First Gen MSU

MSU First!
Success for Students

New Students - First-year or Transfers

Career Services - Jobs and Internships

Mental Health Services, Referrals, and Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to
First-Gen

Our Mission

The First-Generation College Student Initiative aims to inspire first-generation college students to persist and graduate by eliminating barriers, providing high-impact learning experiences, and ongoing development.

WHO IS FIRST-GEN?

This section may help you to determine whether you’re a first-gen student. Click each question to learn more!

You are a first-gen student if your parents did not complete a 4-year college or university degree.

If your parents took a few college classes or even completed community college, you are still considered first-gen.

Other family members who attended college can be a great resource as you start your college journey. Being a first-gen student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree, so the level of education for other family members do not apply.

FirstGen Forward Member

Key partners at MSU steer First-Generation students in the right direction by providing access to resources and support. These efforts earned MSU acceptance into NASPA’s Center for First-Generation Student Success First-Gen Forward Cohort in 2021. Click here to read more.

The Center is now known as FirstGen Forward™ becoming its own 501(c)(3) organization, headed by Maurice Jones, the new CEO.

FirstGen Forward Network