GITNUXREPORT 2025

First Generation Statistics

First-generation college students face higher dropout, financial, and academic challenges.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

First-generation students tend to have lower high school GPAs compared to their peers

Statistic 2

First-generation students are less likely to persist in college compared to their continuing-generation peers

Statistic 3

Only about 50% of first-generation college students graduate within six years

Statistic 4

Nearly 45% of first-generation students report feeling unprepared for college coursework

Statistic 5

About 70% of first-generation students report financial difficulties impacting their college attendance

Statistic 6

First-generation students are less likely to have access to academic resources, such as tutoring, compared to non-first-generation students

Statistic 7

First-generation college students are more likely to work part-time during school, impacting their academic performance

Statistic 8

The graduation rate for first-generation college students is approximately 15 percentage points lower than for students with college-educated parents

Statistic 9

About 40% of first-generation college students switch majors at least once within their first two years, compared to 30% of non-first-generation students

Statistic 10

First-generation students report higher levels of stress and anxiety related to academic and financial pressures

Statistic 11

First-generation students are more likely to face language barriers if they come from non-English speaking households, impact on college integration

Statistic 12

Only about 30% of first-generation students report feeling confident in accessing academic support services

Statistic 13

First-generation students are more likely to enroll part-time than their peers, which can affect their time to degree completion

Statistic 14

Approximately 35% of first-generation college students report feeling isolated or disconnected from campus life

Statistic 15

First-generation students are less likely to have parent or guardian support in navigating college systems, which impacts retention

Statistic 16

About 20% of first-generation students report experiencing housing instability during college, affecting their academic success

Statistic 17

First-generation students are more likely to take out student loans despite being more cautious about debt, compared to continuing-generation students

Statistic 18

First-generation students are more likely to work over 20 hours per week during college, which can impede academic progress

Statistic 19

First-generation students are less likely to participate in study abroad programs, due to financial and informational barriers

Statistic 20

About 25% of first-generation college students transfer to another institution before completing their degree, often due to financial or academic challenges

Statistic 21

First-generation students report higher levels of impostor syndrome, which affects their academic confidence

Statistic 22

The dropout rate among first-generation students is approximately 30%, notably higher than for students with college-educated parents

Statistic 23

First-generation college students often lack access to mentors who can guide them through higher education pathways, impacting their academic trajectories

Statistic 24

First-generation students are more likely to work in low-wage jobs while attending college, which impacts their academic and financial stability

Statistic 25

There is a growing number of programs specifically designed to support first-generation students, with over 1,000 such programs nationally

Statistic 26

First-generation students are more likely to delay college start, with some starting college after age 21, compared to traditional age students

Statistic 27

More than 60% of first-generation students report working during college, mostly in part-time roles, affecting their academic experience

Statistic 28

First-generation students are significantly less likely to have siblings who attended college, impacting their college expectations and preparedness

Statistic 29

Approximately 80% of first-generation students learn about college through high school guidance counselors, often receiving limited information

Statistic 30

First-generation students are more likely to participate in remedial courses during college, which can delay graduation

Statistic 31

First-generation students are more likely to face barriers related to navigating financial aid processes, leading to higher dropout rates

Statistic 32

About 10% of first-generation students are homeless at some point during their college years, affecting their academic success

Statistic 33

First-generation students report significantly lower levels of college self-efficacy compared to peers whose parents have higher education, affecting engagement

Statistic 34

First-generation students are underrepresented in STEM fields, constituting around 25% of STEM majors despite making up 35% of undergraduates

Statistic 35

First-generation student enrollment has increased by approximately 12% over the past decade, reflecting growing awareness and inclusion efforts

Statistic 36

Approximately 20% of college students in the United States are first-generation students

Statistic 37

First-generation students are more likely to attend community colleges than four-year institutions

Statistic 38

First-generation college students are more likely to come from lower-income families

Statistic 39

First-generation college students are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college in the U.S.

Statistic 40

First-generation students are more likely to attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)

Statistic 41

Approximately 60% of first-generation students receive some form of financial aid, compared to 50% of their peers

Statistic 42

First-generation college students are more likely to be first in their family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, but less likely to pursue graduate studies

Statistic 43

Data shows that first-generation students are more likely to be older than their peers, with an average age of 24.2 years

Statistic 44

Family income significantly influences college choice for first-generation students, with most attending less expensive institutions

Statistic 45

The percentage of first-generation students intending to pursue graduate studies is around 10%, lower than their non-first-generation peers

Statistic 46

First-generation students tend to have lower parental education levels—most commonly parents with a high school diploma or less

Statistic 47

About 60% of first-generation college students come from households in the bottom 40% of income distribution

Statistic 48

The average family income of first-generation students is approximately $31,000 per year, compared to $90,000 for continuing-generation students

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Key Highlights

  • Approximately 20% of college students in the United States are first-generation students
  • First-generation students are less likely to persist in college compared to their continuing-generation peers
  • Only about 50% of first-generation college students graduate within six years
  • First-generation students are more likely to attend community colleges than four-year institutions
  • First-generation college students are more likely to come from lower-income families
  • Nearly 45% of first-generation students report feeling unprepared for college coursework
  • First-generation college students are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college in the U.S.
  • First-generation students tend to have lower high school GPAs compared to their peers
  • About 70% of first-generation students report financial difficulties impacting their college attendance
  • First-generation students are less likely to have access to academic resources, such as tutoring, compared to non-first-generation students
  • First-generation college students are more likely to work part-time during school, impacting their academic performance
  • The graduation rate for first-generation college students is approximately 15 percentage points lower than for students with college-educated parents
  • First-generation students are underrepresented in STEM fields, constituting around 25% of STEM majors despite making up 35% of undergraduates

First-generation college students, often the trailblazers in their families, face unique challenges—from financial hardships and feelings of unpreparedness to lower graduation rates and limited access to resources—that highlight the urgent need for targeted support and systemic change in higher education.

Academic Performance and Graduation Rates

  • First-generation students tend to have lower high school GPAs compared to their peers

Academic Performance and Graduation Rates Interpretation

First-generation students often navigate the educational landscape with a steeper climb, reflected in their comparatively lower high school GPAs, highlighting the need for targeted support to level the playing field.

Challenges and Barriers Faced by First-Generation Students

  • First-generation students are less likely to persist in college compared to their continuing-generation peers
  • Only about 50% of first-generation college students graduate within six years
  • Nearly 45% of first-generation students report feeling unprepared for college coursework
  • About 70% of first-generation students report financial difficulties impacting their college attendance
  • First-generation students are less likely to have access to academic resources, such as tutoring, compared to non-first-generation students
  • First-generation college students are more likely to work part-time during school, impacting their academic performance
  • The graduation rate for first-generation college students is approximately 15 percentage points lower than for students with college-educated parents
  • About 40% of first-generation college students switch majors at least once within their first two years, compared to 30% of non-first-generation students
  • First-generation students report higher levels of stress and anxiety related to academic and financial pressures
  • First-generation students are more likely to face language barriers if they come from non-English speaking households, impact on college integration
  • Only about 30% of first-generation students report feeling confident in accessing academic support services
  • First-generation students are more likely to enroll part-time than their peers, which can affect their time to degree completion
  • Approximately 35% of first-generation college students report feeling isolated or disconnected from campus life
  • First-generation students are less likely to have parent or guardian support in navigating college systems, which impacts retention
  • About 20% of first-generation students report experiencing housing instability during college, affecting their academic success
  • First-generation students are more likely to take out student loans despite being more cautious about debt, compared to continuing-generation students
  • First-generation students are more likely to work over 20 hours per week during college, which can impede academic progress
  • First-generation students are less likely to participate in study abroad programs, due to financial and informational barriers
  • About 25% of first-generation college students transfer to another institution before completing their degree, often due to financial or academic challenges
  • First-generation students report higher levels of impostor syndrome, which affects their academic confidence
  • The dropout rate among first-generation students is approximately 30%, notably higher than for students with college-educated parents
  • First-generation college students often lack access to mentors who can guide them through higher education pathways, impacting their academic trajectories
  • First-generation students are more likely to work in low-wage jobs while attending college, which impacts their academic and financial stability
  • There is a growing number of programs specifically designed to support first-generation students, with over 1,000 such programs nationally
  • First-generation students are more likely to delay college start, with some starting college after age 21, compared to traditional age students
  • More than 60% of first-generation students report working during college, mostly in part-time roles, affecting their academic experience
  • First-generation students are significantly less likely to have siblings who attended college, impacting their college expectations and preparedness
  • Approximately 80% of first-generation students learn about college through high school guidance counselors, often receiving limited information
  • First-generation students are more likely to participate in remedial courses during college, which can delay graduation
  • First-generation students are more likely to face barriers related to navigating financial aid processes, leading to higher dropout rates
  • About 10% of first-generation students are homeless at some point during their college years, affecting their academic success
  • First-generation students report significantly lower levels of college self-efficacy compared to peers whose parents have higher education, affecting engagement

Challenges and Barriers Faced by First-Generation Students Interpretation

First-generation college students, navigating the academic and financial labyrinth largely without a map—often feeling unprepared, unsupported, and overwhelmed—are statistically more likely to delay or forgo graduation, illustrating both their resilience and the critical need for targeted institutional support.

Enrollment Trends and Representation

  • First-generation students are underrepresented in STEM fields, constituting around 25% of STEM majors despite making up 35% of undergraduates
  • First-generation student enrollment has increased by approximately 12% over the past decade, reflecting growing awareness and inclusion efforts

Enrollment Trends and Representation Interpretation

Despite making up 35% of undergraduates, first-generation students occupy only a quarter of STEM majors—highlighting that, while enrollment growth is promising, systemic barriers still require dismantling to ensure genuine representation in science and technology fields.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors

  • Approximately 20% of college students in the United States are first-generation students
  • First-generation students are more likely to attend community colleges than four-year institutions
  • First-generation college students are more likely to come from lower-income families
  • First-generation college students are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college in the U.S.
  • First-generation students are more likely to attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
  • Approximately 60% of first-generation students receive some form of financial aid, compared to 50% of their peers
  • First-generation college students are more likely to be first in their family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, but less likely to pursue graduate studies
  • Data shows that first-generation students are more likely to be older than their peers, with an average age of 24.2 years
  • Family income significantly influences college choice for first-generation students, with most attending less expensive institutions
  • The percentage of first-generation students intending to pursue graduate studies is around 10%, lower than their non-first-generation peers
  • First-generation students tend to have lower parental education levels—most commonly parents with a high school diploma or less
  • About 60% of first-generation college students come from households in the bottom 40% of income distribution
  • The average family income of first-generation students is approximately $31,000 per year, compared to $90,000 for continuing-generation students

Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors Interpretation

First-generation college students, often navigating the educational landscape with family income around $31,000 and a pioneering spirit, tend to favor community colleges and HBCUs over graduate pursuits, highlighting both resilience and the resource gaps they face on their path to higher education.