Info for Low Income/First Generation College Students

There are a number of resources available to help students from low-income families find funding for college or just to get help along the way with things like fee waivers.  Your counselors don't usually know you are in this situation unless you tell us, and we may know of things that can help you.  

Also, if neither of your parents earned a degree from a 4-year college you are considered to be a first-generation college student.  There are resources out there specifically for you.

Here are some resources to help you get started.

Fee Waivers for Colleges

Check with the colleges you are applying to and see if they have fee waivers.  The UW system colleges have a form that we can fill out to be able to waive the application fee, but it has to be submitted to each college you apply to.

Financial Aid

• Excellent Low-Income Grant Sources from GoCollege
• Financial Aid Programs from the State of Wisconsin High Educational Aids Board

First Generation

• I'm First!
• Can Students with Undocumented Parents Get Financial Aid? from Edvisors

QuestBridge Scholars

QuestBridge seeks to help high-achieving students from mainly lower-income households gain admission to selective colleges.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholars

This program is for high-achieving students.  They award 40 scholarships each year at $40,000 per year.