In 1917, Harry C. Bentley founded Bentley University, which would grow to be one of the top business colleges in the country. He was a first-generation student himself, and since then, the university has continued to support first-gen students throughout its history. The university has previously been recognized for this dedication, and has recently been named part of the 2021-2022 First-Gen Forward cohort, a group of schools with proven dedication to advancing the outcomes of first-generation students. It also offers a leadership development program, the FirstGen Presidential Fellows, which offers high-achieving students full scholarships, mentoring, networking and career development throughout their four years.
First-generation college students are those students whose parents or guardians have not attained a bachelor’s degree from a college or university in the United States. First-generation students are more likely to be from low-income or minority backgrounds than their second generation and beyond peers. This can lead to feeling out of place, financial anxiety, or even dropping out of college entirely. With only 7% of first generation students attending private universities, and a 33% dropout rate, it is clear that these are some of the many factors that pose a challenge to these students.
Now, a new program called the BentleyFirst Program is offering first-generation students in Massachusetts an opportunity to attend Bentley University for the same rate as in-state tuition at UMass Amherst. “The BentleyFirst program increases access to all the benefits that come from a private education including smaller classes, personal attention and student support,” said vice president of enrollment management at Bentley, Carolina Figueroa. She was also the first in her family to graduate from college.
Bentley’s tuition is $54,910, while the in-state tuition at UMass Amherst is $16,834. Students do not have to fill out a separate application to receive this discount, as any eligible applicant will automatically be considered. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters, or until the student completes the requirements for their bachelor’s degree. The amount will be adjusted yearly to match the tuition difference. While it does not cover additional costs such as room and board fees, students are still able to apply for Bentley’s financial aid, as well as state and federal assistance.
Post-graduation, various research results have shown that first-generation college students are around 15% less likely to have a job that requires a bachelor’s degree than their continuing-generation counterparts. Accepting jobs they are overqualified for comes from difficulties such as not having social connections after college, being less knowledgeable about job searching, and financial pressures to work through college instead of gaining experience through internships and programs offered at their universities. At Bentley University, the first-gen student community is active. It provides a multitude of career services, ways to be connected with fellow first generation students, and many other resources. 98% of Bentley’s 2020 graduates either found employment or are planning to attend graduate school. Their inaugural corporate sponsor, Sun Life U.S., has hired many Bentley graduates in the past and believes that these programs bring strong, qualified candidates to the workforce.
As colleges are working towards helping first-generation and low income students through their struggles, programs like BentleyFirst show commitment to students through direct, ongoing support. The BentleyFirst program will move the university’s goal of making the tuition as affordable as possible for the first generation students of the incoming class of 2022.
