20 Scholarships for First-Generation Students

Being the first to do anything can be intimidating. But being a first-generation college student, meaning they are the first in their family to attend college, can face many challenges during their first year at college. These students need support and help along the way to earn their college degrees and make their families proud.

Luckily, high school and college student scholarships have been created to address the needs of these students. Below is a shortlist of our picks for the best scholarships for first-generation college students.

About First Generation Scholarship 

Forty-two percent of the students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree for the 2015-2016 academic school year were first-generation students. Even though these students are overcoming some of the barriers they face pursuing a college degree, they can still use support to cover costs associated with higher education, like tuition or books, meal plans, or rooming fees. 

That’s where scholarships come in! Plenty of scholarships are open to first-generation applicants to help these students attend college and achieve their academic goals.

What are First Generation Scholarships?

First-generation scholarships are financial awards that are only open to applicants who are first-generation students, meaning the first in their family to attend college or university. These first-generation college students may pursue an undergraduate degree in a major of their choice. A first-generation scholarship can help with the costs that financial aid may not cover, including textbooks, meal plans, tuition, and more.

What Qualifies as a First Generation Scholarship?

It is usually very easy to tell when a scholarship is meant specifically for first-generation students. All scholarships have specific requirements that applicants have to meet to be considered for the award. This can usually be found in the scholarship description or the essay entry prompt if there is a writing component. 

Many popular scholarship websites have sections labeled by type of scholarship so that you can find the scholarships you are likely to qualify for more easily.   

Types of First Generation Scholarships Available

Many different types of scholarships are open to only first-generation college students or all students for applications. Here is a short list of the types of scholarships available. 

Merit 

Merit scholarships are financial awards not based on financial need but on a student’s demonstrable ability. For example, a merit scholarship for engineering students may require that applicants present an engineering-related project that they have done. 

Private 

Businesses, organizations, or clubs fund these to cover school costs. These can be local, regional, or national-level scholarships, depending on the size of the group awarding the scholarship. 

Academic 

These scholarships are based solely on your proven academic ability. These can be decided on the applicant’s grade-point average (GPA), standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, AP exams, etc.), or other academic scores.

Major-based

Major-based scholarships are financial awards only available to students who have declared a particular major. These scholarships can be as broad as only art majors or foreign language majors, or they can be as specific as only open to Greek history majors. 

How to Find First Generation Scholarships to Apply for?

Looking for scholarships can be a complicated and lengthy process, especially if you don’t know where to start. But, there are a lot of resources available to help students find scholarships that they qualify for.

The internet is the best place to start if you need help looking for scholarships. There are many websites dedicated to collecting and showcasing scholarships to students in need. These websites are helpful because you can filter out scholarships you know you won’t qualify for. 

Your advisor, counselor, professors, or other students within your major or undergraduate degree program are also great resources for finding scholarships. 

Tips for Winning First Generation Scholarships

So now you know where to look for scholarships, but how do you make sure that you get chosen? Well, there is no way to guarantee that you’ll win all the scholarships that you apply for, but you can increase your chances with these tips.

Start Looking Early

Students who begin looking when they’re high school seniors have more time to apply for and win scholarships.

Be Aware of What the Scholarship Requires

For scholarships that require an essay, make sure that your essay answers all parts of the prompt. Look for ramblings or extra information that doesn’t pertain to the subject of the prompt.

Also, make sure that your writing is clear and engaging. Having an essay that is boring and hard to read is an easy way to lose the sponsor’s attention when they try to read your response. 

Look for Smaller Award Amounts, Too

Another way to increase your chances of winning is to go for scholarships with smaller award amounts. Many students go for the big dollar amounts in hopes of “winning big” and getting the most money possible. But, a lot of students will apply for these same scholarships for this reason. Making the pool of students that you’re competing against smaller gives you a better chance of winning. 

Frequently Asked Questions About First Generation Scholarships

Still, have some questions about first-generation scholarships? Here are some additional questions that you might have.

Are First Generation scholarships legit?

Most First Generation College Student Scholarships are legit. Of course, you may run into some scholarships that are shady or otherwise too good to be true. Make sure you are careful during your scholarship search, especially online, and never give out any sensitive information. 

How can I improve my chances of winning First Generation scholarships?

More often than not, scholarships open to only first-generation college students will want to know a little about how your first-generation student experiences affect you. Writing about those experiences in a thought-provoking way and moving could increase your chances of winning. 

How many First Generation scholarships can you get?

There is no limit to how many first-generation scholarships you can get. However, scholarships sponsored by a specific school usually require you to attend that school if you accept the award. That is something to be cautious of if the scholarship comes from a college or university program you do not want to attend.

Are First Generation scholarships taxable income?

If you spend the money on school, your scholarship awards will not be considered taxable income. 

What’s the best way to apply for First Generation scholarships?

Applying online is likely one of the easiest ways to apply for scholarships. You can find and filter the scholarships you apply for as well as keep track of these scholarships after you apply. Other students who are applying at the same time can also share links to scholarships they think you would have a good chance of winning.