Last updated on May 5, 2025

Top First-Generation Scholarships to Apply for in May 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. 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
    2
  3. Josh Edwards Memorial Scholarship For Creative Artists

    Funded by
    Holly Lloyd
    This scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Josh Edwards by supporting students who share his calling to artistic endeavors.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • State: North Carolina
    • Field of Study: Music, art, photography, or writing
    $1,000
    Deadline:Jul 07, 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
    Deadline:Jul 21, 2025
    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
    Deadline:Jul 23, 2025
    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
    6
  7. Thadford Dickerson and Paula Schuman Scholar Award

    Funded by
    Temel Dickerson and Nadja Vielot
    This scholarship aims to honor the lives of Thadford Dickerson and Dr. Paula Schuman by supporting students who are pursuing public service careers.
    • State: North Carolina
    • Field of Study: Public service (healthcare, public health, first-responder, safety, etc.)
    • Background: First-generation, low-income student
    • Education Level: Undergraduate (2 or 4-year degree) or trade school student
    $4,350
    Deadline:Jun 15, 2025
    One Click Apply
    7
  8. HBCU STEM Scholarship

    Funded by
    Chrispin Rainford
    This scholarship seeks to support students who have faced challenges in their life so they have the help necessary to succeed in college.
    • Identity: FGLI (first-generation and low-income)
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Field of Study: STEM
    • Education Level: Undergraduate
    • Current College: HBCU
    $7,650
    Deadline:Jun 20, 2025
    One Click Apply
    8
  9. Ronald and Betty Thomas Educational Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Thomas Family, Ron & Betty
    This scholarship will support high school students in Florida majoring in education.
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Desired Major: Education
    • GPA: 3.0
    • Education Level: High school
    • State: Florida
    $2,000
    Deadline:Jun 11, 2025
    One Click Apply
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  10. Golden State First Gen Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sirleaf-Gaskin
    This scholarship aims to support first-generation BIPOC students so they can access higher education and pave the path to their futures.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • State: California
    • Race: BIPOC
    • Background: First-generation college student
    $1,000
    Deadline:May 05, 2025
    One Click Apply
    10
  11. Elite Security International Scholarship

    Funded by
    Elite Security International
    This scholarship aims to support students who are walking a new path by pursuing a college education so they can create a new legacy for their families.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • State: Texas
    • Background: First-generation college student
    $1,000
    Only 4 days left!
    One Click Apply
    11
  12. Ubuntu Scholarship

    Funded by
    Melissa Sandoval
    This scholarship will support minority high school seniors pursuing postsecondary higher education.
    • Education Level: High School Senior
    • Location: Harlem, New York
    • GPA: 3.0
    $500
    Only 5 days left!
    One Click Apply
    12
  13. Mikey Taylor Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Amber Davis
    This scholarship will support first generation college students who have overcome mental health challenges.
    • Education Level: High school or undergraduate
    • Background: First generation college student and experience with mental health challenges
    $500
    Only 6 days left!
    One Click Apply
    13
  14. Scholar Budget Define Your Dream Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Scholar Budget
    This scholarship aims to support students who have big dreams for their academic and professional future.
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    $500
    Only 6 days left!
    One Click Apply
    14
  15. Dounya Irrgang Scholarship for College Reading Materials

    Funded by
    Dounya Irrgang
    This scholarship seeks to support young women pursuing higher education by helping to cover the cost of essential reading materials and other necessities.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Financial Status: Low-income
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    $500
    Only 15 days left!
    One Click Apply
    15
  16. The GEAR UP & TRIO Scholarship

    Funded by
    The Scholar Budget
    This scholarship aims to support students who are underserved so they can have opportunities for higher education and professional success.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Background: Member of GEAR UP or TRIO programs
    • GPA: 2.5+
    $2,000
    Only 18 days left!
    One Click Apply
    16
  17. Tom LoCasale Developing Character Through Golf Scholarship

    Funded by
    LoCasale Family and Friends
    This scholarship seeks to honor Tom LoCasale’s life by supporting students who have learned valuable life skills through the sport of golf.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • Athletics: Plays golf
    $3,000
    Only 20 days left!
    One Click Apply
    17
  18. Sean Kelly Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sean Kelly Family
    The Sean Kelly Memorial Scholarship aims to honor Sean by supporting high school seniors from low income families who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • GPA: 3.5
    • Background: First-generation
    • Sport: Any
    $8,206
    Only 20 days left!
    One Click Apply
    18
  19. Edwards-Maxwell Scholarship

    Funded by
    Amera Edwards
    This scholarship seeks to honor the legacy of Michael J. Edwards by supporting international students in their pursuit of higher education in the United States.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Status: International student
    $500
    Only 25 days left!
    One Click Apply
    19
  20. First-Gen Futures Scholarship

    Funded by
    Thrive
    This scholarship aims to recognize and support exceptional students who are overcoming the barriers of being the first in their families to attend college.
    • Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
    • Citizenship Status: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
    • Background: First-generation college student
    $1,000
    Only 27 days left!
    One Click Apply
    20
  21. Hispanic Achievement Scholarship

    Funded by
    Garcia
    This scholarship aims to support Hispanic students who are preparing to transition from high school to college so they can have all the tools for success.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • State: New York
    • Identity: Hispanic
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Citizenship Status: U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA recipient
    $1,540
    Only 27 days left!
    21
  22. Dr. Michael Paglia Scholarship

    Funded by
    Amber Wojcik
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Dr. Michael Paglia by helping students overcome the barriers they face so they can achieve their ambitions.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate or graduate student
    • Background: First-generation college and graduate student
    • Financial Status: Comes from a lower socioeconomic status
    • Field of Study: Healthcare
    $1,000
    Only 30 days left!
    One Click Apply
    22
  23. New Beginnings Immigrant Scholarship

    Funded by
    Christopher Franks
    This scholarship seeks to support immigrant students so they can continue working toward their educational goals.
    • Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, trade school, or graduate student
    • Identity: Immigrant
    • Background: First-generation student
    $500
    Only 30 days left!
    One Click Apply
    23
  24. Fuerza de V.N.C.E. Scholarship

    Funded by
    Javier Segovia
    This scholarship aims to support underserved students who are paving a new path in their families by pursuing a college education.
    • Education Level: Four-year undergraduate student
    • Field of Study: Social work
    • Identity: Underrepresented minority
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • GPA: At least 3.0
    $500
    Deadline:Jun 11, 2025
    One Click Apply
    24
  25. Jose Prado Memorial Scholarship

    Funded by
    MIRTA Prado
    This scholarship will support an undergraduate Hispanic/Latinx student as they pursue higher education.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate
    • Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latinx
    • Background: First generation college student
    $500
    Deadline:Jun 25, 2025
    One Click Apply
    25
  26. Mark Caldwell Memorial STEM/STEAM Scholarship

    Funded by
    Rick Caldwell
    This scholarship is intended to honor the memory of Mark Caldwell by encouraging students with financial need to work toward STEM or STEAM careers.
    All students are eligible
    $600
    Deadline:Jun 25, 2025
    One Click Apply
    26
  27. Hubert Colangelo Literacy Scholarship

    Funded by
    Lupe Colangelo
    This scholarship seeks to support students who are mostly self-funding their education so they have the assistance they need to succeed.
    • Education Level: High school senior
    • Financial Status: Financial need
    • Identity: Underrepresented Minority
    • Identity: First-generation and/or has at least one immigrant parent
    $600
    Deadline:Jun 30, 2025
    One Click Apply
    27
  28. S3G Advisors NextGen Scholarship

    Funded by
    Sunil Agarwal
    This scholarship seeks to support the next generation of students who plan to do big things by forging their own paths.
    • Education Level: Undergraduate student
    • Race: BIPOC
    • Field of Study: STEM, business, or other disciplines with a strong problem-solving or innovation focus
    • Background: First-generation college student
    • Location: From the Midwest attending a Midwest state school
    $5,000
    Deadline:Jun 30, 2025
    One Click Apply
    28
  29. Kristinspiration Scholarship

    Funded by
    Kristin Printon
    This scholarship aims to support students who are following their dreams and pursuing college in order to pave the way for future generations of their family.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Gender: Female-identifying
    • Background: First-generation college student
    $1,000
    Deadline:Jul 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    29
  30. Marie J. Lamerique Scholarship for Aspiring Scholars

    Funded by
    Jose Lamerique
    This scholarship aims to honor the life of Marie J. Lamerique by supporting students who grew up in single-parent households.
    • Education Level: High school senior or undergraduate student
    • Race: Black
    • Gender: Male-identifying
    • Background: Grew up in a single-parent household
    $1,000
    Deadline:Jul 01, 2025
    One Click Apply
    30
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About First-Generation Scholarships

First-generation college student scholarships have helped many individuals, especially in recent years. Although definitions may vary, the term 'first-generation' most commonly refers to students who come from households where neither parent has a four-year college degree.

For many of these students, procuring financial assistance is vital to entering into a university program and procuring a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, not only do a mere 26% of first-generation students actually earn a bachelor's degree, but a first-generation student is also nearly twice as likely as a non-first-generation student to struggle to afford tuition and fees.

In the past, many colleges have overlooked the struggles of first-generation students due to concerns about how programs to help first-generation students may conflict with existing efforts to help low-income and minority students.

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Conversely, colleges have also made the mistake of believing that the existing efforts towards helping low-income and minority students are already serving first-gen students, as first-generation college students often have intersecting identities as underrepresented students. However, the needs of a first-generation college student are unique, so unique sources of financial aid are necessary.

Fortunately, there are now plenty of resources that exist to help make college accessible to first-generation students. As opposed to taking out federal student loans or private student loans, scholarships provide a form of financial aid that does not have to be paid back, allowing first-generation college students with financial needs to pursue a college degree without the financial concern.

At Bold.org, as a scholarship provider, we know that not only does obtaining any scholarship help alleviate the financial burden of higher education, but applying for scholarships with narrow specifications, such as a first-generation college student scholarship, can increase an applicant's chances of obtaining the scholarship.

If you are a first-generation college student, apply for scholarships geared toward first-gen students to help fund your pursuit of higher education!

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Am I a First-Generation Student if My Parents Started College but Did Not Complete Their Degrees?

Usually, if your parents have taken some college courses or have even completed community college, you will still be considered a first-generation student. Still, requirements may vary between scholarships and schools, so you can check by contacting the source behind your scholarship, your school's admissions office, academic advising, or student services.

Best First-Generation Scholarships

While the availability of first-generation scholarships varies depending on the institution and organization offering them, here are some prestigious scholarship opportunities that support first-generation college students:

The Coca-Cola Scholars First-Generation Scholarship

The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship is a grant program funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, distinct from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. It does not have a direct application process. Instead, the Foundation allocates funds to various colleges annually, which then distribute these grants through their financial aid systems.

To find out if a college is a recipient of these funds and thus offers the scholarship, students should inquire with the financial aid offices of the colleges where they are submitting their financial aid documents.

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.

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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.

These scholarships can cover a range of expenses, from tuition fees to living costs, ensuring that students can focus more on their studies and less on financial worries. Explore a diverse array of scholarships designed to help undergraduates achieve their academic and professional dreams.

Scholarships for College Students

The path through college is both intellectually rewarding and financially challenging. Scholarships for college students are crucial in providing the financial lifeline many need to navigate through their college years successfully. These scholarships come in many forms, from merit-based awards recognizing academic achievements and talents to need-based grants aiding those in challenging financial situations.

These scholarship opportunities are just a few examples of the many opportunities available to first-generation college students. It is important to note that each scholarship has its own unique eligibility criteria and application process. Students should carefully research and review the requirements for each scholarship they are interested in to ensure they meet the necessary qualifications.

Are you a first-generation college student with financial need? Check out these need-based scholarships today!

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How to Apply for First-Generation Scholarships

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.

Exploring Scholarship Opportunities

First, 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.

Understanding and Meeting Application Requirements

Conducting research is also 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.

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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.

Preparing Your Application Materials

It is also important to gather all the application materials for submission ahead of the due date. Often, first-generation college student scholarships may require an essay responding to a prompt. Applicants 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.

Finalizing and Submitting Your Application

Finally, make sure you submit your application on time!

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

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Tips for Applying for First-Generation Scholarships

Applying for scholarships can be a daunting task, but with careful preparation and the right approach, students can significantly improve their chances of securing these valuable awards. Here are some tips to help students navigate the first-generation scholarship application process:

Research Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, students should carefully review the eligibility requirements for each scholarship they are interested in. Some scholarships may have specific GPA requirements and community involvement criteria or require essays on specific topics.

Gather Supporting Documents

Most scholarships will require students to submit supporting documents, such as transcripts, recommendation letters, and personal statements. It is essential for students to gather these materials well in advance to ensure a smooth application process.

Highlight First-Generation Status

When writing personal statements or essays, students should emphasize their 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.

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Seek Letters of Recommendation

Requesting letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors who can speak to your academic abilities, character, and potential can strengthen scholarship applications. These letters provide valuable insights into the student's qualifications and dedication.

Proofread and Edit

It is crucial for students to thoroughly review their scholarship applications, ensuring they are free from grammatical errors and typos. Seeking the input of teachers, parents, or mentors can provide valuable feedback and help polish the final application.

While following these tips can greatly enhance a student's chances of securing first-generation scholarships, it is also important to remember that the application process is just the beginning.

Once a student is awarded a scholarship, they may need to fulfill certain obligations to maintain it. These obligations can include maintaining a certain GPA, participating in community service activities, or attending scholarship events.

Furthermore, students should not limit themselves 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.

Students should consider applying for scholarships based on their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and unique talents.

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Frequently Asked Questions