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Going to college for anyone can be scary.
But for first generational students, it’s entirely new territory.
It can be overwhelming trying to find the best college to attend, especially when some schools do a really bad job of helping first-generation students acclimate to the college environment.
With this in mind, we came to the conclusion that first-generation students have more struggles and worst outcomes than other students. So, which college should you choose?
We did the research for you and found that these colleges were best, and most helpful, for first-generation students.
The Top 10 Colleges
- Stanford University
- Middlebury College
- Duke University
- Vanderbilt University
- Cornell University
- Yale University
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Brown University
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Maybe you’re excited about going to college. Maybe you’re excited to get a more in-depth education than your parents did. Whatever the reason, we wanted to make sure you made the best choice for you. Keep reading to figure out how we determined these were the best schools for you.
How We Determined The Best Schools For First-Generation College Students
There are a multitude of factors that contribute to first-generation students’ success in college. Active and supportive student organizations, personal life circumstances, financial support, and academic programs are all a few areas that can contribute to student performance. However, for this study, we focused on a few metrics to measure success:
Using data from the US Department Of Education’s College Scorecard,We ranked over 1,800 universities in 3 areas:
- Percent of first-generation students who completed within 4 years at original institution
- Five-year repayment rate for first-generation students
- The median debt for first-generation students
The lower the score in each category the better. For example, a college that graduated every single one of its first-generation college students would have a 100% completion rate and receive a #1 in that category.
We only looked at 4-year universities. While junior colleges can be an excellent choice for first-generation students (and serve as a bridge from high school to university for those who wish to go on to receive their 4-year degree), we wanted to examine the colleges that do best with students from freshman year on.
Keep reading to see why these 10 schools made an A, or scroll down to see the best school for first-generation students in each state.
1. Stanford University
Completion Rate: 84%
Repayment Percentage: 89%
Median Debt: $8,009
All the way in Stanford, California, is our first choice for first-generation students. Stanford University boasts high completion rates of 84% for first-generation students, and 89% of them are able to repay their debt 5 years after graduation!
2. Middlebury College
Completion Rate: 89%
Repayment Percentage: 83%
Median Debt: $8,695
Middlebury College, located in Vermont, is next in line. This particular school sets a high standard for first-generation students, which is why 89% of them graduate in four years.
3. Duke University
Completion Rate: 92%
Repayment Percentage: 87%
Median Debt: $10,925
The next university earns its spot at No. 3 in the country for its 92% completion rate among first-generation students. Duke University knows the importance of success when it comes to first-generation students.
4. Vanderbilt University
Completion Rate: 90%
Repayment Percentage: 87%
Median Debt: $11,500
Vanderbilt is the fourth-best option for first-generation students. That’s due to having the fifth-best completion rate in the U.S. with 90% of first-generation students graduating within four years. Well, that and the fact that 87% of those students repay their debt within five years of graduation.
5. Cornell University
Completion Rate: 87%
Repayment Percentage: 88%
Median Debt: $11,813
Halfway through the list is Cornell University. The college has one of the highest completion rates of 87% among first-generation students while having an even higher repayment percentage of 88%. It’s clear that students who choose Cornell are set up for nothing but success.
6. Yale University
Completion Rate: 89%
Repayment Percentage: 81%
Median Debt: $10,000
Yale University makes an appearance at No. 6. This ranking is mainly based on the fact that 89% of first-generation students graduate within four years, which is the sixth-highest percentage in the country. We know one thing is true at Yale; they certainly care about your education.
7. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Completion Rate: 85%
Repayment Percentage: 79%
Median Debt: $12,499
The next university on the list is located in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earns its seventh-best ranking due to 85% of first-generation students graduating within four years.
8. Brown University
Completion Rate: 80%
Repayment Percentage: 88%
Median Debt: $12,755
Stopping at Providence, Rhode Island brings us to our next college: Brown University. The school boasts an 80% completion rate and an 88% repayment percentage among its first-generation students. Additionally, those students at Brown typically average only $12,755 in their debt.
9. Johns Hopkins University
Completion Rate: 79%
Repayment Percentage: 77%
Median Debt: $12,500
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, is the ninth-most supportive school for first-generation students. In fact, 79% of those students graduate from this university within the typical four years. Plus, 77% pay off their debt in five years.
10. University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Completion Rate: 72%
Repayment Percentage: 79%
Median Debt: $12,588
The University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the 10th-most supportive college in the United States. While it’s 72% completion rate is high, the college’s 79% repayment percentage is definitely something to brag about. As a first-generation student, this college knows it shouldn’t break the bank to get a good education.
Summary of the Best Colleges for First-Generation Students
Not all colleges are alike. In fact, most aren’t as supportive of first-generation students as these 10 colleges we named above. Whatever college you choose as a first-generation student, you want to make sure the college supports you. Check out the list below to discover the most supportive college in each state.
| State | Institution | Completion Rate | Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Samford University | 57% | 73% |
| Alaska | University of Alaska Southeast | 29% | 58% |
| Arizona | University of Arizona | 50% | 67% |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 83% | 78% |
| California | Stanford University | 84% | 89% |
| Colorado | University of Colorado Boulder | 52% | 72% |
| Connecticut | Yale University | 89% | 81% |
| Delaware | University of Delaware | 70% | 76% |
| Florida | University of Miami | 71% | 75% |
| Georgia | Emory University | 85% | 80% |
| Hawaii | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | 46% | 74% |
| Idaho | Brigham Young University-Idaho | 35% | 75% |
| Illinois | Northwestern University | 81% | 80% |
| Indiana | Taylor University | 66% | 82% |
| Iowa | Dordt University | 64% | 90% |
| Kansas | Bethany College | 44% | 72% |
| Kentucky | Berea College | 56% | 66% |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State University and Agricultural Mechanical College | 51% | 73% |
| Maine | Unity College | 70% | 70% |
| Maryland | Johns Hopkins University | 79% | 77% |
| Massachusetts | Tufts University | 73% | 89% |
| Michigan | Albion College | 56% | 77% |
| Minnesota | St Olaf College | 80% | 88% |
| Mississippi | Millsaps College | 55% | 73% |
| Missouri | Washington University in St Louis | 84% | 84% |
| Montana | Montana State University | 37% | 75% |
| Nebraska | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 49% | 75% |
| Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno | 50% | 70% |
| New Hampshire | Franklin Pierce University | 47% | 74% |
| New Jersey | The College of New Jersey | 75% | 82% |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 31% | 87% |
| New York | Cornell University | 87% | 88% |
| North Carolina | Duke University | 92% | 87% |
| North Dakota | Valley City State University | 40% | 72% |
| Ohio | Cedarville University | 51% | 84% |
| Oklahoma | University of Tulsa | 58% | 73% |
| Oregon | Oregon Health Science University | 88% | 85% |
| Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania | 81% | 84% |
| Rhode Island | Brown University | 80% | 88% |
| South Carolina | Erskine College | 51% | 75% |
| South Dakota | University of Sioux Falls | 51% | 77% |
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University | 90% | 87% |
| Texas | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | 85% | 79% |
| Utah | Brigham Young University-Provo | 49% | 84% |
| Vermont | Middlebury College | 89% | 83% |
| Virginia | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 84% | 84% |
| Washington | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 72% | 79% |
| West Virginia | Alderson Broaddus University | 33% | 70% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 59% | 81% |
| Wyoming | University of Wyoming | 43% | 76% |
Author
Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.
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