Are you a first-generation student living in Texas? Are you in the process of applying for college? You sure need financial support for college, don’t you? Gather here as I unveil the list of best first generation scholarships in Texas and how you can apply for them.
The provision of scholarships have encouraged many students to pursue a college degree and have supported them in achieving their dream. Scholarships are a form of financial aid that offers free money for students to apply towards their education, be it tuition, study materials, cost of living, etc. and they do not have to repay the money, unlike student loans.
If you are in the process of applying to college or are already a college student and don’t want to end up with so much student debt, then you should seek scholarships and apply for them. However, the problem lies in looking for scholarships. There are thousands of different scholarships that it is easy for one to easily get lost in them or end up applying for the wrong one.
But not to worry, we at Scholarships to Study Abroad are here to guide you toward the right kind of scholarship, making it easy for you to find the right scholarship for you. We have varieties of law school scholarships and athletic scholarships, as well as other categories of scholarships.
As part of our mission to guide prospective and current college students to scholarships, we have created this blog post on first generation scholarships in Texas. Although this won’t be the first time we are putting such an article out there, you may also find my recent article on scholarships for first-generation law students relatable and useful too.
Before I get into the list of first generation scholarships in Texas, let’s help you understand the terminologies.
Table of Contents
Who is First-Generation College Student?
A first-generation college student is a student who is the first in their family to go to college. It takes a lot of courage and hard work too to be the first in your family to make a difference by attending college, and that is why there are scholarships for students like you to support reward, and further, encourage you and others coming after you.
What are First-Generation College Student Scholarship
A first-gen college student scholarship is a scholarship given to students who are the first in their family to go to college. You can qualify for a first-generation scholarship if neither of your parents:
- Earned a four-year college degree
- Obtained an associate degree
- If neither parent nor a sibling has ever enrolled in or attended college.
Other requirements come with obtaining a first-generation scholarship but you first have to fit into the criteria listed above. First-generation scholarships come from different sources including colleges and universities, charities, foundations, organizations, and businesses.
Now that you have a better understanding of first generation scholarships, let’s dive into the main topic.
First Generation Scholarships in Texas
The cost of college education in Texas can be daunting, that is why these scholarships exist to mitigate expenses for first-gen students. Curated below are the first-gen scholarships in Texas:
- Regent’s Scholars Program
- First Abroad Scholarship
- Constantin First-Generation Scholarship
- The University of Texas at Austin Scholarships for First-Generation Students
- Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy First Generation Scholarship Program
- MCC First Generation Scholar
- Priddy Foundation Scholars Program
1. Regent’s Scholars Program
On our first list of first generation scholarships in Texas is the Regent’s Scholars Program established by Texas A&M University as one of the financial aid programs to assist first-gen students in Texas with the cost of tuition. So, if you are a resident of Texas, first in your family to pursue a college degree, and applying for a degree program at Texas A&M, you can qualify for the Regent’s Scholars Program.
The program provides $6,000 per year for up to 4 years to the selected winners, also, the scholarship is provided each year.
2. First Abroad Scholarship
Here is another scholarship opportunity for first-gen students to explore. The First Abroad Scholarship is offered by the University of Texas at Austin to support first-gen students who plan to study abroad. It is a one-time scholarship of $3,000 and you must have been enrolled into an academic degree program at UT Austin to qualify for the funding. The fund will support your participation in a UT-approved study abroad program.
To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student at UT Austin, have a current FAFSA on file with the university, not have received the Hutchison International Scholarship.
3. Constantin First-Generation Scholarship
The Constantin First-Generation Scholarship is tenable at the University of Dallas, so you must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at the university to be eligible for the award. You must also be a resident of Texas and be eligible for a Pell Grant to receive the scholarship. The steps to apply and the deadline are found in the link below.
4. The University of Texas at Austin Scholarships for First-Generation Students
There are more scholarships offered by the University of Texas at Austin for first-generation students offering financial aid ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support the cost of a student’s education. Students are selected based on academic excellence and financial need. They must also be residents of Texas to be eligible for the scholarships.
5. Shirlee J. and Taylor Gandy First Generation Scholarship Program
First-gen students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree program at the University of Texas, Arlington are eligible to apply for the above-named scholarship. The scholarship provides financial assistance of $3,000 to students who are the first in their families to attend a 4-year college. It is awarded based on merit and financial need.
Preference will be given to first-generation students who have achieved a minimum UTA GPA of 3.0 during their freshman year. If you remain in good academic standing, the scholarship will be renewed for 6 semesters.
6. MCC First Generation Scholar
McLennan Community College (MCC) recognizes students who are first in their family to enroll in a post-secondary institution by establishing the First Generation Scholar program to support such students financially. If you are e high school senior whose parents or guardians never earned an associate’s degree or other college degree, you could be eligible for this scholarship.
12-15 first-gen students coming to MCC are eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $8,000, this means each scholar will receive $2,000 per fall and spring semester for two years. Other eligibility criteria include possessing a high school CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
7. Priddy Foundation Scholars Program
The Priddy Foundation Scholars Program was established by Midwestern State University (MSU) to provide financial assistance to first-gen students in Texas who want to attend MSU for a full-time degree program. The first-gen student must also demonstrate financial need as well as academic excellence with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
Conclusion
As a first-generation student, it takes a lot of courage to make a difference in your family by going to college and earning a reputable degree. This is why scholarships like the ones curated here are set up to support the cost of your education and encourage such students and the ones coming before them to never give up on their dreams.
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