Top First Generation College Student Scholarships
First generation scholarships support students who are the first in their family to attend college!
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 specific scholarships for first generation students.
Generally, first gen 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.
For information on eligibility, the award amount, and application links for all of the first generation college student scholarships, keep reading!
First Generation Matching Grant Program
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors in Florida who have demonstrated financial need. Students must be planning on attending a Florida state college or university (4 year or 2 year)
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Varies depending on the college
Newman’s Own Scholarships
- Eligibility: First generation high school students who are applying to Kenyon College
- Amount: Varies (this scholarship eliminates the loan portion of a student’s financial aid package and replaces it with a grant)
- Deadline: Varies (depending on whether the student applies Regular Decision, Early Decision 1, or Early Decision 2).
Odyssey Scholarships
- Eligibility: First generation high school students who are applying to the University of Chicago.
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Varies (depending on whether the student applies Regular Decision, Early Action, Early Decision 1, or Early Decision 2).
Questbridge National College Match Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school seniors who have demonstrated financial need (while Questbridge is not exclusive to first generation students, 70% of finalists are first generation students)
- Amount: Full funding (including tuition, room, and board) for four years
- Deadline: September 26th
Regents’ Scholars Program
- Eligibility: High school seniors with demonstrated financial need who apply to Texas A&M.
- Amount: $6,000 per year for up to four years
- Deadline: January 1st (this is the date that students submit the FAFSA in order to be eligible)
Deadline passed, but check back next year:
Life Reimagined First-Gen Scholarship
- Eligibility: First generation college students currently attending a four year college, two year college, or technical or vocational program.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: December 31
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.
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! Here is our Ultimate Guide for Finding & Winning Scholarships. This guide will help you also discover and apply for other great scholarships.
How can I apply for need based financial aid?
Need based financial aid is an extremely important part of paying for college. First of all, you will want to see which need based financial aid forms the college in question requires. Almost all colleges will require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA), but others may require additional forms like the CSS Profile. It is always best to check for the required forms on the college’s financial aid website.
To summarize, these are the top first generation scholarships for 2020:
