These fact sheets provide national statistics about the background characteristics, postsecondary experiences, and outcomes of first-generation and continuing-generation college students in the United States. Detailed information on data collection methods is included with each fact sheet. Scholars and practitioners are encouraged to use these fact sheets to compare national statistics about first-generation students to statistics about first-generation students at their own institution. These fact sheets also provide useful insight to advance research and scholarship specific to first-generation students.
When considering how the statistics in these fact sheets may relate to the students at your institution, please read the footnotes for important information, including definitions of key terms, the data source, and the type of student population that is represented on each sheet. The average profile of students at your institution may be very different from the national samples of undergraduates and first-time college students used for these fact sheets. Some statistics are shown separately by type of institution.
Note that while the Center recognizes the diversity of definitions represented by the term “first-generation college student,” in these fact sheets, first-generation college student is defined as an undergraduate whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree.
These fact sheets were produced for the Center by RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute. Accompanying each fact sheet is the respective suggested citation.
These are accompanied by the National Data Fact Sheets released in 2021 about first-generation and continuing-generation college graduates.
Fact sheet 1 displays general demographic and enrollment characteristics of first-generation and continuing-generation college students.
The statistics are based on data from the 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, which represents the national population of undergraduates who were enrolled in Title IV postsecondary institutions in academic year 2015-16. The number of study members is 89,000.
Highlight: As of academic year 2015-16, 56% of undergraduates nationally were first-generation college students (neither parent had a bachelor’s degree), and 59% of these students were also the first sibling in their family to go to college.
Suggested Citation: RTI International. (2019). First-generation College Students: Demographic Characteristics and Postsecondary Enrollment. Washington, DC: NASPA. Retrieved from https://firstgen.naspa.org/files/dmfile/FactSheet-01.pdf
Fact sheet 2 provides statistics about the first-year enrollment and coursework of first-generation and continuing-generation college students, as well as about their persistence, departure, attainment, and percentage of attempted credits completed. The data are from the longitudinal 2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study and represent the population of undergraduates who entered postsecondary education for the first time in academic year 2003-04. The number of study respondents is 19,000.
Highlight: Six years after first entering postsecondary education, 56% of first-generation college students and 40% of continuing-generation students had not earned any postsecondary credential.
Suggested Citation: RTI International. (2019). First Year Experience, Persistence, and Attainment of First-generation College Students. Washington, DC: NASPA. Retrieved from https://firstgen.naspa.org/files/dmfile/FactSheet-02.pdf
Fact sheet 3 compares the use of financial aid services, health services, academic advising, academic support services, and career services between first-generation and continuing-generation college students. The data are from the longitudinal 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study and represent the population of undergraduates who entered postsecondary education for the first time in academic year 2011-12. The number of study respondents is 25,000.
Highlight: In their first year in postsecondary education, a higher percentage of first-generation than continuing-generation students used financial aid services, but lower percentages used health, academic advising, and academic support services.
Suggested Citation: RTI International. (2019). Use of Student Services among Freshman First-generation College Students. Washington, DC: NASPA. Retrieved from https://firstgen.naspa.org/files/dmfile/NASPA_FactSheet-03_FIN.pdf
Fact sheet 4 shows the employment experiences of first-generation and continuing-generation college students, including median hours worked and whether their job was related to their major. The statistics are based on data from the 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, which represents the national population of undergraduates who were enrolled in Title IV postsecondary institutions in academic year 2015-16. The number of study members is 89,000.
Highlight: As of academic year 2015-16, 66% of first-generation college students and 61% of continuing-generation college students were employed in a paid job, internship, or work-study award.
Suggested Citation: RTI International. (2019). First-generation College Students’ Employment. Washington, DC: NASPA. Retrieved from https://firstgen.naspa.org/files/dmfile/FactSheet-04.pdf
