The Generational Shift

Hi there! Are you the first in your family to attend college? Congratulations! Just getting here means you’ve already shattered barriers. Now, let’s make sure financial stress doesn’t stop you from going further.

This post is a curated list of national scholarships for first-generation college students. Real, verified, and active. These college scholarships are designed to help first-gen students pay for college without piling on student debt.

Whether you’re a high school senior applying to college, an undergraduate looking for financial aid, or someone seeking ways to afford tuition as a first-gen college student, this guide was built for you.

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National Scholarships for First-Gen Students

1. NSHSS First Generation Scholarship

• Amount: Up to $2,000
• Who it’s for: High school seniors and college students who are the first in their families to attend college
• Apply here →

2. RSM First Generation Scholarship

• Amount: Ranges
• Who it’s for: Business or technology majors who are first-gen students
• Apply here →

3. TIAA First Generation Scholarship

• Amount: Ranges
• Who it’s for: First-gen undergraduate students
• Apply here →

4. Tee Up Diversity Scholarship Program

• Amount: $5,000
• Who it’s for: Black/African American students attending an HBCU
• Apply here →

5. Kadzai Law Group First Generation Scholarship

• Amount: $2,500
• Who it’s for: Undergraduate or graduate first-gen students across the U.S.
• Apply here →

6. Horatio Alger National Scholarship(s)

• Amount: Range from $10,000 – $52,000
• Who it’s for: High school seniors with financial need who’ve overcome adversity
• Apply here →

7. BuzzRx Bee Healthy Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Who it’s for: High-achieving high school seniors with leadership and service experience
• Apply here →

8. Quarterly Book Scholarship

• Amount: $500
• Who it’s for: Students in need of funds for their textbooks
• Apply here →

9. Equitable Excellence Scholarship

• Amount: $5,000
• Who it’s for: High School Seniors
• Apply here →

10. The Trotter Project Scholarships

• Amount: Ranges
• Who it’s for: All students
• Apply here →

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Some Final Tips Before You Apply:

1. Start early: Make sure you give yourself enough time to build the strongest application possible!
2. Be specific: Tailor your essays to each scholarship’s mission!!!!!! Do NOT be generic.
3. Tell your story: Emphasize all things that make you stand out from other candidates. Whether it’s being first-gen, having a niche hobby, or something very small that shaped you, make sure you let the scholarship committee know why YOU should win.
4. Get feedback: Have someone read over your essays and applications before you submit.

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If this helped, sign up for The Generational Shift newsletter so you don’t miss upcoming scholarship roundups, budgeting tools, or student money tips.

Got a scholarship recommendation I missed? Drop it in the comments or message me, I’ll keep this list growing.

– Estefany