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Sponsored by Pelican Family Office.

Pelican First-Gen Scholarship

Who qualifies

Are you a first-generation college student?

Programs define "first-generation" in different ways. Here is exactly how this scholarship defines it, and how the definition applies to the situations students ask about most.

The definition

Neither parent or guardian completed a four-year (bachelor's) degree.

For the Pelican First-Generation Scholarship, you are a first-generation college student if neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year (bachelor's) degree.

That is the entire test. It does not matter how much college a parent started, what your siblings did, where your family lives or how much money your family has. The only question is whether a parent or guardian completed a four-year (bachelor's) degree.

The terms, explained

Bachelor's degree.
A four-year degree such as a B.A., B.S. or B.B.A. Associate degrees, certificates, diplomas and trade credentials are not bachelor's degrees.
Parent or guardian.
A parent or a legal guardian. A legal guardian counts exactly like a parent. If you were raised by someone who was not your parent or legal guardian, or a parent who did not raise you holds a degree, email [email protected] before the deadline. We will tell you how the definition applies to you.
Completed.
Finished the degree and received it. Starting a bachelor's program and leaving before graduation is not completing it.
Enrolled.
Registered as a student at your college or university for the current term. If you are chosen, the school confirms this before payment.
Accredited.
Reviewed and approved by a recognized accrediting agency. Community colleges, four-year colleges and universities can all be accredited; your registrar or financial aid office can tell you whether your school is.

Common situations

  • A parent has an associate (two-year) degree. You are first-generation. A two-year degree is not a bachelor's degree.
  • A parent took some college classes but never finished a bachelor's degree. You are first-generation.
  • A parent has a certificate, trade license or apprenticeship credential. You are first-generation. Those are not bachelor's degrees.
  • An older brother, sister or cousin went to college, or finished a degree. Still first-generation. The definition looks only at parents and guardians.
  • You were raised by a grandparent, relative, foster parent or legal guardian. A legal guardian counts as a parent. If the person who raised you was not your legal guardian, or a parent who did not raise you holds a bachelor's degree, email [email protected] before the deadline. We will answer directly.
  • A parent earned a degree in another country. Email [email protected] before the deadline with the degree and the country, and we will tell you whether it counts as a completed bachelor's degree for this program.
  • One parent finished a bachelor's degree and the other did not. The definition says neither parent or guardian completed one. If either did, you are not first-generation for this program.
  • A parent has a graduate degree. That parent also completed a bachelor's degree, so you are not first-generation under this definition.
  • You are a graduate student. You can apply. The definition is about your parents, not about whether you already hold a degree yourself.
  • You attend a community college. You can apply if the college is accredited; your registrar can tell you. Community college students are undergraduates.
  • You transferred, study part-time, or came back after time away. Your own path does not affect the definition. What matters is that you are enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university when you apply.

How you confirm it: self-attestation

Self-attestation means you confirm your own eligibility by making a statement. On the application you check a box and sign your name to confirm that neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year (bachelor's) degree. That statement is all the program asks for.

We do not contact your parents, request their transcripts, or ask for family income, tax returns, a FAFSA or any financial document. This program does not ask you to prove anything about your family.

The one thing we do check is your enrollment. If you are chosen, we confirm with your school that you are enrolled before the $2,500 is paid. A statement on the application that turns out to be false disqualifies it.

Still not sure?

If your situation is not covered here, read the FAQ or email [email protected] before the deadline and describe it in a sentence or two. We would rather answer a question now than have you skip applying.

Apply for free Read the FAQ