If your hardworking teenager will be the first member of your family to attend a four-year college, you may be concerned about how to pay for it. Where will the money to pay tuition, room and board, and text books come from? This list of scholarships for first-to-college students — aka first-generation students or first-in-family scholarships — is a great place to start. Many require short applications, an essay, and a demonstration of financial need. Multiple sources, including corporations, philanthropists, colleges, and state agencies, have scholarships for aspiring kids like yours. Once you’ve perused this list (and had your child apply to as many as possible), ask the high school counselor to provide you with a relevant list of scholarships your child may be eligible for, too.
National first-to-college scholarships
Amount(s): Up to six awardees receive $5,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: Graduating high school seniors who are BIPOC and/or AAPI and who will be the first in their families to go to college. Applicants must live in the U.S. and identify as atheist, agnostic, humanist and/or secular. Funding also available for students in their second, third, and fourth years of college
Amount(s): $10,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year for junior and senior year). The Clarkston Scholar also participates in a mentorship program with Clarkston stewards to gain exposure to the professional world.
Who鈥檚 eligible: Highly-driven, first-generation college sophomores who excel in the classroom, have an interest in consulting or the industries Clarkston serves, and demonstrate financial need. Must attend one of Clarkston’s Core Schools (University of Michigan, Babson College, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Georgia Tech, Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, University of Arizona, or Arizona State University).
Amount(s): 150 students receive $20,000 for college through their Scholars Program Scholarship and other assistance to up to 1,400 students.
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students with at least a 3.0 GPA
Amount(s): $4,000 annually for up to five years
Who鈥檚 eligible: African-American, Native American, Alaskan, Hawaiian, or Hispanic/Latino heritage students, from low-income households, with preference given to first-generation college students; 3.0 GPA; Intended or declared major in transportation engineering, planning, or a related field; must enroll at a college with an
Amount(s): $1,500
Who鈥檚 eligible: African-American, first-to-college students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Amount(s): $1,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: In a 700-1,000 word essay, applicants describe their experience as a first-generation citizen. Applicants must be enrolled in a college and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Amount(s): $5,000 plus support, mentoring, and educational resources
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-to-college students; 2.5 GPA; have taken the SAT or ACT; financial need
(Available on the Mercedes-Benz website when the company is accepting applicants in the fall of each year.)
Amount: $10,000 ($2,500 per year for four years) was recently given to more than 100 students each year.
Who鈥檚 eligible: High school seniors who are first in their family to attend college, who demonstrate financial need, and who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Preference is given to students from underprivileged backgrounds who have shown triumph over adversity.
Amount: $2,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation Asian and Pacific Islander students; applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens
Amount: $1,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: Women of an international background who are immigrants, foreign students, or first generation in the U.S. Applicants answer short questions; submit an essay; submit letters of recommendation. A limited number of students are selected for 30-minute interviews held via phone.
Amount(s): $500 to $5,000. Also provides one-on-one guidance, career development, mentoring, and preparation for workforce entry, graduate school, and internships.
Who鈥檚 eligible: Applicants must be residents of specific underserved communities in California, Texas, Illinois, and New York (see list on site). Applicants must be be from a low-income household; have a minimum 2.5 GPA; be fully enrolled for the academic year; and attend mandatory sessions. Priority is given to applicants majoring in business, STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math; applicants at colleges that provide matching funds; applicants going to colleges in Southern California; current College Success Program participants.
Amount(s): Fifty-seven students receive up to $7,000 for the academic school year
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation students who demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, who are enrolled as full-time freshmen in any of the 53 HBCUs, HBCCs, PBIs, medical and law schools.
Amount(s): A variety of opportunities
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students whose parents/guardians did not graduate from a 4-year college or university who want to attend a USAC study abroad program.
Midwest
Where: Grand Valley State University Honors College in Allendale, Michigan [https://www.gvsu.edu/honor/]
Amount(s): Full-tuition scholarship for a select number of first year students, renewable for up to eight semesters if student maintains good standing in the Honors College
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students who are first in their immediate family to pursue a college degree and are accepted into the Honors College by March 1.
Where: Indiana University
Amount(s): Varies, was previously $2,700
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation sophomores, juniors, or seniors with demonstrated financial need; must also be members of OVPDEMA (Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs)
Where: Iowa State University
Amount(s): Varies
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students enrolled full-time in the Ivy College of Business as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Scholarship can be renewed for up to three years if recipient meets criteria.
Northeast
Where: Maryland
Amount(s): $1,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: Residents of Maryland who are the first person in his/her immediate family attending an accredited Maryland post-secondary school and who are planning to enter a medical or medical-related field.
Where: St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY
Amount(s): 24 students will receive up to half of the total cost of tuition and room and board for up to four years.
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students whose parents did not graduate from college and who are planning to attend Fisher College the following fall semester, and who have a high school GPA of B/B+, a strong high school curriculum, are willing to commit to weekly community engagement with a local nonprofit organization.
Where: Colleges in New York鈥檚 Monroe
County or Ontario County
Amount(s): Full scholarships including tuition, room, board, health insurance, and mandatory fees.
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students at Finger Lakes Community College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Monroe Community College, Nazareth College, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, The College at Brockport, University of Rochester. Students are considered regardless of need and/or merit. Recipients must fulfill a community service requirement and live in campus sponsored housing.
Where: Must live in the five boroughs of New York City
Amount(s): Twelve awardees receive up to $15,000 annually for four years, plus a laptop
Who鈥檚 eligible: 12th graders planning to attend college. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. Preference given to students whose parents have not graduated from college; students with high-achieving academic record; students who demonstrate financial need.
Where: Rhode Island
Amount(s): $1,000 per year for up to three years
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students who are residents of Rhode Island who demonstrate financial need and whose parents did not graduate from college
South
Where: Must be a Florida resident
Amount(s): Covers remaining costs of attending the university for four years and funds one summer internship, study abroad, or academic research.
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation female students entering freshman year. Must submit a FAFSA and apply to two other scholarships.
Where: Florida
Amount(s): Varies.
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students who who demonstrate substantial financial need by filling out FAFSA; are Florida residents; and who are enrolled in a Florida state university or college.
Where: North or South Carolina
Amount(s): Varies
Who鈥檚 eligible: South Carolina or North Carolina residents who are the first person in their family to attend a two- or four-year college and who have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Where: Texas A&M University
Amount(s): 850 freshmen receive up to $6,000 per year for up to four years
Who鈥檚 eligible: Students whose parents do not have a bachelor鈥檚 degree, whose family income is less than $40,000 per year, who live on campus freshman year, and who participate in an academic success program.
Where: Alabama
Amount(s): $5,000-$20.000
Who鈥檚 eligible: Alabama high school seniors seeking to attend Alabama colleges, with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Civic involvement and/or special family responsibility is required. Priority is given to disadvantaged students and first-generation students.
Where: Chattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Amount(s): $2,000
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students
West
Where: Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Amount: Twenty winners will receive between $500 and $12,500
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students with a 2.5 GPA who are or will be enrolled full-time
Where: One of Arizona鈥檚 three residential public universities (Arizona State University-Tempe, Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff, University of Arizona-Tucson)
Amount(s): Up to $12,000 annually, renewable for up to 4 years
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students who graduated from an Arizona high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA; 1110 SAT, 22 ACT, or 72 CLT; and who demonstrate financial need.
Where: Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado
Amount(s): Seventy five recipients receive $5,000 annually, with the possibility of renewal for up to 5 years. First Generation Award recipients are eligible for an additional $2,500 Partnership Award through the Community for Excellence.
Who鈥檚 eligible: First-generation college students who are incoming freshmen with a high GPA and who demonstrate significant financial need.
Where: University of Colorado Boulder
Amount: $4,000 per year for residents; $8,000 for non-residents
Who鈥檚 eligible: Undergraduate Colorado residents who have financial need and whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree.
