What is a first-generation college student? Scholarships and financial aid
Each year hundreds of thousands of students become the first in their families to attend college. What aid is available to these students?
Since the turn of the century, an increasing number of college students are the first in their families to attend university. These students are considered first-generation college students, and according to the financial news outlet Bankrate, they make up a third of the university population in the United States.
Being the first member of your family to attend university can bring unique challenges, and around ninety percent of first-generation students do not finish their degree in six years.
Some families may support their student’s choice and see the benefits but be unable to provide any financial help, which can create serious challenges for the student. To alleviate some of this stress, private organizations have created programs to support these students to finish their degrees and connect them with other first-generation peers.
The Posee Foundation works with colleges and universities to offer scholarships and programs to support first-generation students. Posee schools vary from liberal arts colleges like The College of Wooster and Lewis & Clark College to larger state schools like the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia. Posee’s efforts have led to very clear results, with ninety percent of students who participate in the program finishing their degree. Students can be nominated each year as they begin to submit their college applications. Another organization with a similar mission and purpose is QuestBright which works with over fifty colleges and universities.
Scholarships
In addition to these programs, scholarships specifically targeting first-generation students are available. Some scholarships select students from specific states, races or ethnicities, religions, or academic interests.
Sites, including, Scholarships.com, have compiled lists of scholarships explicitly offered to first-gen students that can serve as a helpful starting point. Additionally, as students begin to create the list of institutions they wish to apply to, it may be helpful to see if the college or universities offers any scholarships. Depending on the size of the institution and the number of applicants, those scholarships may be less competitive than those that are available to students nationally.