The first generation honor society offers lifetime membership, providing outward recognition of academic achievement and fostering a supportive community for first generation college students.
First Generation Students
Welcome First-Gens!
We are committed to supporting our first-generation college students throughout their time at Pace and beyond. Explore this webpage for resources, activities, and more.
1 in 4
Pace students are first-gen (Source: Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research)
Top 4%
most diverse college in America (Source: Niche.com)
97%
the average number of first-year students receiving financial aid at Pace University
Who is a First Generation Student?
You are a first generation student when neither of your parents (nor step-parents nor legal guardians) completed a bachelor’s degree prior to your completing one (if they completed a bachelor’s degree subsequent to yours, that does not matter for this purpose). You are also considered to be first generation college student if your parents earned a degree outside of the U.S.
The Student Affairs office offers numerous workshops throughout the academic year, geared towards skills building for first generation students. Gain skills in resume building, networking, and leadership with this certificate.
To help make college more affordable, Pace University offers a generous financial aid program to its Undergraduate and Graduate students. Financial assistance can come from many places and in many forms, including scholarships and grants, Federal work study, and student loans.
Academic advisors are available to support your continued success throughout each academic year. Don’t miss the invaluable opportunity to develop one of the most important relationships you'll have during your time at Pace.
You might opt for performing arts or computer science, business studies or pre-med. Once you pick your major you'll be part of a school and its supportive community. Each school is unique, but they share a commitment to providing every student with maximum opportunity.
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming and just campus climate for all members of Pace University through inclusive policies, practices and programming.
First-Gen Stories
First Generation students at Pace don’t just get a degree, they get a leg up. Get inspired by these #Go-Getters.
Dyson’s Danielle Shoulders ’24 found “her people” at Pace, and now calls it her home. “As a first generation student I carry a lot of responsibility. I want to always take full advantage of being in college and not waste a second.”
With over five leadership roles, D’Andrè Butler ’25 has become an expert in being engaged on campus. “It means the world to me that I am someone in my family who made it to college and will not stop until I get my well-earned degree.”
Valentina Rojas Abreu ’24 knows the importance of taking her education into her own hands and is inspiring other students to do the same. “I try to encourage students in the First Generation Program in the same way I was encouraged.”
Amber Brouwer ’25 is an honors student pursuing a dual-degree in Applied Psychology and Human Relationships who has landed an internship at NBC Universal. “Being a first generation student has made me extremely resourceful and able to figure things out no matter how hard they are, which are skills I use in jobs and interviews all the time.”
Email our Pleasantville representatives at plvfirstgen@pace.edu or call (914) 773-3351. Stay tuned for New York City First-Gen office contact information.