First-Generation College Student Scholarships

It is comforting to rely on a parent or guardian for insight during the college search and application process. Not everyone has that support. This is especially true for students whose parents did not graduate from college. If this describes you, you are a first-generation student.

First-generation students have parents who never earned a college degree. About half of all college students in the United States fall into this category. Being a first-generation student matters because it can bring challenges other students may not face.

First-generation students have unique experiences

First-generation college students often miss out on first-hand advice about deadlines, applications, and navigating campus life. This can make the process more challenging.

Many first-generation students attend community college part-time, live at home, and receive little financial support from parents. Research shows that 33 percent of first-generation students drop out within three years, compared to 14 percent of students with college-educated parents.

Colleges recognize these challenges and offer programs, financial aid, and scholarships to help first-generation students succeed.

First-generation scholarship eligibility criteria

The National Center for Education Statistics defines a first-generation college student as an undergraduate whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. This usually applies to both parents, but some programs focus on the parent the student lives with.

Not all institutions follow the same definition. Some do not consider students with parents who earned an associate degree to be first-generation. This is why it is essential to review each scholarship’s specific criteria and confirm details with admissions or financial aid offices.

Qualifying for first-generation scholarships

Public or private sources may provide the funding for first-generation scholarships, and each program has its own requirements. Many consider GPA, financial need, extracurricular involvement, and leadership roles. Some focus on merit, others on need, and some combine both.

Applying for first-generation scholarships

Applying for a first-generation scholarship is just like applying for any scholarship, except you are a unique applicant. Here's an overview of the process.

• Verify that you meet the program’s first-generation definition.
• Gather documents such as FAFSA or CSS Profile results, transcripts, recommendation letters, and essays.
• Ask for recommendation letters early to give writers enough time.
• Write your essay well in advance and have it reviewed by a skilled reader.
• Submit applications to a mix of local, national, and school-specific scholarships.

Where to find first-generation scholarships

First-generation scholarships are for students whose parents did not attend or complete college. These programs aim to help students overcome additional challenges and close opportunity gaps.

Online scholarship databases and financial aid advising services can help you narrow your options and filter by applicable scholarships. You can start here with your own search:

College Greenlight

College Greenlight, an Appily service built for first-generation, low-income, and other underserved students, lets users create a free account to browse a database housing billions of dollars in scholarships and other college prep resources. You can also visit their First Generation Scholarship page here. 

UStrive

UStrive offers college counseling and mentoring services for high school and college students. UStrive mentors can help first generation students find scholarships and answer questions about the financial aid and college application processes.

FirstGEN Fellows

Designed for first-in-family undergraduates who want to pursue a career in social justice, FirstGEN Fellows awards a one-time $1,500 stipend per student, alongside a 10-week summer internship in or near the District of Columbia.

Corporate Scholarship Programs

Mercedes-Benz Drive Your Future Scholarship provides First in Family opportunities for high school seniors who are the first members of their immediate families to matriculate. The scholarship is open to high achievers who combine stellar academic performance with extracurricular success.

The Coca-Cola Foundation generously gives back to many world communities with college scholarships for first-generation college students. Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarships are awarded to dozens of international first-in-family undergraduate and graduate students each year. Each applicant must exhibit financial need and a reasonable academic record.

First in Family Philanthropy

The J. Craig and Page T. Smith Scholarship Foundation is an Alabama philanthropic organization founded by Mignon Smith. The organization’s primary objective is to send disadvantaged Alabama students to college. Smith scholarships are not limited to first-generation college students, but priority consideration is granted to applicants who are. Eligible applicants maintain C averages and engage in some special civic or family activities.

Farash Foundation First in Family Scholarships provide tuition assistance for first generation college students in New York’s Monroe and Ontario counties.  Winners are eligible for full-ride scholarships designed to leave them debt-free following graduation.  Community service and non-profit work is required during school, in exchange for scholarships.

Norm Bedford, associate vice president for student financial services at Virginia Commonwealth University, suggests setting Google alerts to monitor newly posted scholarships based on your profile. 

You can add criteria to the alerts, such as being a first-generation student, to narrow down potential opportunities and notify you when a scholarship appears.

Scholarships for first-generation students already in college

Many colleges award scholarships to their enrolled first-generation students. Examples include:

The First Generation Initiative Scholarship from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota helps students who maintain high grade point averages in high school and demonstrate high levels of financial need on their FAFSA. Extracurricular leadership roles in church, school, or community are considered when determining scholarship winners.

The First Generation Matching Grant Program from the Florida Department of Education uses a partnership with private donors to provide first-generation resident students with a one-to-one dollar match for first-generation students who submit the FAFSA.

The First Family Scholarships at Catawba College are the college's most prestigious scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to students who have been accepted to Catawba and are invited to compete based on their academic record. The scholarships range from $14,500 to full tuition.

Michigan Grand Valley State University’s Frederik Meijer Honors College full-tuition First Generation Scholarships are renewable for up to eight semesters for honors students who are first members of their immediate families to go to college. 

Before applying to a college, check with its admissions department or visit its website to check for its specific scholarships and programs.

First-generation scholarships to check out

The following are some lists compiled with the names and links for first-generation scholarships:

·   Scholarships for First-Generation College Students from Appily

·   First Generation Scholarships from Bold.org

·   First Generation College Student Scholarships from Scholarships360.com

·   First Generation Scholarships from JLV College Counseling

·   First in Family Scholarships from Scholarships.com

·   Scholarships for First to College Students by GreatSchools.org

·   First Generation Grants and Scholarships from CollegeGrant.net

Other financial help for first-generation students

If you’re a first-generation student, help is available to support your education. Depending on your family's income, you might qualify for federal Pell Grants, so be sure to complete the FAFSA to be awarded that aid.

You might also qualify for other scholarships and awards apart from those allocated for first-generation students. To research and find these additional opportunities, you can use Appily's scholarship database. We have millions of dollars worth of scholarships that have all been vetted, so they're legit and scam-free.

Better yet, when you click the button below to create a free account, you'll get personalized scholarship matches shared with you. That's almost like money coming knocking on your door. 

First-generation student and scholarship FAQs