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
        reflect the relative benefits received by Nelnet Funding on the one hand
        and the applicable Underwriter on the other hand from the offering of
        the Notes, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
        permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
        reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above


                                       11
<PAGE>

        but also the relative fault of Nelnet Funding on the one hand and the
        applicable Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or
        omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
        expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
        relative benefits received by Nelnet Funding on the one hand and an
        Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as
        the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting
        expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting
        discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter. The relative
        fault of Nelnet Funding on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
        other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
        whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
        omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
        information supplied by Nelnet Funding on the one hand or by an
        Underwriter on the other hand and the parties' relative intent,
        knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
        such statement or omission.

                (e) Nelnet Funding and the Underwriters agree that it would not
        be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were
        determined by a pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
        that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to
        in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
        party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
        expenses referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include,
        subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
        reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
        investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit or
        proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no
        Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
        amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions
        received by such Underwriter with respect to the Notes underwritten by
        such Underwriter exceed the sum of the amount of any damages which such
        Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
        or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and the
        amount of any damages such Underwriter has been required to pay under
        the Indemnity Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the
        Representatives, on behalf of themselves and the other Underwriters, and
        Nelnet Loan Services, Inc. No person guilty of fraudulent
        misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall
        be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
        fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this
        paragraph (e) to contribute are several in proportion to their
        respective underwriting obligations.

                (f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for
        which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or
        contribution under this Section 5 shall be paid by the indemnifying
        party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
        liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution
        agreements contained in this Section 5 and the representations and
        warranties of Nelnet Funding and the Underwriters set forth in this


                                       12
<PAGE>

        Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
        regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the
        Underwriters, Nelnet Funding or any person controlling any of them or
        their respective directors or officers, (ii) acceptance of any Notes and
        payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
        A successor to the Underwriters, Nelnet Funding or any person
        controlling any of them or their respective directors or officers, shall
        be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and
        reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 5.

           6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase the Notes hereunder are subject to the following
conditions precedent:

                (a) All actions required to be taken and all filings required to
        be made by Nelnet Funding under the Act prior to the sale of the Notes
        shall have been duly taken or made. At and prior to the Closing Date, no
        stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
        shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
        been instituted or, to the knowledge of Nelnet Funding or the
        Underwriters, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

                (b) Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there
        shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event
        involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial
        or other), business, properties, net worth, or results of operations of
        Nelnet Funding, the Servicer, the Sellers or NLS not contemplated by the
        Registration Statement, which in the opinion of the Representatives,
        would materially adversely affect the market for the Notes, (ii) any
        downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of trusts sponsored by
        Nelnet Funding, the Servicer, a Seller or NLS by any nationally
        recognized statistical rating organization or any public announcement
        that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating
        of any debt securities of trusts sponsored by Nelnet Funding, the
        Servicer, a Seller or NLS (other than an announcement with positive
        implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible
        downgrading, of such rating), or (iii) any event or development which
        makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
        untrue or which, in the opinion of Nelnet Funding and its counsel or the
        Underwriters and their counsel, requires the filing of any amendment to
        or change in the Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to state
        a material fact required by any law to be stated therein or necessary in
        order to make the statements therein not misleading, if amending or
        supplementing the Registration Statement or Prospectus to reflect such
        event or development would, in the opinion of the Representatives,
        materially adversely affect the market for the Notes.

                (c) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Kutak
        Rock LLP, in its capacity as counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
        Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel with
        respect to the Nelnet Trust Purchase Agreement, the Servicing Agreement,
        the Indenture, the Company Eligible Lender Agreement and this Agreement
        and to the validity of the Notes and such related matters as you shall
        reasonably request. In addition, you shall have received an opinion
        addressed to you of Kutak Rock LLP, in its capacity as counsel for the
        Company, in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel,
        concerning "true sale," "non- consolidation" and "first perfected
        security interest" and certain other issues with respect to the transfer
        of the Financed Eligible Loans from the Sellers to Nelnet Funding, from
        Nelnet Funding to the Company and from the Company to the Trustee.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                (d) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Kutak
        Rock LLP, in its capacity as counsel for Nelnet Funding and the Company,
        dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you and
        your counsel to the effect that the statements in the Prospectus under
        the headings "Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "ERISA
        Considerations", to the extent that they constitute statements of
        matters of law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been
        prepared or reviewed by such counsel and are correct in all material
        respects.

                (e) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Kutak
        Rock LLP, in its capacity as counsel for Nelnet Funding and the Company,
        dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you and
        your counsel with respect to the character of the Notes for federal tax
        purposes.

                (f) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of
        Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, in its capacity as Underwriters' Counsel,
        dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you.

                (g) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of
        Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, in its capacity as counsel for
        Nelnet Funding and the Company, dated the Closing Date in form and
        substance satisfactory to you and your counsel with respect to the
        Prospectus and the Registration Statement and certain matters arising
        under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Investment
        Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                (h) You shall have received opinions addressed to you of Perry,
        Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C. in their capacity as counsel to Nelnet,
        as servicer and administrator, NLS, Nelnet Funding and each of the
        Sellers, each dated the Closing Date and satisfactory in form and
        substance to you and your counsel, to the effect that:

                        (i) Each of Nelnet, NLS and each of the Sellers is a
                corporation, and Nelnet Funding is a limited liability company,
                in good standing under the laws of their respective states of
                incorporation or organization; each having the full power and
                authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and
                conduct its business, as presently conducted by it, and to enter
                into and perform its obligations under each of the Basic
                Documents to which it is a party.

                        (ii) The Purchase Agreements have been duly authorized,
                executed and delivered by the respective Seller, the Purchase
                Agreements, the Trust Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the
                Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender Agreement and this Agreement have
                been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Nelnet Funding,
                the Administration Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and the
                Subservicing Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and
                delivered by Nelnet and the Subservicing Agreement and the
                Custodian Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and
                delivered by NLS and each such agreement is the legal, valid and


                                       14
<PAGE>

                binding obligations of the respective Seller, Nelnet Funding,
                Nelnet and NLS, as the case may be, enforceable against each
                such Seller, Nelnet Funding, Nelnet and NLS, as the case may be,
                in accordance with their respective terms, except (x) the
                enforceability thereof may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
                reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
                hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights and (y) remedy
                of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of
                equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the
                discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may
                be brought.

                        (iii) Neither the execution and delivery by Nelnet of
                the Administration Agreement, the Servicing Agreement or the
                Subservicing Agreement, or the execution and delivery by Nelnet
                Funding of the Purchase Agreements, the Trust Agreement, the
                Servicing Agreement, the Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender
                Agreement or this Agreement, or the execution by each Seller of
                the respective Purchase Agreement, or the execution and delivery
                by NLS of the Subservicing Agreement or the Custodian Agreement,
                nor the consummation by Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, each Seller or
                NLS of the transactions contemplated therein nor the fulfillment
                of the terms thereof by Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, each Seller or
                NLS will conflict with, result in a breach, violation or
                acceleration of, or constitute a default under, any term or
                provision of the by-laws or limited liability company agreement,
                as the case may be, of Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, each Seller or
                NLS or of any indenture or other agreement or instrument to
                which Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, any Seller or NLS is a party or by
                which Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, any Seller or NLS is bound, or
                result in a violation of or contravene the terms of any statute,
                order or regulation applicable to Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, any
                Seller or NLS of any court, regulatory body, administrative
                agency or governmental body having jurisdiction over Nelnet,
                Nelnet Funding, any Seller or NLS.

                        (iv) There are no actions, proceedings or investigations
                pending or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due
                inquiry and reasonable investigation, threatened against Nelnet,
                Nelnet Funding, any Seller or NLS before or by any governmental
                authority that might materially and adversely affect the
                performance by Nelnet, Nelnet Funding, any Seller or NLS of its
                obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, any
                Basic Documents to which it is a party.

                        (v) Nothing has come to such counsel's attention that
                would lead such counsel to believe that the representations and
                warranties of Nelnet contained in the Administration Agreement,
                the Servicing Agreement, or the Subservicing Agreement, or the
                representations and warranties of Nelnet Funding in the Purchase
                Agreements, the Trust Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the
                Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender Trust Agreement or this Agreement
                or the representations and warranties of the Sellers contained
                in the Purchase Agreements or the representations and warranties
                of NLS contained in the Subservicing Agreement or the Custodian
                Agreement are other than as stated therein.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                        (vi) No authorization, approval, or other action by, and
                no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or
                regulatory body is required (a) for the due execution, delivery
                and performance by Nelnet of the Administration Agreement, the
                Servicing Agreement or the Subservicing Agreement, (b) for the
                due execution, delivery and performance by Nelnet Funding of the
                Purchase Agreements, the Trust Agreement, the Servicing
                Agreement, the Nelnet Funding Eligible Lender Trust Agreement or
                this Agreement, (c) for the due execution, delivery and
                performance by each Seller of the respective Purchase Agreement,
                (d) for the due execution, delivery and performance by NLS of
                the Subservicing Agreement or the Custodian Agreement or (e) for
                the perfection of the Company's and the Trustee's interest in
                the Student Loans sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreements or
                the exercise by the Company (or its permitted assigns) and the
                Trustee of their rights and remedies under the Purchase
                Agreements, including specifically the filings of any Uniform
                Commercial Code financing statements, except for the execution
                and delivery of the Guarantee Agreements. ------

                        (vii) The Purchase Agreements together with the related
                bill of sale and blanket endorsement effects a valid sale to the
                Trustee of the Student Loans to be sold under the Purchase
                Agreements enforceable against creditors of, and purchasers
                from, the respective Seller.

                        (viii) As of the date specified in a schedule to such
                opinion, there were no (a) UCC financing statements naming a
                Seller as debtor or seller and covering any Student Loans to be
                sold under the Purchase Agreements or interest therein or (b)
                notices of the filing of any federal tax lien (filed pursuant to
                Section 6323 of the Internal Revenue Code) or lien of the
                Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (filed pursuant to Section
                4068 of ERISA) covering any Student Loan to be sold under the
                Purchase Agreements or interest therein, listed in the available
                records in the respective offices set forth in such schedule
                opposite each such date (which are all of the offices that are
                prescribed under either the internal law of the conflict of law
                rules of the Nebraska UCC as the offices in which filings should
                be made to perfect security interests in Student Loans), except
                as set forth in such schedule.

                        (ix) As of the date of such opinion, by executing the
                Guarantee Agreements and upon execution and delivery of the
                instruments of transfer described in the Purchase Agreements and
                notification of the Guarantors and borrowers of the transfer
                contemplated thereby, and assuming that the Trustee is an
                eligible lender as that term is defined in 20
                U.S.C.ss.1085(d)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
                amended, the Trustee on behalf of the Company will be entitled
                to the benefit of the applicable Guarantor and/or Department of
                Education payments under the Act related to the Student Loans
                sold under the Purchase Agreements, subject to the terms and
                conditions of the Guarantee Agreements and the Act.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                (i) You shall have received opinions addressed to you of
        Richards, Layton & Finger, in their capacity as counsel to the Delaware
        Trustee, and as Delaware counsel to the Company and Nelnet Funding,
        dated the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to you and
        your counsel.

                (j) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of
        counsel to the Trustee, dated the Closing Date and in form and substance
        satisfactory to you and your counsel, to the effect that:

                        (i) The Trustee is a national banking association duly
                organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
                States of America.

                        (ii) The Trustee has the full corporate trust power to
                accept the office of indenture trustee under the Indenture and
                to enter into and perform its obligations under the Indenture,
                the Custodian Agreement, the Eligible Lender Agreements, the
                Administration Agreement and each Guarantee Agreement.

                        (iii) The execution and delivery of each of the
                Indenture, the Custodian Agreement, the Eligible Lender
                Agreements, the Administration Agreement and each Guarantee
                Agreement, and the performance by the Trustee of its obligations
                under the Indenture, the Custodian Agreement and each Guarantee
                Agreement, have been duly authorized by all necessary action of
                the Trustee and each has been duly executed and delivered by the
                Trustee.

                        (iv) The Indenture, the Custodian Agreement, the
                Eligible Lender Agreements, the Administration Agreement and
                each Guarantee Agreement constitute valid and binding
                obligations of the Trustee enforceable against the Trustee.

                        (v) The execution and delivery by the Trustee of the
                Indenture, the Custodian Agreement, the Eligible Lender
                Agreements, the Administration Agreement and each Guarantee
                Agreement do not require any consent, approval or authorization
                of, or any registration or filing with, any state or United
                States Federal governmental authority.

                        (vi) Each of the Notes has been duly authenticated by
                the Trustee.

                        (vii) Neither the consummation by the Trustee of the
                transactions contemplated in the Indenture, the Custodian
                Agreement, the Eligible Lender Agreements, the Administration
                Agreement and each Guarantee Agreement nor the fulfillment of
                the terms thereof by the Trustee will conflict with, result in a
                breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any law or
                the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the


                                       17
<PAGE>

                Trustee or the terms of any indenture or other agreement or
                instrument known to such counsel and to which the Trustee or any
                of its subsidiaries is a party or is bound or any judgment,
                order or decree known to such counsel to be applicable to the
                Trustee or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory
                body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator
                having jurisdiction over the Trustee or any of its subsidiaries.

                        (viii) There are no actions, suits or proceedings
                pending or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due
                inquiry, threatened against the Trustee (as indenture trustee
                under the Indenture or in its individual capacity) before or by
                any governmental authority that might materially and adversely
                affect the performance by the Trustee of its obligations under,
                or the validity or enforceability of, the Indenture, the
                Custodian Agreement, the Eligible Lender Agreements, the
                Administration Agreement or any Guarantee Agreement.

                        (ix) The execution, delivery and performance by the
                Trustee of the Indenture, the Custodian Agreement, the Eligible
                Lender Agreements, the Administration Agreement or any Guarantee
                Agreement will not subject any of the property or assets of the
                Company or any portion thereof, to any lien created by or
                arising under the Indenture that is unrelated to the
                transactions contemplated in such agreements.

                        (x) The Trustee is an "eligible lender" for purposes of
                the FFELP Program in its capacity as trustee with respect to
                Financed Eligible Loans held under the Indenture.

                (k) You shall have received certificates addressed to you dated
        the Closing Date of any two of the Chairman of the Board, the President,
        any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President,
        the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the principal financial officer
        or the principal accounting officer of Nelnet Funding, each Seller and
        the Servicer in which such officers shall state that, to the best of
        their knowledge after reasonable investigation, (i) the representations
        and warranties of Nelnet Funding, such Seller or the Servicer, as the
        case may be, contained in the respective Purchase Agreement, the
        Servicing Agreement and the Subservicing Agreement, as applicable, are
        true and correct in all material respects, that each of Nelnet Funding,
        such Seller and the Servicer has complied with all agreements and
        satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied under
        such agreements at or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) that they have
        reviewed the Prospectus and that the information therein regarding
        Nelnet Funding, such Seller or the Servicer, as applicable, is fair and
        accurate in all material respects, and (iii) since the date set forth in
        such certificate, except as may be disclosed in the Prospectus, no
        material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
        material adverse change, in or affecting particularly the business or
        properties of Nelnet Funding, such Seller or the Servicer, as
        applicable, has occurred.

                (l) You shall have received certificates addressed to you dated
        the Closing Date of any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President,
        any Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice
        President or Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
        principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of NLS


                                       18
<PAGE>

        in which such officers shall state that, to the best of their knowledge
        after reasonable investigation, (i) the representations and warranties
        of NLS contained in the Subservicing Agreement are true and correct in
        all material respects, that NLS has complied with all agreements and
        satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied under
        such agreements at or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) that they have
        reviewed the Prospectus and that the information therein regarding NLS
        is fair and accurate in all material respects, and (iii) since the date
        set forth in such certificate, except as may be disclosed in the
        Prospectus, no material adverse change or any development involving a
        prospective material adverse change in, or affecting particularly the
        business or properties of, NLS has occurred.

                (m) You shall have received evidence satisfactory to you that,
        on or before the Closing Date, UCC-1 financing statements have been or
        are being filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of
        Delaware reflecting the grant of the security interest by the Company in
        the Financed Eligible Loans and the proceeds thereof to the Trustee.

                (n) You shall have received a certificate addressed to you dated
        the Closing Date from a responsible officer acceptable to you of the
        Trustee in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel and
        to which shall be attached each Guarantee Agreement.

                (o) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date
        from KPMG Peat Marwick a letter dated the Closing Date, and in form and
        substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they
        have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an
        audit, with respect to certain information regarding the Financed
        Eligible Loans and setting forth the results of such specified
        procedures.

                (p) All the representations and warranties of Nelnet Funding and
        the Company contained in this Agreement and the Basic Documents shall be
        true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof
        and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing
        Date and the Underwriters shall have received a certificate, dated the
        Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of Nelnet Funding to the
        effect set forth in this Section 6(p) and in Section 6(q) hereof.

                (q) Neither Nelnet Funding nor the Company shall have failed at
        or prior to the Closing Date to have performed or complied with any of
        its agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied
        with by it hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

                (r) The Underwriters shall have received by instrument dated the
        Closing Date (at the option of the Representatives), in lieu of or in
        addition to the legal opinions referred to in this Section 6, the right
        to rely on opinions provided by such counsel and all other counsel under
        the terms of the Basic Documents.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                (s) Each class of Class A Notes shall be rated "AAA", "AAA" and
        "Aaa", respectively, by Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch"), Standard & Poor's Ratings
        Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies ("S&P"), and Moody's
        Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's"), the Class B Notes shall be rated
        "AA", "AA-" and "Aa1", or higher, by Fitch, S&P and Moody's,
        respectively, and that neither Fitch, S&P nor Moody's have placed the
        Notes under surveillance or review with possible negative implications.

                (t) You shall have received evidence satisfactory to you of the
        completion of all actions necessary to effect the transfer of the
        Financed Eligible Loans as described in the Prospectus and the
        recordation thereof on the Sellers' and NLS's computer systems.

                (u) You shall have received certificates addressed to you dated
        the Closing Date from officers of Nelnet Funding and legal opinions
        addressing such additional matters as you may reasonably request in form
        and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel.

                (v) You shall have received a signed Indemnity Agreement from
        Nelnet Loan Services, Inc. in form and substance satisfactory to you and
        your counsel.

                (w) You shall have received such other opinions, certificates
        and documents as are required under the Indenture as a condition to the
        issuance of the Notes.

        Nelnet Funding will provide or cause to be provided to you such
conformed copies of such of the foregoing opinions, notes, letters and documents
as you reasonably request.

        7. EXPENSES. Nelnet Funding agrees to pay or to otherwise cause the
payment of the following costs and expenses and all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance by it of its obligations hereunder: (i) the
preparation, printing or reproduction of the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to any of them, this Agreement, and
each other Basic Document; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery
(including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging)
of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and all amendments
or supplements to, and preliminary versions of, any of them as may be reasonably
requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes; (iii)
the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of definitive
certificates for the Notes; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of
this Agreement, the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and all
other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in
connection with the offering of the Notes; (v) qualification of the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) the qualification of the Notes for offer and
sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states as provided in
Section 3(h) hereof (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements
of counsel relating to the preparation, printing or reproduction, and delivery
of the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and such qualification);
(vii) the fees and disbursements of (A) the Company's counsel, (B) the
Underwriters' counsel, (C) the Trustee and its counsel, (D) the Delaware Trustee
and its counsel, (E) the Depository Trust Company in connection with the
book-entry registration of the Notes, (F) the SEC and (G) KPMG Peat Marwick,
accountants for the Company and issuer of the Comfort Letter; (viii) the
financial advisory fee payable to UFS Securities, L.L.C.; and (ix) the fees
charged by S&P, Fitch and Moody's for rating the Notes.

                                       20
<PAGE>

        8. EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be deemed effective
as of the date first above written upon the execution and delivery hereof by all
the parties hereto. Until such time as this Agreement shall have become
effective, it may be terminated by Nelnet Funding, by notifying each of the
Representatives, or by the Representatives, by notifying Nelnet Funding.

        Any notice under this Section 8 may be given by telecopy or telephone
but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

        9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, without liability
on the part of the Underwriters to Nelnet Funding, by notice to Nelnet Funding,
if prior to the Closing Date (i) trading in securities generally on the New York
Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market shall have
been suspended or materially limited, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial
banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or
state authorities, or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in
political, financial or economic conditions, the effect of which is such as to
make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to
commence or continue the offering of the Notes on the terms set forth in the
Prospectus, as applicable, or to enforce contracts for the resale of the Notes
by the Underwriters. Notice of such termination may be given to Nelnet Funding
by telecopy or telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

        10. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY THE UNDERWRITERS. The statements set forth
in the second, third, ninth and tenth paragraphs and the second table under the
heading "Plan of Distribution" in the Prospectus Supplement constitute the only
information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters as such information is
referred to in Sections 3(b) and 5 hereof.

        11. DEFAULT BY ONE OF THE UNDERWRITERS. If any of the Underwriters shall
fail on the Closing Date to purchase the Notes which it is obligated to purchase
hereunder (the "Defaulted Notes"), the remaining Underwriter (the
"Non-Defaulting Underwriter") shall have the right, but not the obligation,
within one (1) Business Day thereafter, to make arrangements to purchase all,
but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes upon the terms herein set forth;
if, however, the Non-Defaulting Underwriter shall have not completed such
arrangements within such one (1) Business Day period, then this Agreement shall
terminate without liability on the part of the Non-Defaulting Underwriter.

        No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

        In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement, either the Non-Defaulting Underwriters or Nelnet Funding
shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding
seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.

                                       21
<PAGE>

        12. COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS. (a) It is understood that the Underwriters
may prepare and provide to prospective investors certain Computational Materials
(as defined below) in connection with Nelnet Funding's offering of the Notes,
subject to the following conditions:

                        (i) The Underwriters shall comply with all applicable
                laws and regulations in connection with the use of Computational
                Materials including the No-Action Letter of May 20, 1994 issued
                by the Commission to Kidder, Peabody Acceptance Corporation I,
                Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated and Kidder Structured Asset
                Corporation, as made applicable to other issuers and
                underwriters by the Commission in response to the request of the
                Public Securities Association dated May 24, 1994, and the
                No-Action Letter of February 17, 1995 issued by the Commission
                to the Public Securities Association (collectively, the
                "Kidder/PSA Letters").

                        (ii) As used herein, "Computational Materials" and the
                term "ABS Term Sheets" shall have the meanings given such terms
                in the Kidder/PSA Letters, but shall include only those
                Computational Materials that have been prepared or delivered to
                prospective investors by or at the direction of an Underwriter.

                        (iii) Each Underwriter shall provide Nelnet Funding with
                representative forms of all Computational Materials prior to
                their first use, to the extent such forms have not previously
                been approved by Nelnet Funding for use by such Underwriter.
                Each Underwriter shall provide to Nelnet Funding, for filing on
                Form 8-K as provided in Section 12(b), copies of all
                Computational Materials that are to be filed with the Commission
                pursuant to the Kidder/PSA Letters. Each Underwriter may provide
                copies of the foregoing in a consolidated or aggregated form.
                All Computational Materials described in this subsection
                (a)(iii) must be provided to Nelnet Funding not later than 10:00
                A.M., Colorado time, one business day before filing thereof is
                required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                        (iv) If an Underwriter does not provide the
                Computational Materials to Nelnet Funding pursuant to subsection
                (a)(iii) above, such Underwriter shall be deemed to have
                represented, as of the applicable Closing Date, that it did not
                provide any prospective investors with any information in
                written or electronic form in connection with the offering of
                the Notes that is required to be filed with the Commission in
                accordance with the Kidder/PSA Letters.

                        (v) In the event of any delay in the delivery by an
                Underwriter to Nelnet Funding of all Computational Materials
                required to be delivered in accordance with subsection (a)(iii)
                above, Nelnet Funding shall have the right to delay the release
                of the Prospectus to investors or to such Underwriter, to delay
                the Closing Date and to take other appropriate actions in each
                case as necessary in order to allow Nelnet Funding to comply
                with its agreement set forth in Section 12(b) to file the
                Computational Materials by the time specified therein.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                (b) Nelnet Funding shall file the Computational Materials (if
        any) provided to it by the Underwriter under Section 12(a)(iii) with the
        Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 5:30
        P.M., New York time, on the date required pursuant to the Kidder/PSA
        Letters.

        13. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of
Nelnet Funding or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement or contained in notes of officers of Nelnet Funding
submitted pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation or statement as to the results thereof, made by
or on behalf of the Underwriters, Nelnet Funding or any of their respective
representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Notes.

        14. MISCELLANEOUS. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5, 8 and 9
hereof, notice given pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be delivered (i) if to Nelnet Funding, at 121 South 13th
Street, Suite 130, Lincoln, Nebraska 88508, Attention: Terry J. Heimes, and (ii)
if to the Underwriters, to the address of the respective Underwriter set forth
above with a copy to Richard L. Fried, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden
Lane, New York, New York 10038.

        This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters, Nelnet Funding, the Company, their respective directors, officers,
managers, trustees and controlling persons referred to in Section 5 hereof and
their respective successors and assigns, to the extent provided herein, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement. Neither the term "successor" nor the term "successors and assigns" as
used in this Agreement shall include a purchaser from an Underwriter of any of
the Notes in his status as such purchaser.

        15. APPLICABLE LAW; COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of laws or conflict of laws principles thereof.

        Nelnet Funding hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

        This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together
constitute one and the same instrument. If signed in counterparts, this
Agreement shall not become effective unless at least one counterpart hereof or
thereof shall have been executed and delivered on behalf of each party hereto.


                                       23
<PAGE>


        Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Nelnet Funding and the Underwriters.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            NELNET STUDENT LOAN FUNDING, LLC

                                            By: Nelnet, Inc., as Manager

                                            By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Noordhoek
                                                -------------------------------
                                            Name:  Jeffrey R. Noordhoek
                                            Title: Senior Vice President


Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned.




BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, acting on behalf of itself and as
Representative of the Underwriters


By: /s/ Christopher G. Cronk
   -------------------------------
Name:   Christopher G. Cronk
Title:  Managing Director

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., acting on behalf of itself and as
Representative of the Underwriters

By: /s/ James Murphy
    -------------------------------
Name:  James Murphy
Title: Vice President


                                       24
<PAGE>


SCHEDULE A



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Banc of         Deutsche        Credit
                 America           Bank        Suisse First      J.P. Morgan       Morgan           Salomon
                Securities      Securities        Boston         Securities,     Stanley & Co.    Smith Barney
Notes             LLC              Inc.         Corporation          Inc.        Incorporated          Inc.             TOTAL
----------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
<S>          <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
Class A-1    $   57,782,000   $   57,782,000   $   14,359,000   $   14,359,000   $   14,359,000   $   14,359,000   $  173,000,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
Class A-2    $   95,524,000   $   95,524,000   $   23,738,000   $   23,738,000   $   23,738,000   $   23,738,000   $  286,000,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
Class A-3    $   37,493,000   $   37,493,000   $    9,316,000   $    9,316,000   $    9,316,000   $    9,316,000   $  112,250,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------

Class A-4    $  134,804,000   $  134,804,000   $   33,498,000   $   33,498,000   $   33,498,000   $   33,498,000   $  403,600,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
Class B      $   15,075,000   $   15,075,000   $            0   $            0   $            0   $            0   $   30,150,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
Total        $  340,678,000   $  340,678,000   $   80,911,000   $   80,911,000   $   80,911,000   $   80,911,000   $1,005,000,000
             --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Terms of the Notes
                                       -------------------------------------
Class           Interest Rate          Final Maturity Date   Price to Public   Underwriting Discount   Proceeds to Issuer
-----       ------------------------   -------------------   ---------------   ---------------------   ------------------
<S>         <C>                        <C>                   <C>               <C>                     <C>
2003 A-1    3-month LIBOR plus 0.02%             1/25/2009               100%                 0.1900%      $  172,671,300
2003 A-2    3-month LIBOR plus 0.05%             1/25/2013               100%                 0.2000%      $  285,428,000
2003 A-3    3 month LIBOR plus 0.11%             1/25/2016               100%                 0.2150%      $  112,008,663
2003 A-4    3 month LIBOR plus 0.22%             1/25/2032               100%                 0.2265%      $  402,685,846
2003 B      3-month LIBOR plus 0.70%             1/25/2037               100%                 0.5000%      $   29,999,250
TOTAL                                                                                                      $1,002,793,059
</TABLE>