The mission of First Scholars® is to dramatically increase the graduation rate of first-generation college students — students whose parents have no education beyond high school. We do this by providing these students with individualized academic and social support, personal development, and financial assistance.
We provide this assistance by establishing First Scholars programs at universities throughout the United States. The First Scholars program is currently operating in a growing national network of affiliated universities. Schools implementing the First Scholars program receive start-up program and scholarship funds, tools and training, program evaluation expertise, and ongoing national support.
Only 36% of first-generation students completed a bachelor’s degree within six years of enrollment, compared with 43% of their peers whose parents had some college and 60% of their peers whose parents had college degrees.
Source: Radford, A.W., Berkner, L., Wheeless, S.C., and Shepherd, B. (2010). Persistence and Attainment of 2003–2004 Beginning Postsecondary Students: After Six Years (NCES 2011-151). U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed/gov/pubsearch.
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