FORM 3
        	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
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                      	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	                      	

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

REARDON MICHAEL D	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY)
1/15/2004 
	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

NELNET INC [NNI]	
(Last)        (First)        (Middle)

121 SOUTH 13TH STREET, SUITE 201	4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

__ X __ Director                            _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below)          _____ Other (specify below)	
(Street)

LINCOLN, NE 68508       

(City)              (State)              (Zip)	5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person	

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned	
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)	
Class A Common Stock  	2000   (1)	D  	 	

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)	
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)	3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)	
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares				

Explanation of Responses:	
(  1) 	The shares are owned jointly by Mr. Reardon and his spouse.	

Reporting Owners	
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships	
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other	
REARDON MICHAEL D
121 SOUTH 13TH STREET
SUITE 201
LINCOLN, NE 68508	X				

Signatures		
/s/ Michael D. Reardon		1/16/2004	
** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.	
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).	
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).	
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.	
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.