First Generation
Blaze Trails as an Aggie!
First-generation students make up 25% of Texas A&M University’s student enrollment. By enrolling in higher education, you are taking the first step towards improving your and your family’s quality of life, income and future.
Coming to college can be stressful and scary — How much will it cost me? What’s the best method to study? How do I get around campus? Many more questions might come to mind. Texas A&M wants to do all it can to prepare our first-generation students for educational success. Our first-generation guide is your cheat sheet for preparing for your New Student Conference and campus life and learning about resources you can utilize to make college simpler.
Routh First-Generation Center
The Routh First-Generation Center provides first-generation students with support programs, professional development and resources to succeed. First-generation students are encouraged to take advantage of every available resource.
Contact the Center
Hotard Hall, First Floor1164 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-1164
(979) 458-6111 - Office
firstgen@tamu.edu
Paying for College
The cost of a university education can be daunting. Texas A&M offers first-generation students scholarships and financial aid to help mitigate your expenses. Students are encouraged to pursue every opportunity to lower the cost of attending college.
Financial Terminology
College presents students with several new financial terms that might be confusing. Use this guide to help better understand.
- Cost of Attendance: This is the total price of going to college. This includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies and other living expenses.
- Direct PLUS Loan: Federal loans available to parents. This loan has higher interest rates and requires a credit check.
- Expected Family Contribution: A formula that tells you how much you can afford to pay. This estimation includes your family's assets, income and family size.
- Grants: This is money awarded that you do not have to pay back. It is mostly based on financial need.
- Net Price: After grants, scholarships and tuition discounts have been accounted for, this will be the amount you'll actually pay for college.
- Merit Aid: This money is based on academic achievement, artistic abilities and leadership skills.
- Perkins Loan: Federal loans that have a relatively lower interest rate and are reserved for low-income students.
- Scholarships: Money that does not need to be repaid and can be received in various ways.
- Subsidized Stafford Loan: Based on financial need, this loan's interest doesn't start building up until you enter repayment after graduating college.
- Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: Interest starts building up the day you take out the loan; it is not based on financial need.
- Work-Study: Students are given an on-campus job to help pay for college bills.
Regents' Scholars Program
The Regents’ Scholars Program was created in Fall 2004 and is awarded annually to first-generation students at Texas A&M. Award-winners will receive up to $6,000 per year for up to four years.
Scholarships
First-generation freshmen and transfers have access to university-wide scholarships through the ApplyTexas or Common App applications. Continuing students have access to scholarships through the University Scholarship Application.
Financial Aid
All first-generation students have access to financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).