A Snapshot of Marymount’s First-Generation Students

1. A Snapshot of Marymount’s First-Generation Students Alvin Manalo Office of Institutional Effectiveness Marymount Innovations October 2009

2. What is a First-Generation Student? • Undergraduates whose parents never enrolled in postsecondary education (National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education)

3. National Trends • First-generation students are more likely to attend part-time, be older, and live off-campus than non-first generation students. • More likely to be from ethnic and racial minorities. • Likely to persist in postsecondary institutions at lower rates than non-first generation students. • Have a higher proportion of unmet financial need. (The Pell Institute, 2008; National Center for Education Statistics, 1998)

4. Methods • Fall 2008 census= 2,193 undergraduates • Looked at students who applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at anytime = 1,642 students or 75% of population. • Highest school your father completed (Q24) • Highest school your mother completed (Q25) • Possible responses: Middle school/Jr. high; High school; College or beyond; Other/unknown • First-Generation- Father and mother enrolled only in middle school/Jr. high or high school.

5. Sample Population

6. Gender • Roughly 1 in 3 male or female undergraduates are first-generation students.

7. Race/Ethnicity • Note: Other/Not Reported includes Indian/Native Americans • Minority groups make up 54% of first-generation population and 39% of non-first generation population. • 48% of Hispanics are first-generation students.

8. Are MU First-Generation Students Older? First-generation average age = 22.3; Non-first generation average age = 22.1 Possible Explanations: First-generation students more likely to work or attend to family obligations after high school. (The Pell Institute, 2008)

9. Enrollment Status Possible explanations: First-generation students more likely to work and attend school at the same time. (The Pell Institute, 2008)

10. Residency Status • 2 out of 3 first-generation students live off-campus. • First-generation patterns consistent with older, part-time students.

11. Market Distribution Note: Secondary market includes Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. A larger proportion of first-generation students are from our primary market (VA, MD, DC).

12. Class Level • A greater proportion of freshmen and sophomores are first-generation students than juniors and seniors. • This may suggest steady persistence until sophomore year but a decline in persistence after sophomore year.

13. Freshman-Sophomore Retention Rate First-Generation Non-First Generation • Fall 2008 full-time, first-time freshmen who applied for a FAFSA = 337 • First-Generation = 105 • Non-First Generation = 232

14. Financial Aid Matters First-Generation Non-First Generation * Does not include PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans. Does not include aid awarded in excess of need (Common Data Set).

15. Summary Marymount’s first-generation students: • Make up almost half of Hispanic students (48%) • Are slightly older than none-first generation students • Are more likely to enroll part-time • 2 out of 3 first-generation students live off-campus • Appear to have a higher freshman-to-sophomore retention rate • Appear more likely to come from low-income backgrounds and have financial need • Slightly less likely to have their financial need met