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

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Students and their parents must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for federal student aid programs which include grants, loans and work-study funds. The application opens October 1 of your senior year of high school, and the sooner it’s completed the more funds may be available to you.

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.

Scholarships

The Fairview website has a scholarship page. Search for “first generation” on the various scholarship website resources. Scholarships don’t have to be paid back!

Grants

Grants, which don’t have to be paid back, are normally qualified for by completing the FAFSA. University of Colorado, Boulder, does have a First Generation Grant to apply for which is awarded to Colorado residents who are eligible for the Federal Pell grant and whose parents do not have any education or technical training beyond high school.