WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, the research arm of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), has released a new research brief titled “Percentage of First-Generation Students Declines between 1996 and 2020.” The findings reveal a significant decrease in the share of first-generation students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities—from 66% in 1996 to 53% in 2020—and highlight both the progress and the persistent challenges in maintaining college access for students from families without a college-going tradition.
The report’s release coincides with National First-Generation College Celebration Day on November 8, an annual observance established by COE and FirstGen Forward to honor the accomplishments of first-generation students and alumni across the nation.
“This research gives us a moment to celebrate how far our country has come—and to confront the work that remains,” said COE President Kimberly Jones. “The decline in first-generation enrollment reflects both progress in parental degree attainment and the ongoing need to ensure that higher education remains accessible for all. Programs like TRIO are critical in maintaining that bridge, providing the support and structure that empower first-generation students to persist and graduate.”
The analysis, authored by Sean Simone, Ph.D., COE’s vice president for research and director of the Pell Institute, draws from data collected through the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. According to Simone, the trends suggest a shifting landscape rather than a uniform loss.
“As the nation becomes more highly educated, we’re seeing a smaller proportion of students who qualify as first-generation,” said Simone. “But this doesn’t mean our work is finished—far from it. Many students still face the same barriers of information, access, and affordability that first-generation students have historically confronted. The goal must be to preserve opportunity as the higher education population evolves.”
The Pell Institute’s research emphasizes that while the pool of first-generation students may be shrinking, systemic inequities persist—particularly for students from low-income households.
The findings reinforce COE’s longstanding advocacy for federal TRIO programs, which have supported millions of first-generation students in pursuing and completing college degrees since 1965.
Media Inquiries
For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Terrance L. Hamm, vice president for communications and marketing at COE via email at [email protected] or call (202) 347-7430.