Vermont First Generation Scholarship

You've decided to take a path that is yours alone, and we know that you are navigating the college experience on your terms. Champlain College is dedicated to help first generation Vermont scholars step out on your own, find your strengths and support you financially. 

The Vermont First Generation Scholarship provides vital financial support for Vermonters who are the first in their families to attend college.

Over the years, Champlain College has prepared generations of students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals, and engaged global citizens, all while staying true to our deep roots in Vermont. Our distinctive approach delivers relevant, rigorous, student-centered programs that set the stage for a lifetime of career success. Carrying out this mission requires attracting and supporting talented, curious, and capable students like our Vermont First Generation scholars.

Some first-generation college students have families who support their plans for higher education but lack the means to afford it. Others are under pressure to enter the workforce immediately after high school. For these students, the decision to attend college can be a source of great stress. At Champlain, we are committed to breaking down these barriers and enabling all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, to pursue and achieve their academic and professional goals.

Champlain is deeply invested in equipping our students to make powerful contributions in the economic and civic life of Vermont. From the beginning, we have assumed an active role in educating a talented and skilled workforce for Vermont and fostering economic prosperity throughout the state.

Quick Facts

  • In 2022, our Vermont First Generation Scholars benefited from $2.1 million in scholarship support.
  • Champlain awards numerous Vermont First Generation Scholarships each year.
  • Since 2012, eligible students have exceeded the number of available Vermont First Generation Scholarships.

You're a first-generation student if...

  • neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year degree from a college or university within the United States.
  • your parents earned an associate's degree, but not a four-year college degree.
  • you live with only one parent or guardian who provides all your support, and that person doesn't have a four-year college degree.
  • you have a sibling that earned a college degree (associate or bachelor), but your parents did not complete a four-year degree.
group of students smile at camera

When I received my acceptance letter, I learned that I had been awarded the Vermont First Generation Scholarship. Without it, I may never have chosen Champlain, solidified my career path, or had the opportunity to travel and find my passion.

Dominique Cornacchia, Broadcast Media Production