University of Alabama Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship
Offered by The University of Alabama and The Coca-Cola Foundation
About this scholarship
The University of Alabama Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship supports incoming Alabama first-year students who will be the first in their families to complete college. It is one of several awards within UA’s First-Gen Scholars cohort, a competitive program that combines financial support with a structured transition and mentoring experience. The university’s current definition covers students whose parents have no more than two years of postsecondary education and hold no postsecondary degree. Coca-Cola candidates must also be Alabama residents, have at least a 3.0 high-school GPA, and demonstrate financial need. For summer or fall 2027 entry, students apply to UA and complete the first-generation scholarship essay questions by the December 4, 2026 admission and scholarship priority deadline. They must then submit the FAFSA by March 1 and participate in a spring interview with UA First staff if invited. Selected scholars attend an extended orientation, enroll in the designated first-year compass course, work with a faculty or staff mentor, participate in required service projects and programming, and meet with program staff each semester. The award may renew for four years if the scholar maintains a 3.0 GPA and remains compliant. UA’s current program page does not publish a fixed award amount, so the historical $5,000 figure was not carried forward as a guaranteed 2027 value.
Eligibility
- Apply as an incoming first-year student to The University of Alabama for summer or fall 2027
- Be a first-generation student under UA’s published parent-education definition
- Be an Alabama resident
- Hold a high-school GPA of at least 3.0
- Demonstrate financial need and complete the FAFSA by March 1
- Complete the first-generation scholarship essay questions and all admission materials by December 4, 2026
- Participate in a spring interview if selected as a finalist
- Commit to the cohort’s orientation, course, mentoring, service, meetings, and other required programming