Scholarships for First-Generation College Students: A Comprehensive Guide

For many students, the dream of attending college is a shared family aspiration. However, for first-generation college students - those whose parents have not earned a four-year undergraduate degree - the path to higher education can be particularly challenging. These students often navigate the complexities of college applications, financial aid, and campus life without the benefit of familial experience to guide them. Fortunately, numerous scholarships are specifically designed to support first-generation students in achieving their academic goals.

Defining a First-Generation College Student

Generally, first-generation scholarships are open to students whose parents have not earned a four-year undergraduate degree. However, specific organizations and colleges may define "first generation" differently, so it is crucial to always double-check the eligibility requirements of each scholarship. Some organizations may consider students first-generation even if their parents have some college experience but did not graduate with a four-year degree. Others may have stricter definitions, requiring that neither parent has any college degree at all.

Why First-Generation Scholarships Matter

First-generation college students often face unique barriers in their college application process because their parents have not gone through the same experiences and may not be able to provide as much guidance. Many first-generation college students come from low-income families and belong to underrepresented ethnic or racial groups. They often attend community college, live at home, enroll part-time, and receive little to no financial support from their parents. Often academically underprepared for the demands of postsecondary education, these students are more likely to perform poorly or drop out. Scholarships can help lessen this burden.

Overcoming Challenges: Support and Resources

First-generation students may face added barriers like limited family guidance or financial support, but many schools and nonprofits offer programs that provide academic, financial, and community support. Financial aid options, including FAFSA, grants, and select scholarships, can help make college more accessible for first-gen students. Building a support network through advisors, peers, and first-gen programs can help students feel more confident and prepared.

Nearly one-third of first-generation college students drop out of their program within three years, compared to a dropout rate of just 14% for students with college-educated parents. This disparity highlights the difficulties first-gen enrollees often encounter, including:

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Navigating freshman orientation
Feeling alone or unknown by peers
Maintaining balance or achieving good emotional and mental health
Feeling the absence of an older adult providing guidance
Falling behind in academics
Feeling depleted from so many new and unknown experiences
Not knowing where to receive proper healthcare on campus
Worrying about finding like-minded people
Not knowing where on campus to find a particular service

To combat these challenges, colleges and universities offer a variety of support programs for first-gen students, including financial aid options, mentoring opportunities, and academic counseling. Several nonprofits address the unique needs and challenges of first-generation college enrollees by offering networking opportunities, financial aid for study-abroad programs, and career development guidance.

School officials and counselors can help create a safe space for first-generation college students to address issues that are particular to their situation through social gatherings exclusively for first-gen students and their parents. One-on-one counseling sessions throughout the academic year can also help first-gen students. Additionally, school officials can tap alumni who were first-gen college students themselves to form or join a mentoring program.

Featured Scholarships for First-Generation Students

Here are some examples of scholarships specifically designed for first-generation college students:

The Coca-Cola Foundation First Generation HBCU Scholarship: Available to graduating high school seniors planning to attend a Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member institution.
Dorrance Scholarship Programs: Awards $12,000 annually to incoming, first-generation college students from Arizona who will be attending Arizona State University - Tempe, Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff, or University of Arizona - Tucson. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a minimum test score of 1110 SAT, 22 ACT, or 72 CLT, and agree to live in on-campus housing for their first and second year of college.
UChicago First Phoenix Scholarship: Grants UChicago first-generation college students a $20,000 scholarship spread over four years. No extra materials are required; simply apply for admission and you'll be automatically considered.
Manhattanville First-Generation Award: Awards an annual amount of $2,000 to first-year, first-generation Manhattanville College students.
First Generation Matching Grant Program: A need-based grant program offered to first-generation Florida residents attending any public university in the state.
UChicago Odyssey Scholarship Program: Provides enhanced academic, social, and career support to students who are from lower-income families or the first in their families to attend college. Odyssey Scholars are selected on the basis of financial need and family circumstances and will be eligible for additional funding for study abroad and other costs such as health insurance. Students must apply for need-based financial aid in order to be considered for the Odyssey Scholarship.
Felicia Brewer Opportunity Scholarship: Creates a life-transforming opportunity for first-generation or immigrant students who have overcome significant adversity, giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams and improve their lives through education or training. The Scholarship will be awarded to students who have attended a Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools district high school.
Chang Chavkin Scholars Program - Massachusetts: Recognizes first-generation college students who demonstrate leadership, engagement in the community, and academic achievement.
GIAR Grandmother's First-Generation Scholarship: Annually awards up to $5,000 to first-generation young women of Portuguese, Mexican, Central American, or South American ancestry who are residing in Nevada or Hawaii. Applicants must also be under the age of 25 and have graduated or are graduating seniors from high school with a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0.
APIA Scholarship Program: Awards scholarships worth up to $20,000 to help multiple low-income or first-generation APIA students fund their education.
ISFA First Generation College Student Program: $2,500 award for first-generation college students who submit financial documents, a resume, and a 500-word essay describing their experience as the first in their family to go to college. The essay should focus on how the student intends to apply the lessons they have learned as first generation college students and how a study-abroad opportunity can help them reach their educational and career objectives.
Education Dynamics: $10,000 award for minority students who are first generation college students currently enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s program at an accredited institution or a certificate program. Applicants must submit an essay on the topic indicated in the application form.
Imagine Dragons Origins Scholarship: $2,500 award for first generation, refugee, or immigrant students who submit an essay containing 200-1,000 words describing the educational challenges they faced as immigrant, refugee, or first generation students in America and how facing these challenges impacted their plans. The program is open to applicants pursuing a degree at any level.
Regents’ Scholars Program: $6,000 award for first gen college students admitted to Texas A&M University at College Station, McAllen Higher Education Center, Engineering Academy at Blinn Bryan, and the Engineering Academy at Galveston. Applicants must show a verifiable gross family income of less than $40,000 per year. Recipients must enroll full time, make satisfactory progress in their program each academic year, and continue to demonstrate financial need.
Black Skeptics First in the Family Humanist Scholarship: Six $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school students of color (African American, Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American) who identify as agnostic, atheist, humanist, freethinker, and/or secular. The scholarship aims to support students who have demonstrated a commitment to humanist values and social change.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: Open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content.
Sallie Monthly Sweepstakes: Sallie will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants.
SoFi Monthly Sweepstakes: SoFi is giving away $2,500 for school every month! To apply, you must be 17 years of age or older and enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited institution.
Niche $40,000 No Essay Scholarship: Niche is giving one student $40,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses - no essay required! The winner will be selected by random drawing by November 15th.
Design Your Future Scholarship: Each year, the scholarship offers two $2,500 awards to applicants who write an essay about their dream future life and career, and how they plan on achieving such goals with the help of the scholarship. While every student is welcome to apply, bear in mind that preference will be given to underrepresented minorities and those pursuing design and engineering-related fields. The scholarship is funded by Chairish, an online, vintage furniture, art, and home accessories platform.
Smarter College Scholarship: Smarter College is offering an easy, no-essay scholarship to high school seniors in their quest for higher education!

Finding and Applying for Scholarships

Here are some key steps to take when searching for and applying for first-generation scholarships:

Create an Account on Scholarships.com: When you create an account on Scholarships.com and add your demographic information, you will receive a list of scholarships you’re eligible for, including scholarships for first-generation students. Sort matches by awards with the soonest deadlines or their amounts to find scholarships as efficiently as possible.
Utilize Online Scholarship Platforms: Websites like Scholarships360 can help you browse for Indiana scholarships and education scholarships.
Check Eligibility Requirements: Always read each scholarship’s instructions carefully to ensure that you provide all required documentation. Because the definition of a first-generation college student will likely vary by scholarship, it is important to remember that each first-generation scholarship may have different requirements.
Explore College-Specific Scholarships: Some first-generation scholarships are specific to a particular institution.
Apply for a Variety of Scholarships: Don’t skip over scholarships for first-generation students with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them-and they add up!
Complete the FAFSA: You may need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which shows your family’s education and financial background.
Craft a Compelling Essay: Being able to write about your story will no doubt be a key part of your academic journey. So, knowing how to write about yourself is going to be an important skill. If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won.
Highlight Your Accomplishments: Take some time to explore how to build a scholarship resume that can highlight your accomplishments and work history outside of academics.
Seek Guidance: Find a college access program like Higher Edge to guide you through the process and to believe in you along the way.

Tips for Writing a Strong Scholarship Essay

Before diving into your scholarship application, take some time to reflect on your experiences as a first-generation student. Think about how your background has influenced your aspirations and the skills you’ve developed along the way. For example, navigating the complexities of the college application process without prior family experience may have fostered your resourcefulness, determination, and ability to seek help when needed. Share how these experiences have not only shaped who you are but also how they connect to your future goals in college and beyond. You might discuss the benefits of better college counseling, or reform in the admissions system. Being the first of a generation to go to college means you have a unique story.

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships

Key Steps to College Readiness

Getting ready for college requires preparation, perseverance, and patience. Here's a timeline to help first-generation students prepare:

Months Leading into Senior Year:

Research schools, take virtual tours, and visit campuses when possible.
Take career quizzes to get a sense of possible majors.

August:

Create a map of potential schools and application deadlines.
Begin thinking about writing essays, requesting transcripts, and asking teachers to write recommendations.

September:

Write and compile essays, focusing on the struggles you have overcome and the hard work you have invested to be the first in your family to attend college.

October:

Submit the FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid.
Take entrance exams like the SAT or ACT (consider taking them once in your junior year to get a sense of improvement areas).

November:

Request and gather recommendations from teachers or coaches that speak to your strength and character.

December:

Submit early-decision applications.

February:

Prepare for entrance interviews, if required.

March:

Choose a school based on factors such as location, alumni success rates, and program cost versus awarded aid.

April:

Review and accept financial aid packages.

May:

Complete final steps such as finding a job, taking AP exams, determining where you will live, or sending final transcripts.

Additional Resources for First-Generation Students

America Needs You: Provides mentorship opportunities for first-generation college students with the goal of improving graduation rates and enhancing employment options after graduation.
Center for First-Generation Student Success: Provides a variety of practice-based resources and professional development opportunities for higher education practitioners focused on the academic requirements and career goals of first-generation college students.
First Generation Foundation: Offers resources and support to first-generation college students.
FirstGen Program at University of California schools: A great initiative to improve college accessibility aimed towards first generation students.

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