Last updated on July 14, 2025

Top First-Generation Scholarships to Apply for in July 2025

Be the first in your family to graduate with these first-generation scholarships, hosted and awarded directly by Bold.org. Apply today with easy applications and no fees.

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  1. Future Women In STEM Scholarship

    Funded by
    Keisha Durham
    This scholarship seeks to foster gender equity in male-dominated fields by supporting women who are pursuing STEM disciplines.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Field of Study: STEM
    • Background: Member of a historically underrepresented group
    $1,040
    Deadline:Dec 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    1
  2. Bright Lights Scholarship

    Funded by
    Bria Alexander
    This scholarship aims to support students who have had to overcome obstacles in order to pursue a college education.
    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • Identity: Underrepresented minority and/or first-generation college student
    $1,200
    Deadline:Dec 12, 2025
    One Click Apply
    2
  3. Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship

    Funded by
    Cheesman Family
    This scholarship will provide for college students or adults currently in a career, who have student debt. Students must be African American or Hispanic/Latino and first-generation students in order to apply.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student, college graduate
    • Race/Ethnicity: African American or Hispanic/Latino
    • Debt Status: Has student loan debt
    • Background: Was/is a first generation student
    $10,240
    Deadline:Nov 30, 2025
    One Click Apply
    3
  4. First Generation College Scholarship

    Funded by
    James Hong
    This scholarship aims to support first-generation immigrants who are paving a new path in their families through their pursuit of higher education.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student and immigrant
    • Financial Status: Financial need
    $4,000
    Only 4 days left!
    One Click Apply
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  5. Dr. Christine Lawther First in the Family Scholarship

    Funded by
    Christine Lawther
    This scholarship aims to support students who are forging new paths for their families by obtaining college degrees.
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Education Level: Four-year undergraduate student
    $1,100
    Only 6 days left!
    One Click Apply
    5
  6. José Ventura and Margarita Melendez Mexican-American Scholarship Fund

    Funded by
    Borders Family
    This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of José Melendez by supporting students who are currently pursuing or looking to begin an undergraduate degree.
    • Education Level: High school graduate currently pursuing or looking to begin an undergraduate degree
    • Identity: Mexican or Mexican-American
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Experience: Work or significant volunteer experience
    $3,000
    Deadline:Dec 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
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  7. Beacon of Opportunity Scholarship

    Funded by
    Hannah Pence
    This scholarship aims to support underserved students who may not have the resources or guidance they need to reach their full potential.
    • Education Level: High school senior or high school graduate
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • State: Indiana resident
    • GPA: 2.8 GPA or higher
    • Experience: Community service experience
    $1,000
    Deadline:Aug 23, 2025
    One Click Apply
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  8. Dr. Alan V. Lee Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lee
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Dr. Alan V. Lee by supporting students who will be the medical professionals of the future.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
    • Field of Study: Medicine
    • Identity: Underrepresented minority
    • Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Background: First-generation college or medical student
    • Experience: Volunteering experience
    $2,500
    Only 3 days left!
    One Click Apply
    8
  9. Miguel Mendez Social Justice Scholarship

    Funded by
    Nancy Roberts
    This scholarship will support students who are passionate about social justice and seek to enact change in their communities.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate
    • Background: Low-income and first-generation college student
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Career Path: Social Justice
    $2,000
    Only 3 days left!
    One Click Apply
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  10. Be Skilled Find Success Scholarship

    Funded by
    Be Skilled Find Success
    This scholarship aims to support students who are dedicated, knowledgeable, and hard workers who are passionate about the trades.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • School Plans: Will pursue trade school, vocational school, or an apprenticeship
    • Background: First-generation tradesperson
    $1,000
    Only 4 days left!
    One Click Apply
    10
  11. Abran Arreola-Hernandez Latino Scholarship

    Funded by
    Abran Arreola
    This scholarship will be awarded to a Latinx student who is pursuing higher education and who believes in the power of community!
    • Enrollment: Applying for/currently enrolled in 2-4 year degree program
    $500
    Only 14 days left!
    One Click Apply
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  12. W. Tong and A.C. Wong 2025 Legacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Tong
    This scholarship seeks to support students with financial need as they pursue their goals of higher education in order to create the life of their dreams.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • Background: FGLI (first-generation, low-income)
    • Ethnicity: At least 50% Asian
    • GPA: 3.5 GPA or higher
    $30,000
    Only 14 days left!
    One Click Apply
    12
  13. Sandy Eggo's Future Humanitarians Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sandy Eggo SEO
    This scholarship aims to support students who are dedicating their college years and their careers to making this world a better place for all.
    • Education Level: High school, undergraduate, or graduate student
    • Location: San Diego, California
    • Identity: Underrepresented minority student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Experience: Non-profit or volunteering experience
    $1,000
    Only 29 days left!
    One Click Apply
    13
  14. Concrete Rose Scholarship Award

    Funded by
    The Concrete Rose Foundation
    This scholarship's mission is to help women of color reach their potential to achieve their dreams, making a significant contribution to a more inclusive and prosperous world for all.
    • Gender: Women
    • GPA: 2.0
    • Race/Ethnicity: BIPOC
    • Education Level: High school senior or Undergraduate
    $500
    Only 30 days left!
    One Click Apply
    14
  15. Angela Engelson Memorial Scholarship for Women Artists

    Funded by
    Tess Perrone
    This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Angela Engelson by supporting young women who are the first in their families to pursue a college education.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Field of Study: Studio art
    $1,000
    Deadline:Aug 23, 2025
    One Click Apply
    15
  16. Carlos F. Garcia Muentes Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Pride Resource Network
    In honor and memory of Carlos Fredy Garcia Muentes, this scholarship will support immigrant students that have a passion for learning and want to create a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
    • Immigration status: First or second-generation immigrant
    • Legacy Status: First-generation college student
    $500
    Deadline:Aug 27, 2025
    One Click Apply
    16
  17. Larry Joe Gardner Memorial Scholarship for Public Policy

    Funded by
    Gardner Family
    This scholarship aims to increase representation in public services by making higher education more accessible to minority students.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Race: African American
    • Gender: Male-identifying
    • Background: Non-profit or volunteering experience
    • Field of Study: Water science, environment and sustainability, engineering, technology, criminal justice, public policy, or justice and social issues programs
    $1,200
    Deadline:Aug 29, 2025
    One Click Apply
    17
  18. Jesus Baez-Santos Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sandra Cruz
    This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Jesus-Baez-Santos by supporting students who have faced obstacles when pursuing higher education.
    • Race: BIPOC
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • State: New York
    • Education Level: High school senior or freshman undergraduate
    $1,000
    Deadline:Sep 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    18
  19. GraceFest Empowering Futures Scholarship

    Funded by
    Adrienne Nichols
    This scholarship aims to support underprivileged mothers in Alabama so they can overcome the challenges they face and remain committed to their education and goals.
    • Background: Teen and/or single mother
    • State: Alabama
    • Education Level: High school graduate or undergraduate student
    • Indentity: African-American/Black
    $2,000
    Deadline:Sep 04, 2025
    One Click Apply
    19
  20. Dulce Vida First Generation Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Dulce Vida
    This scholarship seeks to support first-generation students so they can continue to go after their dreams despite their financial limitations.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • School Name: University of Texas at San Antonio
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • GPA: 3.0 GPA or higher
    $1,000
    Deadline:Sep 08, 2025
    One Click Apply
    20
  21. Victoria Johnson Minority Women in STEM Scholarship

    Funded by
    Victoria Johnson
    This scholarship seeks to support graduating or soon-to-be graduating undergraduate and graduate STEM students as they pursue professional programs.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Race: BIPOC
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Field of Study: STEM
    $500
    Deadline:Sep 14, 2025
    One Click Apply
    21
  22. The F.O.O. Scholarship

    Funded by
    Faith Seawell
    This scholarship aims to foster equity and opportunity, transforming lives and communities to create a brighter, more inclusive future for generations to come.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Financial Status: Low-income student
    • Background: BIPOC, first-generation college student, Pell Grant recipient, or international visa holder
    $500
    Deadline:Sep 15, 2025
    22
  23. Xavier M. Monroe Heart of Gold Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Delta Beta Psi Sorority, Inc.
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Xavier M. Monroe by supporting underrepresented students on their path to higher education.
    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • Race: African American
    $500
    Deadline:Sep 17, 2025
    One Click Apply
    23
  24. Douglass M. Hamilton Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Marggi Lowenberg
    This scholarship aims to honor the memory of the Hamilton family patriarch by helping low-income students pursue higher education.
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • State: Oregon
    • Background: First-Generation College Student
    $7,500
    Deadline:Sep 24, 2025
    One Click Apply
    24
  25. Goellner Public Education Scholarship

    Funded by
    Goellner Family
    This scholarship seeks to support underrepresented male students who are passionate about pursuing careers in public education.
    • State: Minnesota or Wisconsin
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Race/Ethnicity: African American, Latino, or Native American
    • Field of Study: Education
    • Gender: Male-identifying
    • GPA: 3.0+ GPA
    $4,000
    Deadline:Sep 27, 2025
    One Click Apply
    25
  26. USMC Sgt. Owen J. Lennon Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lennon Family
    In honor of Owen J. Lennon, this scholarship will support a student in achieving their educational goals.
    • Education Level: High school student
    • State: New York
    • Experience: Volunteering experience
    • Desired Career Field: Medicine, education, public health, or another field that benefits others
    $750
    Deadline:Sep 29, 2025
    One Click Apply
    26
  27. Alberta Bean Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Breanna Lee
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Alberta Bean by supporting students who are the first in their families to pursue college degrees.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • State: Missouri
    • GPA: 3.0 or above
    $1,000
    Deadline:Oct 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    27
  28. John Walker and Christine Horton Education Scholarship

    Funded by
    Douglas Horton
    This scholarship seeks to honor the memories of John Walker and Christine Horton by supporting students in NC.
    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • State: North Carolina
    • Identity: Underrepresented minority and/or first-generation student
    • Background: Experience working with children and non-profit/volunteering experience
    $1,400
    Deadline:Oct 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    28
  29. Clarice Kanouse Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Trista Budzynski
    This scholarship aims to support low-income students from challenging backgrounds who are pursuing their dreams of higher education.
    • State: Michigan
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate student
    • Field of Study: Nursing
    $2,000
    Deadline:Oct 10, 2025
    One Click Apply
    29
  30. Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Jeanne Aquilino
    This scholarship seeks to honor Catrina’s legacy by supporting students pursuing law and/or healthcare so that they can complete their education and help those who are oppressed.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
    • Background: First-generation student
    • Citizenship Status: US Citizen
    • Field of Interest: Law and/or medicine or healthcare
    $500
    Deadline:Oct 11, 2025
    One Click Apply
    30
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Bold.org's exclusive, verified first-generation scholarships are designed to support trailblazing students like you. Trusted by millions of users, we help first-gen students secure real financial aid and take the next step toward a debt-free degree. No hidden fees or extra accounts.

According to the Education Data Initiative, $24 billion in scholarships is available to college students every year, and students miss out on $3 billion in funding each year by not completing the FAFSA.

Tap into the existing financial aid for first-generation students by applying for exclusive, vetted scholarships managed by Bold.org.

Here's what Bold.org offers first-generation students:

As a scholarship provider trusted by millions of students, Bold.org knows that obtaining any scholarship helps alleviate the financial burden of higher education. In this guide, we'll go over:

  1. Exclusive list of first-generation scholarships
  2. Externally-funded first-generation student awards
  3. How to fill out scholarship applications
  4. Actionable strategies to improve your chances of winning

Let us help you find what you need. Bold.org makes it easy to find scholarships you're eligible for, based on academic interest, financial need, socioeconomic background, and more.

Why First-Generation Scholarships Matter

First-generation students struggle with many obstacles, as shown by these key statistics from First Gen Forward, a non-profit organization supported by research from RTI International.

  1. 24% of first-generation students graduate within six years as opposed to 59% of continuing-graduation students.
  2. Out of the respondents polled, first-gen students were 11% less likely to be able to come up with $2,000 in emergency funds.

For many of these students, securing financial assistance is crucial to attending university and achieving success post-graduation. Empower yourself and your family by cutting back on the amount of debt you'll graduate with.

If you are a first-generation college student, create a free applicant profile with Bold.org to help fund college with exclusive scholarships!

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Best First-Generation Scholarships

1. Scholarships for Undergraduate Students

Scholarships for undergraduate students aim to ease the burden of college costs, offering financial support based on various criteria such as academic excellence, community involvement, specific talents, or personal backgrounds. This diverse array of scholarships targets students of all majors and has few eligibility requirements.

2. Full-Tuition Scholarships

Full-tuition scholarships are the unicorns of scholarships, and everyone wants them. For first-generation students, however, they're even more crucial because they lack the parental college experience that many others are lucky enough to receive. Getting all your tuition paid for guarantees you the time and space to focus on making the most of your college experience!

3. Need-Based Scholarships

First-generation students often come from low-income families which makes these need-based scholarships a great fit! These scholarships prioritize financial need for academic and extra-curricular merit, so don't worry if your grades or community involvements aren't absolutely perfect!

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First-Generation Scholarships for Minorities

1. Scholarships for Hispanic Students

73% of Hispanic students were first-generation in 2024, according to new data sheets released by First Gen Forward. This makes them the largest demographic group among first-generation students and a key group for many scholarships.

2. Scholarships for Black Students

Coming in second for the percentage of first-generation students were those identifying as Black. These scholarships for Black Students aim to bridge the gap between first-gen and continuing-graduation students with financial support, making graduation more feasible!

3. Scholarships for Native American Students

Native American students also have high proportions of first-generation students in their ranks, often because they don't have access to universities while living on reserves. These scholarships understand the unique struggles faced by Native American students and provide targeted financial aid to help with those struggles.

These general scholarships for minority students may also be a great option to expand your scholarship search!

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How to Apply for Financial Aid as First-Generation College Students

Applying to first-generation scholarships is just like applying to other scholarships. It requires careful research and dedication to meet all of the application requirements. In general, the following is a list of important steps to take as you apply for a first-generation scholarship.

1. Exploring Scholarship Opportunities

Conducting research is crucial to finding the right first-generation scholarship for you. You can most easily find first-generation scholarships through websites, your school's college counselor (if you have one), and scholarship search engines. These sources can help you find scholarships funded by a variety of sources, ranging from public companies to individuals.

Furthermore, not only are there many first-generation student scholarships to choose from that are funded by third parties, but if you are already accepted to an accredited institution, your school may also offer scholarships specifically for first-generation college students. Reach out to your school's financial aid office to find out what opportunities await you.

2. Fill out the FAFSA

Be sure to fill out your FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA has a section asking about first-generation status, and filling this out may help guide you toward relevant scholarships. Some scholarships even require that you fill out your FAFSA to submit your application, so doing so in advance may save you time.

We've got you covered with our nine key tips for applying to the updated FAFSA form!

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3. Understanding and Meeting Eligibility Requirements

Be sure to read the application carefully. Before even beginning the application process, examining the due date and the eligibility requirements is crucial. Some first-generation scholarships may have requirements outside of first-generation status.

For instance, one scholarship may be only for first-generation students who are high school seniors. Whatever the case, make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements before you begin applying.

4. Preparing Your Materials for the Application Process

Often, first-generation college student scholarships may require an essay responding to a prompt. You should take the time to write a thoughtful essay and then proofread all written materials. Similarly, if external materials like transcripts or letters of recommendation are required, it is important to procure these early on.

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Tips for Applying for First-Generation Scholarships

1. Ask for Recommendation Letters Early

Asking for recommendation letters many weeks in advance can help your teachers, counselors, or mentors prepare an outstanding statement about your character and merit. Too often, students request recommendation letters just a few days before the deadline, which can cause recommenders to produce rushed letters that don't contribute anything to your application.

2. Don't Limit Yourself

You should not limit yourself to only first-generation scholarships. There are numerous scholarships available for students from all backgrounds, and exploring these opportunities can increase the chances of receiving financial aid. Remember, the more the merrier!

You should consider applying for scholarships based on your academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and unique talents. Some demographic-based scholarships might also be excellent opportunities if you're from a minority group.

3. Highlight First-Generation Status

When writing personal statements or essays, you should emphasize your unique experiences as first-generation college students. Discussing the challenges overcome and goals set can showcase determination and resilience, capturing the attention of scholarship review boards.

Need additional guidance with letters of recommendation? Look no further than our ultimate guide to recommendation letters!

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Additional Resources for First-Generation College Students

1. RSM First Generation Scholarship

This first-generation scholarship is a big one, offering $30,000 paid over three consecutive years. To apply, you'll need to submit a 1,500-word personal essay and a 60-second video demonstrating your motivations and your future path as a first-generation student.

2. Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

This program is for underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation college-bound students pursuing degrees in specific fields such as transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, and more. It offers $5,000 and requires a minimum 3.5 GPA.

3. Editor World Scholarship

For first-generation students applying to master's or doctorate programs, this scholarship will provide $1,000 to cover any educational expenses associated with your graduate degree, such as books, supplies, or travel. You must already be accepted into a graduate program to apply.

Are you looking for scholarships for graduate students? Check out these exclusive graduate student scholarships now!

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Don't forget to check out our scholarship blog for more key insights on everything college and financial aid-related.

Frequently Asked Questions