First-Generation College Student 2026 Impact Report
Bridging the Gap to Membership
In 2020, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation Board of Trustees approved an initiative to fund $1,000,000 in first-generation new member scholarships over four years. Since then, 775 individuals from 172 chapters have received a first-generation new member scholarship: that’s 84 percent of eligible chapters! These scholarships are available to new members in their first year of membership and are first-generation college students.
First-generation college students have a median household income that is less than 50 percent of their continuing-generation peers. This scholarship serves as a bridge to membership for those needing extra support during their first year. Students have shared that this scholarship allowed them to work fewer hours to spend more time studying, buy books needed for their classes, and take research trips, to name a few. While scholarships cannot pay directly for fraternity membership, they are offsetting the investment students are making in their commitment and exposure to an organization that can directly improve their social mobility through a values-based experience.
* A first-generation college student is defined as a student who has not had a parent or guardian complete a four-year degree. A continuing-generation student is a student who has a parent or guardian who has completed a four-year degree.
First-Generation Statistics
Phi Delta Theta’s work includes understanding the makeup of the Fraternity’s undergraduate membership. Being transparent about our undergraduate member demographics has facilitated valuable conversations and impactful decision-making. It also led to a focus on attracting first-generation students to our organization.
Primarily due to financial challenges, navigating unfamiliar environments, and a lack of on-campus mentorship, retention and graduation rates for first-generation college students are significantly lower than for students with parents who attended college.
Through our partnership with Dyad Strategies, we know that first-generation college students are less likely to prioritize the social aspects of the Fraternity and have different life experiences and perspectives. On average, they work twenty or more hours per week, pay their own dues, and need financial assistance. We also learned that their views are more inclusive, promote further diversification, and help our chapters focus on leadership and philanthropy, ensuring a better and healthier experience for all.
Florida International ’27
Mateo Riano
“Being part of this Fraternity has profoundly shaped the person I am becoming… This award does not represent just one individual. It represents the many people who have supported me, believed in me, and walked alongside me throughout this journey.”
Oregon State ’27
Anthony Perez
“Success means so much more than earning a degree. Through Phi Delta Theta, I’ve discovered my passion for leadership, connecting with people, and helping others while finding a brotherhood that helped me become the best version of myself.”
Letter from the Executive Vice President and CEO
Brothers and Friends,
For generations, Phi Delta Theta has helped young men discover what they are capable of. For some, simply arriving on a college campus is already an extraordinary achievement.
First-generation students often come to college without the roadmap that others may take for granted. They are navigating a new environment, building new relationships, and finding their place, sometimes while carrying financial pressures that can make the full college experience feel out of reach.
That is where Phi Delta Theta can make a meaningful difference.
Our First-Generation New Member Scholarship program is about more than helping with the cost of college. It is about opening the door to brotherhood, leadership, mentorship, and a network of people invested in a young man’s success. Phi Delta Theta commits $250,000 annually to these scholarships, an investment in students and in the kind of Fraternity we want to be.
As you read this report, I hope you will pay particular attention to the young men behind the numbers. Their stories remind us that talent, ambition, and character are not determined by whether someone has a family history of attending college. Sometimes opportunity simply needs a door opened.
That idea matters deeply to our future. If Phi Delta Theta is going to continue developing men who lead with integrity and make a difference in their communities, we need to make sure deserving young men can see a place for themselves in our brotherhood.
To everyone who has helped make these opportunities possible, thank you. Your generosity reaches far beyond a scholarship award. You are helping a young man find community, build confidence, develop as a leader, and experience everything Phi Delta Theta can offer. That is an investment whose impact can last a lifetime.
Yours in the Bond,
