How does FAFSA classify associate's degrees for First Gen scholarship eligibility?

I think associates degrees count as college on the FAFSA so he probably won't be first gen. My brother went through this last year

The official FAFSA guidelines are clear on this: Associate degrees DO count as college completion. When answering the parent education level questions, you should select "College or beyond" if either parent has an associate degree or higher. The First Generation qualification typically requires that neither parent completed any degree beyond high school. However, there's something important to note - some individual scholarship programs have their own definitions of "first generation" that differ from FAFSA. Some scholarships consider students first-gen if neither parent has a bachelor's degree, even if they have associate degrees or certificates. My advice: Answer FAFSA accurately (college or beyond), but still apply for first-gen scholarships through individual programs that use the bachelor's degree definition.

i filled this out wrong last yr and had 2 go back and fix it!! the fafsa ppl were no help over the phone, spent literaly 2 hrs on hold and then they hung up on me lolol

This is actually a complicated question! The FAFSA itself defines college completion as having any degree beyond high school, which includes Associate's degrees and many certificate programs. HOWEVER! This is where it gets tricky - the definition of "first-generation" varies WIDELY depending on who's asking and for what purpose. For FAFSA completion itself, you need to answer honestly that you have education beyond high school. BUT for scholarship applications, many programs use their own definition where "first-generation" means neither parent has a BACHELOR'S degree. So while your son might not be considered first-gen by the strictest definition, he may still qualify for many first-gen scholarships that use the "no bachelor's degree" standard. Bottom line: Be accurate on FAFSA (say "college or beyond"), but don't give up on first-gen scholarships! Research each scholarship's specific eligibility criteria.

I'm going through the exact same thing!!! My husband has an associate's degree in criminal justice but never went for his bachelor's. Our daughter's college has their own "first-gen" scholarship that they said she can still get because their definition is "neither parent completed a 4-year degree." But on the actual FAFSA form itself, we had to list him as "college or beyond" because that's what they consider an associate's degree. It's so confusing how everyone uses different definitions!

guys... do certiifcates even count? i thought it was only degrees that count as college. the certificate isn't a degree so maybe just report the dad's associate's??

Financial aid advisor here. Let me clear this up. For FAFSA purposes, both an Associate's degree and certificate programs beyond high school are classified as "college or beyond." You must answer the parent education level questions accurately based on this definition. However, for scholarship purposes, particularly those targeting first-generation students, the definitions vary widely: 1. Federal TRiO programs define first-generation as neither parent having a bachelor's degree 2. Many institutional scholarships use the "no bachelor's degree" definition 3. Some private scholarships use the stricter "no college completion of any kind" definition My recommendation: - Answer FAFSA questions accurately (college or beyond) - Ask each college's financial aid office specifically about their first-generation scholarship definitions - Search for scholarships using terms like "first-generation" AND "parents without bachelor's degree" The landscape of first-gen scholarships is evolving, with many programs recognizing that students whose parents only completed associate's degrees or certificates still face many of the same challenges as traditional first-gen students.

I went through this exact situation with my daughter two years ago! My husband has an associate's in IT and I have a certificate in dental hygiene. We had to mark "college or beyond" on the FAFSA, but she still qualified for several first-gen scholarships at her university and through private organizations that define it as "no bachelor's degree." One thing I learned - don't just look at the big national scholarships. Check with your son's high school counselor about local community foundation scholarships too. Many of these smaller, local scholarships are more flexible with their first-gen definitions and have way less competition. My daughter ended up getting three local scholarships totaling $8,000 that all considered her first-gen even though we had to mark otherwise on FAFSA. Also, when he applies to colleges, have him mention in his essays or applications that he'll be the first in your family to pursue a four-year degree. Admissions officers understand the distinction and it can still be a compelling part of his story even if the technical FAFSA definition doesn't classify him as first-gen.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - my wife has an associate's in nursing and I have a certificate in HVAC, and we've been stressing about whether our son would qualify for first-gen scholarships. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there are still opportunities out there even though we'll have to mark "college or beyond" on the FAFSA. I especially appreciate the advice about contacting financial aid offices directly at each school to ask about their specific definitions. It sounds like doing the research on individual scholarship criteria is really key. Has anyone had success with calling financial aid offices directly? Are they usually pretty helpful with these kinds of questions? Also, @Andre Rousseau - I'd love to hear more about how you found those local community foundation scholarships. Our guidance counselor mentioned them briefly but didn't give us much detail on where to actually look for them.

This is such a common source of confusion! I work at a community college and see this question all the time. Just to add another perspective - while you'll need to mark "college or beyond" on the FAFSA for both the associate's degree and medical assistant certificate, don't let that discourage you from pursuing first-gen opportunities. Many students don't realize that even some federal programs like TRIO Student Support Services consider you first-gen if neither parent has a bachelor's degree. Also, look into your state's need-based grant programs - some have their own definitions that are more inclusive. One practical tip: keep a spreadsheet of each scholarship with its specific first-gen definition as you research. We've seen students miss out on opportunities because they assumed all programs use the same criteria. Your son's situation is actually pretty common, and there are definitely pathways to financial aid even with parents who have some post-secondary education. The key is being thorough in your research and not giving up after seeing that FAFSA classification!

I'm a current college senior who went through this exact situation! My mom has an associate's in business administration and my dad has a welding certificate. We had to mark "college or beyond" on FAFSA, but I still received over $15,000 in first-gen scholarships throughout my college career. Here's what worked for me: I applied to every scholarship that defined first-gen as "neither parent completed a bachelor's degree" and made sure to emphasize in my essays that I would be the first in my family to earn a four-year degree. Many scholarship committees understand that associate degrees and certificates, while valuable, don't provide the same cultural capital as a bachelor's degree when it comes to navigating higher education. Some specific programs that worked for me: Coca-Cola Scholars (they use the bachelor's degree definition), several local Rotary scholarships, and my university's own first-gen program. The key is reading each application carefully and not assuming they all follow FAFSA's stricter definition. Your son should definitely apply broadly and not get discouraged by the FAFSA classification. The landscape is really changing to recognize students like him who face unique challenges even when parents have some post-secondary education.

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure your son also looks into work-study programs and need-based aid beyond just first-gen scholarships. Even if the FAFSA doesn't classify him as traditional first-gen, his family's financial situation and the fact that he'll be navigating a four-year degree program without parental experience can still make him eligible for substantial need-based assistance. Also, don't overlook scholarship opportunities that aren't specifically labeled as "first-generation" but are designed for students from working families or those pursuing specific career paths. Many trade and professional organizations offer scholarships that value the kind of hands-on work experience your family has - like automotive technology and medical assisting backgrounds. One more tip: when your son gets to college, he should definitely connect with the first-gen student support programs even if he technically doesn't qualify for the scholarships. Most colleges welcome students whose parents didn't complete bachelor's degrees into these support networks because they understand the unique challenges you face. These programs often provide mentoring, study groups, and connections to other resources that can be just as valuable as scholarship money.

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread - it's been incredibly helpful! My son and I have been feeling overwhelmed by the whole FAFSA and scholarship process, especially with the confusion around first-gen definitions. Reading all these different perspectives and success stories has given us so much clarity and hope. I've already started making a spreadsheet based on the advice here, and we're planning to reach out directly to financial aid offices at his target schools to ask about their specific first-gen scholarship definitions. We're also going to look into those local community foundation scholarships and trade organization opportunities that several people mentioned. It's reassuring to know that even though we'll have to mark "college or beyond" on the FAFSA, there are still many opportunities out there for students like my son who will be the first in our family to pursue a four-year degree. The distinction between having some post-secondary education and having the cultural knowledge to navigate a bachelor's degree program really resonates with our situation. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this community is amazing!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! As someone new to navigating the college financial aid process, I had no idea there were so many different definitions of "first-generation" across different programs and institutions. What really stands out to me is how important it is to be thorough in research and not give up after that initial FAFSA classification. The advice about creating a spreadsheet to track each scholarship's specific criteria is brilliant - I'm definitely going to start doing that right away. I'm particularly interested in the mention of TRIO programs using the "no bachelor's degree" definition since those are federal programs. Does anyone know if there are other federal aid programs beyond TRIO that use this more inclusive definition? It seems like federal consistency would be helpful, but I'm learning that's not always the case. Also, for those who have successfully navigated this process - how far in advance did you start researching and applying for these various scholarships? I'm wondering if we should be starting this process earlier than I initially thought.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful and detailed all these responses have been! I'm in a very similar situation - my husband has an associate's degree in computer networking and I have a certificate in pharmacy technician training. Our daughter is a junior in high school and we've been wondering about this exact question. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing we need to start preparing now rather than waiting until senior year. The advice about contacting financial aid offices directly and keeping a spreadsheet of different scholarship definitions is invaluable. I had no idea that so many programs use the "no bachelor's degree" definition even though FAFSA uses the stricter standard. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have been through this process, did you find that being honest about your family's educational background in essays and applications actually worked in your favor? I'm wondering if admissions committees and scholarship reviewers appreciate the transparency and recognize the unique perspective that comes from being the first to pursue a four-year degree, even when parents have some post-secondary education. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences here - this thread should be bookmarked for any family navigating this confusing landscape!