An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019

This project is an annotated bibliography of the research from 2008 to 2019 on first-generation students. The purpose of combing through a decade of material was to help us figure out how we got to our current understanding of first-generation students and first-generation college graduates. The authors attempted to answer the question “How did we get here?” and found that, while there has been a flurry of research and practice related to the first-generation student experience, there is so much more we can and should be studying and sharing.

Suggested citation: Baldwin, A., Rease Miles, L., Boyd, W. D., Bruner, D. L., Foote, S. M., & Gutierrez, M. (2021). An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019. Center for First-generation Student Success; NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. https://firstgen.naspa.org/journal-and-research/an-annotated-bibliography-on-first-generation-college-students-research-from-2008-2019

About this project

Annotated Bib Cover Page

An Annotated Bibliography on First-generation College Students: Research from 2008-2019 examines hundreds of entries, placing each into chapters centering on eleven topics: career readiness; classroom teaching and pedagogy; graduate and professional school students; intersections of identity; low-income & working-class students; student refugees; mass media and popular culture; memoirs and fiction; parents and families; social and cultural capital; and student success.

Annotated Bibliography

Press Release

Center for First-generation Student Success releases comprehensive summary of research on first-generation college students.

Press Release

Authors

Bio: Amy Baldwin
Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.

Former Director and Senior Lecturer of Writing, Literacy, and Academic Success in Student Transitions, University of Central Arkansas

La'Tonya Rease Miles 2020 Headshot
La’Tonya Rease Miles, Ph.D.

Director of University Partnerships, ReUp Education

Bio: Whitnee Boyd
Whitnee Boyd, Ed.D.

Past-Chair; Coordinator of Special Projects, Office of the Chancellor, Texas Christian University

Dawn Bruner Headshot
Dawn L. Bruner , Ed.D.

Director, Parent and Family Relations, University of Rochester

Stephanie Foote
Stephanie M. Foote, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Vice President, Stony Brook University

Mike Gutierrez Headshot
Mike Gutierrez, M.Ed.

Senior Program Coordinator, University of Texas at Austin

Statistics

Statistics

54% of undergraduate students in the United States identify as first-generation
FirstGen Forward

Statistics

First-generation students graduate at a rate of 20% versus 49% for continuing-generation students
FirstGen Forward

Statistics

The median parental income of continuing-generation students has risen almost 15% ($90,000 to $103,000) while the parental income for first-generation students remained constant at $41,000, emphasizing the need for increased financial support for first-generation students
FirstGen Forward

Statistics

First-generation students have a lower median salary and expect to earn advanced degrees at a lower rate than their continuing-generation peers
FirstGen Forward

Center Resources