A Critical Examination of the Leading Causes of Retention of First-Generation Students

A college degree has become increasingly important for career advancement in the 21stcentury. Colleges and universities are tasked with generating new ideas for the recruitment and retention of students, especially those from under-represented minority populations. Higher education institutions must not only recruit but find innovative strategies to retain first-generation students from low income families. This critical review of the literature examines leading causes for low student success rates in first-generation students at institutions of higher learning. The intent of this analysis is to understand the complexities of first-generation students and also highlight multiple strategies for higher education professionals to create student success in this high-risk target population