Student affairs professional development

 

POSTED ON Oct 24, 2024

 

The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) has announced that a third of their 2024 conference attendees were graduate students and undergraduates.

Recent NASPA studies show that 56% of all undergraduates are first-generation college students. 

In other words, 56% of all postsecondary students in the U.S. have parents who don’t hold bachelor’s degrees.

In addition, fewer first-generation college graduates use career-planning services like career fairs and resume assistance than continuing-generation college graduates.

First-generation college students are more likely to come from low-income or minority backgrounds and to be parents, caregivers, veterans, or first-generation Americans.

Twenty-eight percent of first-gen students are 30 or older. Forty-six percent of first-gen undergraduate college students participate in extracurricular clubs, compared to 65% of continuing-generation students.

Fewer first-generation college students hold formal leadership roles, conduct research projects with faculty members, complete paid internships, and study abroad than continuing-generation college students.

California is one of the country’s largest states—by population and area—while Rhode Island is one of the smallest.

Despite their differences, these two states top NASPA’s list of those with the most significant proportions of first-generation college students.

Other states with high percentages of first-gen students include southwestern states like Arizona, Nevada, and Texas, as well as southern jurisdictions like Louisiana and Kentucky. 

The bottom of the list contains states in many regions, with New Hampshire and North Dakota reporting the lowest percentages.

According to the “2024 NASPA Annual Conference By the Numbers” more than 6,000 people registered to attend the event. The 2025 NASPA Annual Conference will take place in New Orleans, March 15-19, 2025.