Although earning a 4-year college degree is the most reliable way to end up with a higher socioeconomic status, college students without parents who attended 4-year colleges get lower grades and are more likely to drop out than students who have at least one parent with a 4 year degree.

• First -generation students are those that do not have parents with a 4-year college degree
• Continuing generation students are those that have at least one parent with a 4 year degree