First Generation Students

I'm First This is a community supporting first-gen students. It has information for college best fits, free mentoring and blog with encouraging stories. Their book with further resources is available in the CCC.

Access Opportunity This organization invests in high-potential, low-income students so they can have impactful careers. They have College Connect which is Colorado’s only college fair for first-generation or low-income high school students who are committed to go to college. They partner with families on guiding their student’s college decisions and provide a bilingual college planning program.

Colorado Asset Colorado ASSET law allows eligible undocumented students to receive the College Opportunity Fund stipend at Colorado public colleges and to pay in-state tuition. ASSET is a state law that affects college costs, it does not affect immigration status.

2 Year Colleges

Where can you get help? Ask your counselor or someone in the CCC.

There are very few exceptions for parents to not complete the FAFSA. Here is a flowchart to help determine if a student is dependent or independent.

The Fairview website has a scholarship list. Search for “first generation” on the spreadsheet to find scholarships for first generation students or navigate to the worksheet titled First Generation.  In addition, University of Colorado, Boulder, has a First Generation Scholarship. Scholarships don’t have to be paid back!

Grants, which don’t have to be paid back, are normally qualified for by completing the FAFSA.