First-Generation Students

First-generation students bring resilience, determination, and the drive to transform opportunity into lasting change. Yet many face barriers their continuing-generation peers do not, from navigating unfamiliar admissions and financial-aid systems to balancing work and family responsibilities.

According to FirstGen Forward, 54% of all undergraduates in the U.S. are first-generation students, and they’re applying to college at twice the rate of continuing-generation students. But the path to completion remains steep: only 24% of first-generation students graduate, compared to 59% of continuing-generation students.

In Mississippi, the proportion of first-generation students is even higher—representing a vital part of the state’s talent pipeline. Supporting their success is essential not only for individual upward mobility, but also for achieving the state’s Ascent to 55% goal.

WHEF’s Role

At WHEF, supporting first-generation learners is central to our mission. We invest in programs that combine practical guidance with lasting impact, helping students navigate admissions, secure financial aid, and persist through to completion. Through Get2College, we provide free one-on-one counseling, FAFSA assistance, and workshops that demystify the college process for students and families.

Our grantmaking also strengthens campus and community initiatives that serve first-generation populations, from mentoring programs and academic advising to transfer-student support. By combining data-driven strategies with personal connection, WHEF helps ensure that being first doesn’t mean going it alone.