In recognition of First Generation Celebration Week, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) announced the new First Generation-Serving Campus designation for higher education institutions across the state. The U.S. Department of Education defines a first generation college student as someone whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree.
In 2024, Colorado lawmakers passed House Bill 1082, which establishes a designation for colleges and universities that enroll a higher-than-average number of first generation students. In 2021, about 37% of students enrolled in Colorado's public higher education institutions were first generation. The designation acknowledges institutions whose average first generation resident undergraduate student population equals or exceeds the statewide average first generation undergraduate student population for three years (using the most recent available data). The Department also recognizes institutions that are members of the FirstGen Forward Network.
CDHE collects data from Colorado institutions and uses the First Gen Dashboard (see below) which displays first generation student enrollment numbers and percentages by institution with disaggregation by institution name, institution type, gender and race/ethnicity.
According to the data, the following Colorado public institutions of higher education have an average resident first generation undergraduate student population above the statewide average for the previous three years of available data and therefore qualify for CDHE’s First Generation-Serving Institution Designation:
- Two-year public institutions
- Aims Community College
- Colorado Northwestern Community College
- Community College of Aurora
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Lamar Community College
- Morgan Community College
- Northeastern Junior College
- Otero College
- Pikes Peak State College
- Pueblo Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
- Trinidad State College
- Four-year public institutions
- Colorado Mesa University
- Colorado State University-Pueblo
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado-Denver
- University of Northern Colorado
Additionally, schools that are members of the FirstGen FORWARD Network are automatically eligible for CDHE’s First Generation-Serving Institution Designation. The following schools qualify:
- Two-year public institutions
- Aims Community College
- Arapahoe Community College
- Four-year public institutions
- Adams State University
- Colorado State University- Fort Collins
- Fort Lewis College
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- University of Colorado - Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
- University of Denver
- University of Northern Colorado
- Western Colorado University
While the enrollment of first-generation students is an important first step, it is equally important to ensure that first generation students receive the support they need to be successful in higher education. CDHE strives to elevate first generation student experiences and close equity gaps so that first-generation students have the same opportunities as their peers. In future years, CDHE will showcase additional postsecondary success measures with data disaggregation so that persistence and completion rates of first generation students (and other student populations) can be compared across Colorado institutions of higher education.
CDHE will update this list annually 30 days after the public release of enrollment, retention and graduation data from each state institution of higher education.
For additional resources:
For more information, please contact Dr. Gillian McKnight-Tutein (Gillian.McKnightTutein@dhe.state.co.us).