This study utilized the large-scale, multi-institutional CASSIE dataset to examine the impact of education abroad participation on academic outcomes for first-generation college students. Using robust multivariate matching methodology that effectively minimized self-selection bias, results showed the magnitude of benefit offered by studying abroad…

The Center for First Generation College Student Success (2020) defined first generation college students (FGCS) as, "an undergraduate student whose parents do not have a bachelor's or higher degree." FGCS have to navigate many aspects of college without parent(s) who have experienced college themselves. After applying and being accepted…

This basic qualitative study explored the experiences of 12 higher education and/or student affairs (HESA) faculty members to understand how their equity, diversity, and inclusion-related courses prepared emerging HESA professionals to support first-generation college students from an anti-deficit perspective. Eligible participants taught in…

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of first-generation college student-athletes (FGCSA) at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institutions and how their participation in intercollegiate athletics influenced their sense of belonging. A total of 10 FGCSA participants from three member…

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected higher education, particularly impacting first generation college students (FGCS). This qualitative case study, framed by the Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity (MMDI), aimed to identify factors that influenced the retention and persistence of FGCS during the pandemic. By examining FGCS…

International students' adjustment has been studied for many years. However, "first-generation" international students have not been adequately explored. International students and first-generation students both have many obstacles they must navigate and adapt to quickly to succeed in school. This study aimed to better understand who…

Higher education institutions are utilizing comprehensive college transition programs (CCTPs) to streamline support, promote retention and success, and address the structural barriers that at-promise students face. Yet, research about the role of CCTPs rarely explores the importance of major and career self-efficacy (MCSE) for these populations,…

This paper describes the results of qualitative and exploratory research into the transition to and experiences of the working world of graduates from a Chilean technical-professional higher education institution, whose student body is mainly made up of first-generation higher education students. The study includes eight in-depth and six group…

Through the stories of nine rural, first-generation students and their families, "Educated Out" shows how geography shapes college opportunities, from admission to postgraduation options. A former third-grade teacher in rural Tennessee, education researcher Mara Casey Tieken watched as her former students graduated high school. She was…

Objective: To synthesize peer-reviewed research on first-generation college students' mental health. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in 4 databases through 2022 to identify empirical, peer-reviewed, and published articles on first-generation college student anxiety, depression, stress and mental health. Results: Across 62 papers,…

First-generation college students' (FGCS) experiences can be accompanied by lower senses of belonging when compared to continuing-generation college students (CGCS). This article explores some instructional communication best practices for supporting belongingness by meeting the motivations of FGCS with phrasings, framings, and designs of course…

From an equity perspective, it is important that higher education graduates have the same labour market opportunities after graduation regardless of their social background. However, empirical evidence on the direct effect of parental education on labour market outcomes is mixed, with heterogeneous effects across fields of study. A common finding…

This research examines the relationship between financial aid, price, and the enrollment decisions of first-generation college students. Using human capital and socio-cultural theories in conjunction with previous research, the study establishes a conceptual framework to assess how personal, academic, and college variables associate with a…

In this study, we explore how first-generation status and type of research experience are associated with undergraduate students' research self-efficacy and research outcome expectancy during their early research experiences using the framework of social cognitive career theory. Third- and fourth-year undergraduates (n = 242, 45% first-generation)…

First-generation Latina/o/x students have some of the lowest college attainment rates in the nation. College attainment is influenced by the access students have to different college systems. The college choices students access can reflect individual, community, and school-level factors that impact how much college knowledge and resources students…