First-Generation College Resources
Financial aid, mentorship, and application help for students without a family roadmap for college.
Being the first person in your family to go to college means figuring out a process that other students learn from parents and older siblings. That gap is real, and it's also exactly what the following programs exist to close.
Where to Start
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FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The application that determines your eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans. It's free, and it's the foundation of almost every other form of aid.
Apply directly at studentaid.gov as early as your state's deadline allows.
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Federal TRIO Programs
Federally funded programs, including Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search, built specifically for first-generation and low-income students, offering tutoring, application help, and mentorship.
Ask your high school counselor if your school has a TRIO program, or search "TRIO programs near me."
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QuestBridge
Connects high-achieving, low-income students with full scholarships at partner colleges through its National College Match program.
Search "QuestBridge National College Match" for eligibility and deadlines.
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College Board's BigFuture
Free tools for researching colleges, comparing financial aid offers, and understanding the application timeline.
Search "BigFuture College Board" to access the free planning tools.
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Your high school or community college's TRIO/First-Gen office
In-person help with applications, essays, and understanding financial aid letters, from people who do this every day.
Ask your school counselor whether a first-generation student office or advisor exists on campus.