While a definition can be complicated, being a first-generation college student usually means that neither parent or guardian has completed a four-year degree in the United States. Students whose parents received degrees from outside the United States typically identify as first-generation.
If you are a first-generation college student, first of all--congratulations! No matter where you are in your college journey, take pride in your accomplishments and successes.
Additionally, know that you are not alone. According to the organization First-Gen Forward, as of 2020, approximately 54% of all college students identify as first-generation, defined as an undergraduate student whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree.
Finally, know that there are resources here to support you throughout your college journey. Take a look through this guide to learn more about what is available to you as a UW Bothell or Cascadia College first-generation college student.
University of Washington Bothell & Cascadia College
Campus Library
Box 358550
18225 Campus Way NE
Bothell, WA 98011-8245
425-352-5340 (Voice & Relay)
Text on this page created by UW Libraries is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. Images and video are not included.See details.
Land Acknowledgment: The University of Washington Bothell & Cascadia College Campus Library occupies Land that has been inhabited by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Specifically, this campus is located on Sammamish Land from which settler colonists forcibly removed Coast Salish Peoples to reservations in the mid-19th century. Today, descendants of the Sammamish are members of several Coast Salish communities.