In 1984, thanks to a determined push from the Board of Governors, faculty and staff, CSU became the first university in the country to identify first generation, low-income students in Colorado and provide scholarships designed to pay for tuition and student fees.
First Generation Award
The First Generation Award is Colorado State’s core program for first-generation students. It was the first financial aid program of its kind in the country. By 2015, the program had awarded 2,187 awards for a total commitment of $18.9 million. The purpose of the award goes beyond financial aid; the Award positively influences first-generation student retention and graduation.
Because of the limited amount of awards available, the selection process is competitive. The award carries a possibility of renewal for previous winners.
First Generation STEM Scholarship
At Colorado State, we’re training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The hands-on education they receive poses overlooked costs to high-need first-generation students: lab fees, equipment, and technology costs.
With a matching grant from the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, the First Generation STEM Scholarship aims to ensure that first-generation STEM students succeed, even when they pay full tuition. The First Generation STEM Scholarship has a goal to support 50 upperclass STEM students with a $4,000 scholarship.
