First-Generation College Student Scholarships

Shevlin Smith, P.C. awards $1,000 to a United States citizen age 17 or older who is a first-generation student enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate program within the United States and demonstrates financial need. The public application requires two short essay responses, proof of enrollment or acceptance, and proof of household income.

The LLCC First Generation College Student Scholarship supports Lincoln Land Community College students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college. First-time applicants have no GPA requirement; continuing students need a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Recipients must enroll in at least 6 credit hours in any program. This renewable award is selected from the unified LLCC Foundation application due February 15. Students apply once to be considered for all matching foundation scholarships. New students must complete LLCC admission and activate their LLCC email before submitting the scholarship form.

Granite Edvance (formerly the NHHEAF Network) awards scholarships each spring to New Hampshire residents, with a dedicated First Generation College Student category for students whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree. Awards are up to $3,000 for four-year college students and up to $1,000-$1,500 for trade school and two-year program students, studying in or out of state. Applicants must be New Hampshire residents enrolled or planning to enroll at a two-year or four-year college or Title IV-eligible trade school, and must submit an essay reflecting on their experiences as a first-generation student. Awards consider demonstrated financial need. The four-year application window closed May 6, 2026; two-year and trade-school windows run several times per year.

Single-parent U.S. citizens or permanent residents at least 17 years old who are enrolled or will be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university for the Spring 2027 semester as an undergraduate or graduate student. One $1,500 award. Funds may be used for tuition, textbooks, and other academic expenses. Submit proof of enrollment, contact information, a headshot, and a 500-750 word essay on your circumstances, why you are pursuing a degree, your career goals, and how education will benefit you and your child. Offered by The Fealy Law Firm, PC to support single parents balancing family and school.

Kadzai Law Group awards $2,500 to a first-generation college student age 17 or older who is a United States citizen or permanent resident and is enrolled in an accredited U.S. undergraduate, graduate, or trade-school program. Applicants submit a 3- to 5-minute video about how being a first-generation student has shaped or may shape their higher-education experience, together with an academic transcript and proof of enrollment when the transcript does not show current enrollment.

Hanover College awards ten two thousand dollar renewable FIRST Scholarships each year to admitted full-time students who participated on a FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge team during high school. Applicants submit the FIRST scholarship application form and a letter of recommendation from an adult mentor or coach on their team to the Admission Office by February 1. Students need not be admitted before applying but must be admitted to receive the award. Recipients may choose any major; engineering and science majors are common but not required. Scholarships renew for up to four years.

Four-year Boston University scholarship for a student admitted to the College of Engineering who participated in the FIRST Robotics program for at least one full high school season on a FIRST team. FIRST Scholars may receive funded research with a College of Engineering faculty member for up to ten hours per week for one semester during their first two years. Students who maintain a 3.40 GPA are guaranteed admission to a BU College of Engineering Master of Science program. Renewal requires 12 credits per semester and a 3.20 GPA.

Pool of donor-funded scholarships for first-generation college students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on ASU's Tempe campus. Students submit one Scholarship Universe application to be considered for all first-generation awards they qualify for. Typical awards range from $750 to $6,500 per academic year based on donor criteria, financial need, and academic achievement. Continuing and entering students in eligible College majors may apply when the application cycle is open.

First-generation college students ages 17 to 26 who have lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida for at least one year may apply for the HACCOF First-Generation College Grant, funded by Miami-Dade County through the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida. Applicants must be full-time students (at least 12 credits per semester), admitted to or enrolled in a Florida four-year college or university with at least 24 credits completed, and pursuing a degree in business or public sciences. First-generation means the first in the immediate family to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Up to 102 recipients each receive $2,500 toward tuition. Apply online and submit proof of Miami-Dade County residency and academic transcripts.

Graduating high school students of color (African American, Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Native American) who identify as agnostic, atheist, humanist, freethinker, or secular may apply for one of six scholarships from Black Skeptics Group Los Angeles. Preference goes to first-generation college students; students in foster care, who are homeless, undocumented, disabled, or LGBTQI+ are encouraged to apply. Six $5,000 awards are granted. Recipients are announced in August. Submit the online application with a letter of recommendation, proof of admission to a two- or four-year college, and a 500 to 700 word essay on your secular identity, humanist values, and community work.