Will your child be the first in your family to attend college (First Generation)? Details: First-generation scholarships are for students who are among the first in their family to attend a four-year college or university. Some first-generation scholarships are funded by private sources; others by public sources. All are designed to help provide access to higher education for a family that has not experienced it before. There are several different definitions of first-generation college student scholarships. You’ll need to look carefully at the qualifications for the scholarship you’re applying for to see if you meet them. Here are the typical definitions of a first-generation college student. Remember, these definitions vary depending on the school and scholarship: Neither parent has obtained a Bachelor’s or more advanced degree. Neither parent has obtained an Associate’s or more advanced degree. Neither parent nor a sibling has ever enrolled in or attended college.