Low-income & First-generation
What is a first-generation college-bound student? First-generation students are the first generation of their families to go to college. There are many resources to support first-generation students, and students should self-identify with their counselor to learn about the college-going assistance available.
What is a limited-income college-bound student? The most common way colleges and universities define low-income students is by Pell grant eligibility. Pell grants fund students who have exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Pell grant eligibility is determined by submitting the FAFSA.
Application Related Fee Waivers: The UCs, CSUs, Common Application, College Board, ACT, and others provide fee waivers for students who qualify. See helpful blog here and information below on how to access fee waivers:
What is an underrepresented college-bound student? In higher education, "underrepresented" refers to racial and ethnic populations that are disproportionately lower in number relative to their number in the general population.
EOP - Equal Opportunity Programs (on college campuses): EOP is designed to improve access and retention of historically limited-income and educationally disadvantaged students. The program can provide admission and academic assistance to EOP-eligible undergraduate students. In many cases, the program offers financial assistance to eligible students. Colleges tailor their programs to accommodate the needs of their student population. Search "EOP" on each college campus for details about their programs.
RESOURCES
College Fly-in Programs: Some colleges offer fly-in or multicultural programs to high-school seniors who are low-income, first-generation, and/or students of color. The program helps pay for your visit to their campus, including airfare, housing and meals, so that you get a real feel for what it would be like to be a student at their college.be a student at their college.
College Greenlight: Connects first generation and underrepresented students to caring colleges, generous scholarships, and life-changing counselors and mentors.
Federal TRIO Programs: Are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist limited-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
Gates Millennium Scholars Program: Provides an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential
Gear Up: Provides six- or seven-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Gear Up funds also are used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.
I'm First: An online community for first-generation college students—and their supporters. Hear inspiring stories and share your own, discover colleges that care about first-gen students, find answers to your questions about college, and receive guidance on the road to and through college.
Puente Project: A national award-winning program that for more than 30 years has improved the college-going rate of tens of thousands of California's educationally underrepresented students. Its mission is to increase the number of educationally disadvantaged students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. The program is interdisciplinary in approach, with writing, counseling, and mentoring components.
Questbridge: A program that connects students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities
Raise Me: Helps students begin raising micro-scholarships as early as 9th grade.
ScholarMatch: A free college search tool analyzing more than 1,400 schools to help low-income and first-generation students find the right colleges for them.
Students Rising Above: Sends low-income, first-generation college students to four-year colleges and universities. SRA serves students in the 11-county Bay Area and provides personal guidance and mentoring, internships and career guidance, and financial support from college application, through graduation and into the workforce.