USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Undergraduate Masters PhD the USA

TransgenderFirst Scholarship 2027 - $2,500

Deadline Typically December 31 (confirm on official page) 101 days left · Hosted by OnlineDegree.com (TransgenderFirst National Scholarship) · Published

The TransgenderFirst National Scholarship sends $2,500 straight to an accredited U.S. college or university for one transgender or non-binary student each year. OnlineDegree.com launched the fund to address employment bias, lost family support, and housing barriers that keep many trans learners from finishing degrees. You must be a U.S. citizen with a high school diploma or GED and plan to enroll or stay enrolled in any accredited postsecondary program, from associate and bachelor's work through graduate study and certificates. Applications center on your story rather than a long checklist. The public page last listed a December 31 deadline; verify the live site and contact team before you invest time, because some scholarship directories mark the award inactive between cycles.

Paid to your school
$2,500
Degree or certificate
Any accredited
Typical annual close
Dec 31
U.S. citizens only
All 50 states
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the TransgenderFirst Scholarship?

TransgenderFirst started as a single $2,500 check from OnlineDegree.com aimed at a gap other scholarships rarely touch: transgender and non-binary students trying to pay for college when jobs, family support, and campus housing all work against them. The site still frames the award as the first national scholarship built only for that community, with payment sent straight to an accredited U.S. school instead of your personal bank account.

Eligibility stays narrow on purpose. You need U.S. citizenship, a diploma or GED, and a clear plan to study at an accredited institution anywhere in the country. Associates, bachelor's, graduate, and certificate paths all count. What you will not find is a twenty-page form; the team asks for your story and keeps the process short.

Cycles can pause between years, so treat December 31 as the usual cutoff only after you confirm the portal on the official page. When the fund is live, one recipient per year gets meaningful help toward a term bill even though the amount is not a full ride. Pair it with campus aid, state grants, and other LGBTQ scholarships so you are not relying on a single award.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 5
  • ✓
    Transgender or non-binary identity
    You must identify as transgender or non-binary. The fund exists specifically for students in those communities rather than for general LGBTQ applicants who do not identify as trans or non-binary.
  • ✓
    U.S. citizenship
    OnlineDegree.com lists U.S. citizenship as a hard requirement. Permanent residents and DACA recipients are not named on the published eligibility list.
  • ✓
    High school diploma or GED
    Hold a high school diploma or GED before you apply. The scholarship supports both incoming and continuing college students who already meet that baseline.
  • ✓
    Accredited U.S. postsecondary enrollment
    Plan to pursue or continue a degree or certificate at an accredited U.S. college or university. The award pays your institution, not you personally.
  • ✓
    Nationwide residency
    You may study in any state. The program is national and does not restrict applicants to a single region.
What you get

Benefits

  • Cash value $2,500 per recipient
  • Recipients per cycle One national award
  • Payment method Sent directly to your college
  • Eligible programs Associate through doctoral and certificates
  • Renewal Not renewable (single-year grant)
  • Living expenses paid to you Not covered
  • International study Not covered
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 5
  • ✓
    TransgenderFirst application and essay
    Complete the application on the official TransgenderFirst page and share your story as the site directs. Treat the narrative as the core document reviewers read.
  • ✓
    Proof of citizenship
    Be ready to document U.S. citizenship if the application team requests it after your initial submission.
  • ✓
    High school diploma or GED verification
    Provide transcript, diploma, or GED records if asked so staff can confirm you meet the education baseline.
  • ✓
    College enrollment or admission records
    Show acceptance, enrollment, or continuing status at an accredited U.S. institution so the $2,500 can be sent to the correct bursar office.
  • ✓
    Contact information for your school
    Supply financial aid or bursar contact details so OnlineDegree.com can route payment when you win.
Step by step

How to apply

Read the official TransgenderFirst page and check whether applications are live for your target year. Third-party sites sometimes list expired or placeholder dates.
Collect diploma or GED proof plus enrollment or admission letters from an accredited U.S. school so you can respond quickly if staff ask for verification.
Write about the barriers you faced accessing college as a transgender or non-binary student and how $2,500 would change your next term. Keep the tone honest and specific.
File only through onlinedegree.com/transgender-first-scholarship or the application link posted there. Avoid paid third-party submission services.
The program encourages social posts with #TransgenderFirst to raise visibility. Sharing is optional and does not replace a complete application.
Past recipients heard directly from the TransgenderFirst team. Monitor the inbox you list on the form and reply promptly to payment paperwork requests.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
Typically December 31 (confirm on official page)
101 days left
Year-round
Review the official page for donor updates and whether a new cycle has opened.
Before Dec 31
Typical annual window to submit your story and eligibility details when the fund is active.
Early winter
Selection and outreach to the recipient, based on the 2020 award timeline described on the site.
After selection
OnlineDegree.com coordinates the $2,500 payment with your accredited institution.
Next academic term
Funds apply toward tuition and fees at the school you listed on the application.
Questions

FAQ

What is the TransgenderFirst National Scholarship?

It is a $2,500 grant from OnlineDegree.com marketed as the first national scholarship focused on transgender and non-binary college students. One recipient per cycle receives payment sent directly to an accredited U.S. school.

How much is the TransgenderFirst Scholarship worth?

The published award is $2,500 for one student each cycle. The money goes to your college or university rather than to you as a personal check.

Who can apply for the TransgenderFirst Scholarship?

U.S. citizens who identify as transgender or non-binary, hold a high school diploma or GED, and plan to attend or continue at an accredited U.S. postsecondary institution. Other LGBTQ students who are not trans or non-binary should look elsewhere.

Is the TransgenderFirst Scholarship only for undergraduates?

No. The official page covers associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs at accredited U.S. institutions, so graduate and certificate students may qualify if they meet citizenship and identity rules.

When is the TransgenderFirst Scholarship deadline?

The live program page has listed December 31 as the current deadline in past cycles. Because some directories flag the award as inactive between years, confirm the date on onlinedegree.com before you apply.

Do I need FAFSA for the TransgenderFirst Scholarship?

The published eligibility list does not require FAFSA or CSS Profile data. Focus on citizenship, identity, enrollment, and the story prompt unless staff request additional financial forms.

Can non-binary students apply for TransgenderFirst?

Yes. OnlineDegree.com explicitly includes non-binary applicants alongside transgender students in the eligibility section.

Is the TransgenderFirst Scholarship the same as TransgenderFirst National Scholarship?

Yes. Aggregators use both names for the same OnlineDegree.com fund. Search either phrase and verify details on the official TransgenderFirst page.

Featured

Scholarship Union

More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.

Keep looking

Related guides

Partial Funding
Gideon Asen Perseverance Scholarship 2027 - $1,000
Gideon Asen LLC awards $1,000 to one U.S. college student who experienced a birth or childhood injury and maintained at least a 3.0 GPA. Current or incoming undergraduates at accredited schools nationwide may apply with a resume, transcript, and 750-1,000 word essay on overcoming injury-related challenges to pursue higher education. Firm employees and household members are ineligible. Upload PDFs through the official form by December 31, 2026.
Partial Funding
Equitable Excellence Scholarship 2027 - $20,000
The Equitable Excellence Scholarship® Program, administered by Scholarship America for Equitable Foundation, awards up to $20,000 to high school seniors who demonstrate financial need, at least a 2.5 GPA, and ambition to encourage others toward college. One hundred recipients receive $5,000 per year renewable for up to four years of full-time study at an accredited two- or four-year U.S. college. Applicants must reside in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico. The 2027 cohort typically applies when the portal reopens in fall 2026 with a mid-December deadline at 3:00 p.m. Central Time; confirm dates on learnmore.scholarsapply.org/equitableexcellence.
Partial Funding
Albers-Alexander LGBTQ Law Scholarship 2027 - $10K
Horizons Foundation's Albers-Alexander LGBTQ Law Scholarship Fund awards up to $10,000 to LGBTQ first-, second-, or third-year students at Berkeley Law, UC Davis School of Law, UC College of the Law San Francisco, Santa Clara University School of Law, or the University of Wisconsin Law School. Selection prioritizes leadership for the LGBTQ community, significant financial need, and applicants who face educational access barriers such as LGBTQ students of color, transgender students, immigrants, or first-generation college students. Funds go directly to your law school, not to you personally. The 2026-27 portal opens 14 September 2026, applications are due 27 October 2026, and awards are announced in December 2026.
Partial Funding
ITE Diversity Scholars 2027 - Up to $20,000
The ITE Diversity Scholars Program, now branded as the ITE University Scholars Program, supports US high school seniors and community college transfer students who plan to study transportation engineering, planning, or related fields at a four-year university with an ITE Student Chapter. Scholars can receive up to $20,000 total, paid up to $4,000 per year for as many as five years, plus mentoring, chapter engagement, and internship connections. Applicants need a 3.0 high school GPA, US citizenship or lawful permanent residency, and preference goes to first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Applications are due March 15 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the ITE scholarship platform.

Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.

Visit official website