First Generation College Student Scholarships
It is comforting to know you can rely on a parent or guardian to share first-hand insight as they walk you through the college search and application process. However, not everyone has that support. This is especially true for students with parents who did not graduate from college themselves. If this distinction describes you, you are a first-generation student.
First generation students have parents who never attained a college degree. About half of all college students nationwide are first generation students. Being a first-generation student is an essential distinction because being the first in your family to go to college comes with struggles that other students might not experience.
First generation students have unique experiences
First generation college students often have a different experience than students with parents who finished college. These students miss out on helpful first-hand advice and perspective, so meeting critical deadlines and navigating the application can be more challenging.
Because of this, it's much more common for first-generation students to attend community college part-time while living at home and receiving little to no financial support from their parents. Unfortunately, research confirms that 33% of first generation college students drop out of their program within three years. In comparison, students with college-educated parents have a drop-out rate of just 14%.
The good news is that colleges offer a variety of support programs for first generation students, including financial aid options and scholarships to help you pay for college. If you are the first in your family to attend college, you’re likely reading this because you may be eligible for a first generation scholarship. So let’s jump in now.
First generation scholarship eligibility criteria
The National Center for Education Statistics defines a first-generation college student as an undergraduate enrollee whose parents do not have a bachelor's degree. This definition typically applies to both parents but can also apply solely to the parent with whom the student lives.
While this definition is used by many colleges and universities around the country, it’s not the only benchmark for first-generation college student scholarships.
Many degree-awarding institutions have their definition of what constitutes a first generation college student. Some, for instance, do not consider students whose parents have earned an associate degree to be first-generation college applicants.
This means colleges and universities often have their own criteria for scholarship applicants. So be sure to check their websites to verify their criteria. If you have questions, you can always contact the admissions office.
Qualifying for first generation scholarships
As we said, if you are the first in your family to attend college, you may be eligible for these scholarships, funded by both public and private sources and awarded based on the specific criteria set by each program.
Eligible students must meet a range of merit—and need-based requirements. Typically, first generation scholarships require a higher-than-average GPA and consider financial need related to college expenses.
Applying for first generation scholarships
Applying for a first-generation scholarship is just like applying for any scholarship, except you are a unique applicant. Verify the requirements for each scholarship and only apply to those that apply to you. If additional information or documents are required, gather them before applying.
Start asking for recommendation letters early. Bear in mind the person you are asking may be busy, so try to give them a few weeks’ notice to allow sufficient time to write you a letter of recommendation that will help your cause.
If you must write an essay, give yourself enough time to write a rough draft and have it proofread by someone you consider to be an excellent reader and eloquent speaker. This could be anyone from a parent or other relative to an English teacher at your school.
Finding first generation scholarships
Scholarships for first-generation students, or first in family scholarships, are designed for students whose parents did not attend or graduate from college. The organizations offering these awards recognize that these students often face more significant challenges than peers from families with a history of college education.
These families may lack the resources to support their child’s success and may be less familiar with the college application and financial aid process. Scholarship providers strive to give first-generation students an advantage by helping them level the playing field.
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
Colleges recognize the need to support first generation students by providing their own scholarships for accepted students. Here are just a few examples:
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 their admissions department or do a search on their website to check for their specific scholarships and programs.
First generation scholarships to check out
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 help you pay for 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.
