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Top 20 First Generation Scholarships for Students in February 2023
Will you be the first person in your immediate family to attend college? If so, you are a first-generation college student! There are numerous colleges and private organizations that offer first generation scholarships for students who will be the first in their family to attend college!
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 always double-check.
Keep on reading to learn more about eligibility, award amount, and tips for how to find and win first generation scholarships!
Jump ahead to.
- Top first generation scholarships
- How to win scholarships as a first generation student
- Resources for first generation college students
- Frequently asked questions about first generation scholarships
- Explore these additional scholarship categories
Top 20 First Generation Scholarships for Students in February 2023
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:
- The scholarship requires a fee to apply
- The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
- The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
- Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
- The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
- The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
- The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
- There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
- The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
- There is no available contact information
If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
Scholarships360 Exclusive
Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
$25,000 No Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
Offered by Fontana Transport, Inc.
Open to underrepresented, high school seniors who will be first-gen college students who want to help their family and community.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship
Offered by NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education
Open to high school seniors & college students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in health-related research.
Brown Girls Do, Inc. College Scholarship
Offered by Brown Girls Do Ballet
Full-time, female undergraduate students of color with a strong dance background. Priority given to first-gen students with financial need.
First Generation Matching Grant Program
Offered by Florida Department of Education
Open to Florida residents who are first generation college students and enrolled at Florida state universities.
Chairish Design Your Future Scholarship
Offered by Chairish
Open to all students, with preference given to design and engineering majors and students from underrepresented backgrounds.
APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship
Offered by American Psychological Foundation
Open to minority graduate students who have financial need and demonstrate a dedication to improving social disparities.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Jan 31, 2024AANAPISI Scholarship
Offered by APIA Scholars
Open to full-time, undergraduate, Asian or Pacific Islander students at AANAPISI Partner Institutions.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Jan 19, 2024$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
APIA Scholarship Program
Offered by APIA Scholars
Open to low-income, first generation, incoming or current college students who identify as APIA.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Jan 19, 2024Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to any BIPOC and/or female high school senior or undergraduate who is a first-generation, low-income student interested in STEM.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Nov 19, 2023The Gates Scholarship
Offered by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Open to minority high school seniors from low-income households with outstanding academic records and demonstrated leadership abilities.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Sep 15, 2023Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship
Offered by Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Open to first generation part-time and full-time students pursuing a college or graduate degree at a two or four-year HACU member institution.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Jul 1, 2023Douvas Memorial Scholarship
Offered by Wyoming Department of Education
Open to first-generation American high school seniors from Wyoming who exhibit need and motivation to go to college and do so in Wyoming.
This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.
Apr 30, 2023$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Sponsored
Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school students.
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.
How to win scholarships as a first generation student
As a first-generation college student, it’s no secret that you’ve probably had to work hard for the opportunities you’ve gotten! You know as well as us that whether you’re applying for small scholarships or worldwide opportunities, every little bit counts, which is why we want to help provide you with as many resources as possible.
Being the first of a generation to go to college means you have a unique story. 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. It may also help you to be familiar with some of the most common scholarship essays. College may not be the first thing you’ve done with your life. Take some time to explore how to build a scholarship resume that can highlight your accomplishments and work history outside of academics. Once you’ve done that you can explore tips about how to write winning scholarships essays and how to start your scholarship application essays.
Resources for first generation college students
First generation college students often face unique barriers in their college application process. Because their parents have not gone through the same trials and tribulations, they may not be able to help as thoroughly as parents who have. First-generation college students should check if they qualify for CollegePoint, a free online resource that matches you with a current college student to counsel you through the entire application process.
Many schools also have specific programs and resource hubs for first-generation college students. For example, the FirstGen program at University of California schools is a great initiative to improve college accessibility aimed towards first generation students. These resources can help with admissions as well as adjusting to campus life when you’re enrolled. Similar programs exist across the country, so make sure to inquire about them at any school you’re considering.
Frequently asked questions about first-generation scholarships
Am I first generation if my siblings went to college?
Some organizations may define first generation as students whose parents and siblings do not have four year degrees. Others may say that you are only first generation if your parents have not received any degree at all (including two year degrees).
However, the most common definition is students whose parents have not completed four year college degrees. If you are interested in learning more about why being a first generation college student matters, check out this post!
Am I first gen if a parent started college, but did not finish?
Yes, the key part of being first generation is that your parents did not complete college. If they took a few classes or semesters, but did not ultimately graduate, you are first generation.
Do you have any application tips for first generation colleges students applying for scholarships?
Yes, we do! Our Ultimate Guide to Finding and Winning Scholarships is just what you’re looking for. This guide will help you also discover and apply for other great scholarships.
First generation college students can also apply for need-based financial aid through the FAFSA and for some colleges, the CSS Profile. This can allow students to access grants like the Pell Grant, federal student loans, state financial aid, and work-study.
