Celebrated on November 8, National First-Generation Student Day acknowledges and elevates individuals who are the first in their (immediate) family to pursue a four-year undergraduate degree in the United States. As recent college rankings suggest, Simmons University is a catalyst for social mobility, especially for first-generation students and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We unpack the significance of social mobility vis-à-vis a college education and articulate how Simmons’ programs support first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients.
The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 college rankings named Simmons among the best colleges and universities in the United States. The WSJ classification also indicates that Simmons performs especially well in the Social Mobility category: #126 in the nation and #2 in the state of Massachusetts. Moreover, in the 2025 U.S.News and World Report’s Best College Rankings, Simmons is ranked #35 nationally in the category of Best Value School and #78 nationally in the category of Social Mobility.
What is social mobility, and why is it important? According to The New York Times, “Social mobility [i.e., an individual’s movement from one socioeconomic status to a higher one] drives so many of our public policy discussions and is also a key factor in how students and their families decide what they want to get out of their investment [of time and money] in higher education.”
When evaluating social mobility for a particular institution, the WSJ embraced a specific methodology. Developed and executed by WSJ and their research partners (College Pulse and Statista, with guidance from Third Way and the Brookings Institution), this methodology is based on several components and metrics that include measuring the years to pay off the net price of attending a particular college and the salary impact (i.e., “the extent to which a college [degree] boosts its graduates’ salaries beyond what they would be expected to earn regardless of which college they attended”).
In addition, the WSJ took into consideration an institution’s proportion of Pell Grant recipients and first-generation students “to reward colleges that both take in a high proportion of students from lower family incomes and do a great job of boosting their salaries, while minimizing costs.” The U.S.News and World Report’s social mobility score also takes first-generation students into account.
Fostering First-Generation and BIPOC Student Success at Simmons
A robust population of first-generation students and students of color is often an indicator of upward social mobility. For the Simmons Class of 2028, approximately 43% are first-generation students, whereas approximately 52% of incoming undergraduates identify as BIPOC. Retention of those students is key; here is what some of our recent graduates shared about how Simmons supported them.
A small school that welcomes diverse perspectives
In her Class of 2024 senior profile, computer science major and international and first-generation student Adriana Lizeth (“Liz”) Campuzano Martínez wrote: “Being the first of one’s family to attend college can be isolating, but finding a community that celebrates your diverse perspective is especially gratifying. . . . At a small school like Simmons, you learn about resources more rapidly and use them more effectively. . . . We have resources and faculty who support our projects, but it is our job to initiate them and carry them to completion, and to create the spaces and things you want to see.”
An environment that fosters independence
Likewise, alumna Debora Edouard ’24, a first-generation student who studied neurobiology at Simmons, initially found college “daunting.” However, her research mentor, Professor of Chemistry and Physics Jennifer Roecklein-Canfield “nurtured my interest in research by involving me in all aspects of lab work and connecting me with professionals in the field. Her guidance and encouragement have been invaluable,” said Edouard.
During her senior year, Edouard and classmate Kadijah McClean ’24 co-founded the Simmons chapter of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine. Overall, Edouard’s experience at Simmons “fostered resilience and independence, which will be valuable assets in my medical career,” she said.
Mentorship and excellent internship opportunities
Gia Elie (formerly Lebrun) ’24, who served as Soul President of the Black Student Organization, recalled the stress of being a first-generation student and the child of Haitian immigrants. “I have a lot of eyes on me, with everyone anticipating what I’m going to do,” she said.
For Elie, Simmon’s educational and professional resources were of pivotal importance: “The Department of Communications has a really great internship advisor, [former] Associate Professor of Practice and Internship Director Kristina Markos, who was also a first-generation college student. She helped me get an internship at Harvard doing communications and public relations. Simmons is really well-connected with other institutions and able to provide those opportunities. After that role at an ivy league institution, my father can see that my degree is worthwhile.”
Guidance from faculty
A current Simmons student, accounting major Zuany Fernanda Sandoval ’25 has already secured post-graduation employment in nonprofit accounting at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Sandoval’s family is from Guatemala, and she is the first person in her immediate family to graduate from high school and college. “I learn best in a small class setting, and I like being able to interact with my professors and receive help from them,” she explained. Sandoval has been able to develop strong relationships with her accounting professors. “My advisor is Professor Ray Pfeiffer. I have taken several of his courses and he is great. I also like his style of grading, which is determined more by overall improvement rather than what we got right or wrong in the moment,” she said. “Associate Teaching Professor Erin DeCurtis is also wonderful. She is always there to answer my questions about coursework or the accounting field in general.”
Access to Scholarships and Grants
Emily Mills ’19 is a first-generation college graduate and was a Pell Grant recipient. “I didn’t know how I was going to pay for an out-of-state private school. I didn’t really know what things meant, like work-study. Did I have to pay it back? Was it just money for books? And what about the Pell Grant, did I have to pay that back? Once I researched the financial aid package, I was really excited that I was given these opportunities to make Simmons work. . . . Also, if you are eligible for a Pell Grant, there are so many other scholarships and grants that you may be eligible for, as well,” Mills said.
Recommended Resources for First-Generation Students
- Career Education Center
- Financial Aid services
- The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)
- The REEF Center (Resilience, Efficacy, and Empowerment through Foundational support services)
- Undergraduate Advising