First Gen at Illinois
At this point in your educational journey, you likely had to independently navigate an extensive college admissions process to arrive on campus. It is that type of hard work, dedication, and resiliency that will ultimately help propel you toward your goal of graduation. Now that you have officially joined the University of Illinois family, we want you to know you’re not alone. This website serves as a shared virtual space to support First-Gen student success.
Who is a first-generation student at Illinois?
The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign defines first-generation as “neither parent nor guardian have earned at least a bachelor's degree” (Source: Campus Profile Glossary, Division of Management Information). According to FirstGen Forward's First-Gen students in 2020 fact sheet, fifty-four percent of students identify as first-generation (pdf). Still, many need to be made aware of their status, given their unfamiliarity with the concept.