Factors That Increase Suicide Risk with First Generation Students
Economic precarity and financial concerns
Isolation and loneliness on campus
Stigma
Lack of support from family and friends
Shame, especially feelings of being an “imposter” at college
Population Highlights
90% of low-income, first-generation students do not graduate within 6 years.
Students who used mentoring and coaching services were 10-15% more likely to go on to another year of college
15% of first-gen grads reported having zero influential relationships with faculty or staff during college, and the lack of mentors disproportionately affects minority students.
25% of white and Asian-American students are first-gen students
41% of black students are first-gen students
61% of Latino students are first generation students within 3 years compared to only 14% of continuing generation students
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.
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.