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First in Family Scholarships

The road to a college degree is paved with countless detours for the average student, but if you are the first in your family to choose that path, you can anticipate more obstacles in your academic endeavors. Rest assured, there is ample financial support for those who qualify.

As a first-generation student, you are likely to be challenged with navigating the college process without the learning curve that comes from having a college graduate family member to lean on. Parents who do not have much first-hand experience or insight on how to maximize your financial aid package or the importance of internship opportunities, and networking can be difficult. While figuring out how to balance a full course load, a part-time job, and social life are skills you will develop along the way, most colleges and quite a few organizations offer scholarships specifically for first-generation students to help them thrive in higher education.

Saint Mary’s University, for example, started their First-Generation Initiative that offers access and financial support to first-generation students. The University of Iowa provides the First Generation Iowa program to first in family students, the University of Colorado Boulder has the First Generation Grant and Texas A&M University offers the Regents’ Scholarship.

Wherever you are in your college journey, Scholarships.com can help you reach your destination. Below is a list of some popular first-generation scholarships from our database of over 2.7 million awards. You can find even more scholarships by conducting a free college scholarship search and be well on your way to starting a new family tradition.

Arnold White Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2021
  • Amount: $1,500
  • To apply for the Arnold White Memorial Scholarship, you must be a GED graduate, or be a current graduating senior or former graduate from high schools in the communities of Lyons, Lincoln and Fairbury in Nebraska. The applicant must demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to those applicants that are first-generation college students. (This criterion will only be used as a [...] More

Benjamin and Patricia Allen Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/2/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • To be eligible for the Benjamin and Patricia Allen Scholarship, applicants shall be enrolled in the Ivy College of Business full-time. Preference shall be given to first generation students which is defined as a student whose parents have not graduated from an institute of higher education with a four-year degree. This scholarship shall be made available to undergraduate students. This [...] More

California Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF)

  • Application Deadline: 12/31/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Orange County (OC) Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund (HEEF) serves US Citizens, Permanent Residents and Dream Act/ AB 540 students who live in Orange County, California only. HEEF offers competitive academic scholarships for OC high school and community college transfers who qualify for need based financial aid and who enroll at a 4-year college or university. For more information or to [...] More

Carol A. Hurley Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/16/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • This scholarship was established by the friends, family, and colleagues of Carol Hurley, a VSAC outreach counselor who helped first-generation college-bound students prepare for college. In order to apply, you must be a graduate of one of the following high schools: Randolph Area Vocational Center, Randolph Union High School, Rochester Union High School, Whitcomb High School, Windsor High School, [...] More

Colgate-Palmolive Haz la U Educational Grant Program

  • Application Deadline: 11/30/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • In partnership with Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), Colgate-Palmolive is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual Haz la U™ (Make the U ) educational grant program. Winners will be selected by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation based on their academic excellence and dedication, and demonstration of leadership within their community. For more information or to apply, please visit the [...] More

Colorado Mesa University's First Generation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $1,000
  • CMU's First Generation Scholarship is valued at $1,000 per academic year. This award is available to all incoming freshmen students whose parents have not graduated with a four-year degree. Applicant must complete a FAFSA and have earned a 3.0 GPA. The scholarship can be renewed for a maximum of 120 credit hours as long as the student maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time status (12 Credit [...] More

Corinne Licostie Family Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2021
  • Amount: $500
  • The Corinne Licostie Family Foundation is for high school seniors and college students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership qualities, community service and/or outstanding personal achievements. Special consideration will be given to students with a demonstrated financial need; who have parents that did not attend college; who have overcome significant adversity; or who are [...] More

CSUB Robert M. Odell Endowed Scholarship in Public Administration

  • Application Deadline: 1/2/2021
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) established the Robert M. Odell endowed Scholarship Fund in April 1987 to honor this former city treasurer of Los Angeles. Eligible applicants must: be in a degree program in public administration (specializing in finance); have a 3.0 GPA; a first-generation college student; be currently enrolled as a full-time, upper-division [...] More

CSUB Wilson C. Riles Education Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/2/2021
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The CSUB Wilson C. Riles Education Scholarship is offered to education majors, with preference given to first generation college students. Recipients must be taking 6 credits, and have a 3.0 GPA.

    For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Dorrance Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/8/2021
  • Amount: $12,000
  • The Dorrance Scholarship for first-generation students is a need-based award providing financial and academic support for Arizona high school graduates pursuing an undergraduate degree at one of Arizona’s public universities. The award is renewable for a total of eight semesters (four years) of funding. Applicants must be high school seniors who are Arizona residents, first-generation college [...] More

Fearless Scholar Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 9/1/2020
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The Fearless Scholar Foundation raises funds to financially assist cancer survivors in pursuing their collegiate education. A selection committee will choose a limited number of scholarship recipients based on the applicants’ personal hardships, assessing their financial needs and their desire to move forward fearlessly to earn their first bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have been diagnosed [...] More

Florida First Generation Matching Grant

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • The First Generation Matching Grant Program (FGMG) is a need-based grant program available to degree-seeking, resident, undergraduate students who demonstrate substantial financial need, and are enrolled in eligible participating postsecondary
    institutions. Eligible students have a parent(s) who has not earned a baccalaureate or higher degree. Program is available at Florida state universities [...] More

Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/13/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is open to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time in transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, PreMed, psychology, Spanish language/literature. The applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen but must have a minimum 3.5 [...] More

Forward Freethought First in the Family Humanist Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/26/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Black Skeptics Los Angeles will award scholarships to students of color (African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American) who identify as agnostic, atheist, humanist and/or secular. Preference will be given to applicants who are the first in their families who go to college, are or have been in foster care, homeless or undocumented, and LGBTQ students. For more information or to [...] More

Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/20/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship is offered to first generation Asian Americans who have a demonstrated interest in business (business major not required). Eligible applicants must be an incoming freshman enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college/university with a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be able to demonstrate financial need. Must also be a resident of Alameda, Contra [...] More

Fund for Education Abroad - DC Area Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/10/2021
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The DC Area Scholarship is available to a deserving student who attends a U.S. university/college located in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, or suburban Maryland. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a U.S. college or university. Though not a requirement, FEA gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need, [...] More

Fund for Education Abroad - Minnesota Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/10/2021
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The Fund for Education Abroad - Minnesota Scholarship scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student who attends a U.S. university/college located in Minnesota. Students must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible). Though not a requirement, strong preference is given to students of color, first in family college [...] More

Fund for Education Abroad - PDX Abroad Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/10/2021
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The PDX Abroad Scholarship scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student who attends a U.S. university/college located in the Portland, Oregon area. Students must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible). Though not a requirement, FEA gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need, and strongly [...] More

Hendrick Scholarship Foundation

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $16,500
  • The Hendrick Scholarship Foundation seeks to award scholarships to low income Plano ISD high school seniors who persevered to overcome adversity, and who are motivated and academically capable of successfully earning a college degree. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, recent high school graduates of Plano ISD, have at least a 2.5 GPA and have demonstrated financial need. All students who receive [...] More

Laila Uthman Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Laila Uthman Scholarship supports graduating seniors at Oceana High School who have overcome academic and personal difficulties or who have shown unusual concern for those less fortunate. Applicants must be planning to enroll in community college, four-year university, or vocational school on a part- or full-time basis. Student has overcome academic or personal difficulties or has shown [...] More

Loren Richards Elder Care Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/4/2021
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The Loren Richards Elder Care Scholarship was established to provide an annual $2,000 scholarship for an upcoming third or fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in a field of study that will prepare them for a career that will have direct impact on the elderly population. This scholarship is renewable for a second year contingent on the recipient remaining a full-time student in [...] More

OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2021
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Since its initiation, the OCA - UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship has provided 164 scholarships to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) high school seniors who are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher education. Applicants must be admitted to a college or a university and plan to attend in the Fall of the year the award is offered, and have a Social Security number or [...] More

Odyssey Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • he Odyssey Scholarship program provides enhanced academic, social, and career support to students from lower-income families or who are the first in their families to attend college. Odyssey Scholars are selected on the basis of financial need and family circumstances, and are eligible for additional funding for study abroad and other costs (such as health insurance). Students must apply for [...] More

Pathway to Success Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/15/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Pathway to Success Scholarship is for first-generation female students entering their freshman year. The scholarship will cover the remaining costs of attending the in-state university of choice for four years. Applicant must be a Florida resident applying to a four-year, public in-state university. Applicant must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (FAFSA) and a Florida [...] More

Red Thread Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/28/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Red Thread Foundation for Women offers this amazing scholarship for women of an international background, including foreign students, immigrants, or first-generation Americans, who are first-year entrants to a U.S. college or university program in the upcoming fall. There are no GPA or U.S. residency requirements. The application consists of several short-answer questions, two essays, and two [...] More

Taigh Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/16/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Taigh (a Gaelic term for "home or dwelling") Scholarship was established to inspire and encourage residents of Peacham, Vermont, to pursue a post-secondary education. In order to apply, you must attend an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding (Pell grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans); reside in Caledonia County (preference given to applicants who are residents of Peacham [...] More

TELACU College Success Program

  • Application Deadline: 2/28/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The College Success Program was created in 1983 to develop and empower new generations of leaders in the communities TELACU serves. Along with guidance and professional development, TELACU Scholars receive awards that range from $500 to $5,000 to help pay for college. Applicants entering college as first-year students are eligible to apply for an award that can be renewed for up to four years. [...] More

Texas A&M University Regents' Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $24,000
  • The Regents' Scholarship is designed to assist first-generation college students in achieving their educational goals at Texas A&M University. Eligible applicants must: demonstrate financial need; and, have earned 30 hours by the end of the first academic year, 60 hours by the end of the second academic year, and 90 hours by the end of the third academic year. This is renewable for up to four [...] More

The David C. Lizárraga Fellowship

  • Application Deadline: 2/26/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • Through The David C. Lizárraga Fellowship, TELACU recognizes graduate students who demonstrate the potential and commitment to advance TELACU's mission of building self-sufficient communities through economic empowerment. Applicants must be a first-generation college student, pursuing a master's degree in business administration or engineering (students pursuing other graduate degrees may also be [...] More

The David Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/30/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The David Scholarship is for men ages 16-25, who have overcome adversity whether it be by conquering difficult life settings or finding themselves in a situation not unlike the young boy who would be king. Several books of the Old Testament unfold the story of David, the shepherd who picked up five smooth stones to slay a giant. Later, as jealousy and scandal surrounded him, David found himself [...] More

The Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2021
  • Amount: $25,000
  • The Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation is for high school seniors and college students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership qualities, community service and/or outstanding personal achievements. Special consideration will be given to students with a demonstrated financial need; who have parents that did not attend college; who have overcome significant adversity; who have [...] More

The Miranda Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Rhode Island College is proud to announce the Miranda Scholarship being made available here at Rhode Island College by a prominent national arts figure. This first-in-the-nation scholarship is being established to support first-generation, under-served students in realizing their dreams of earning a bachelor’s degree in the performing arts. Rising juniors or seniors will have the opportunity to [...] More

The Ruth Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/30/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The RUTH SCHOLARSHIP is designed to be awarded for women ages 16-25, who have overcome adversity whether it be by breaking with their past, or have found themselves in a situation not unlike the young woman of the Old Testament story. The book of Ruth provides a wonderful picture of a young woman giving up all that is familiar to honor her mother-in-law—and ultimately God. Her sacrifice [...] More

U of A Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola First-Generation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/15/2020
  • Amount: $20,000
  • The University of Alabama offers the Coca-Cola First-Generation Scholarship to first-generation, incoming freshmen. Eligible applicants must be residents of Alabama, and have a 3.0 GPA. First consideration will be given to those with demonstrated financial need (for priority consideration, a student must submit the FAFSA by March 1 of the year in which they are planning to enroll). This is [...] More

University of Colorado Boulder First Generation Grant

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • The First Generation Grant is awarded to undergraduate Colorado residents who have financial need and whose parent(s) do not have any education or technical training beyond high school (certificate programs, real estate certification, technical training, vocational training, and corporate training programs are considered education beyond high school). This grant may be renewed up to 10 semesters [...] More

USC Norman Topping Student Aid Fund

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The Norman Topping Student Aid Fund offers supplemental scholarships to incoming freshmen, incoming transfer, and incoming graduate students at USC. The criteria for selection is a focus on high financial need students who demonstrate extraordinary levels of community awareness. First-generation college students and local area applicants are given primary consideration in the scholarship [...] More

Women With Promise Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Women With Promise Scholarship Program began in 2018 as part of our commitment to make a difference in the lives of North Texas women. Our goal is to offer women the opportunity to begin or restart their journey toward a college degree. Support is available for full or part-time students from Dallas and Collin counties attending or planning to attend educational programs at accredited [...] More

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Last Reviewed: August 2020

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