Today, the debate around the value of higher education credentials, especially for students from Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities, continues to expand. Economic instability, rising tuition costs, and student debt burdens weigh heavily on these communities.
The first-generation college student experience offers broad insight into both opportunity and perspective for the future. Yet, higher education, which is historically structured to perpetuate the success of successive generations of college graduates, often places first-generation students at a disadvantage. Navigating the complexities of unfamiliar systems—such as registering for classes, completing financial aid forms, and accessing internships—these students serve as pioneers within their institutions.
Despite these challenges, first-generation students demonstrate incredible resilience and resourcefulness. Their motivation often stems from a desire to transform their personal circumstances and create opportunities for others in their families and communities. As one TRIO McNair participant from Nevada stated, “Creating the first steps on the road is not easy, but it is so rewarding to carve out a path for others like me to follow.”
The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, in partnership with Lumina Foundation, explored the experiences of TRIO students to better understand the value of postsecondary credentials through an exploratory research study. Within this work, the recent report, Is College Worth It?: Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Student Voices on the Value of Postsecondary Credentials, sheds light on the benefits and barriers historically underrepresented first-generation students face.
The report reveals that four in five first-generation student participants believe their degree will help them achieve financial goals and credit their college experience with expanding career opportunities. In addition to these benefits, many students emphasized the importance of building social networks to support their long-term success. One participant from a TRIO Educational Opportunity Center reflected, “Attending college has helped me with networking and building a strong foundation toward my ambitions.”
These networks provide mentorship, job opportunities, and peer support—key elements that drive both career advancement and economic mobility. For first-generation students, the relationships formed in college serve as critical resources.
As students expand their networks, their sense of responsibility to uplift and support others also grows. This sense of purpose is evident in the report’s findings, with many students emphasizing how their education enables them to improve the well-being of their families and communities. In fact, three in four first-generation students reported that their college experiences inspired them to encourage siblings and relatives to pursue higher education.
Moreover, for many, education is not just a tool for personal and familial advancement—it is a pathway to driving social change. A TRIO Student Support Services participant from Guam pursuing a nursing degree explained how their education would empower them to serve their community, “A college degree will empower me to apply the knowledge I’ve gained to make a difference in my community. As a future healthcare professional, I aim to improve access to healthcare services and resources.” This perspective resonates with nearly 90% of students in the study, who expressed a strong commitment to using their education as a tool for community empowerment and well-being.
First-generation, historically underrepresented students with the support of programs like TRIO, are not just navigating the challenges of higher education—they are actively reshaping it. By listening to their stories and providing targeted support, institutions can unlock the full potential of these trailblazers and create a more equitable educational landscape.
In future posts, we will explore the barriers that first-generation, historically underrepresented students face and how they perceive institutional efforts to eliminate those obstacles, offering further insights on advancing equity in higher education.
Access the full “Is College Worth It?” report here.