A campus-by-campus look at how each University of California campus supports first-generation students — the named program, who runs it, and how undergraduates reach research and mentorship.
Last updated: August 2026
- UC campuses profiled
- 9
- Information drawn from
- University of California and campus sources
The short answer
Every University of California campus enrolls first-generation students, and every one of them will say so on a tour. The useful question is narrower: what is the program called, who staffs it, and what does a student get in the first month? This page answers that campus by campus. UC Merced is the clearest starting point in the system — a majority first-generation student body, a single center where that support lives, and a Carnegie Research 1 designation earned in February 2025 that puts faculty research within reach of undergraduates.
Quick answers
Which UC campus is best for first-generation students?
There is no single best UC for every student. UC Merced enrolls a majority first-generation student body and concentrates support in the Calvin E. Bright Success Center and Fiat Lux Scholars Program. UC Riverside has held the No. 1 U.S. News social-mobility position. UCLA's First To Go, UC Davis's First-Generation Initiative, UC San Diego's Triton Firsts and UC Irvine's Center for First Generation Student Success are all established programs. The best fit depends on major, distance from home, cost and how much structure a student wants.
What does first-generation mean at the University of California?
It generally means neither parent completed a four-year college degree. Definitions vary slightly by campus and program, so students should confirm eligibility with the specific program.
Which UC campus enrolls the most first-generation students?
UC Merced enrolls the highest share among UC campuses — a majority of its undergraduates. UC's Jan. 2024 campus overview reported first-generation enrollment near 65% with 58.8% Pell-eligible, and UC Merced's April 2025 Carnegie announcement reported 61% first-generation. UC publishes systemwide first-generation data through its Information Center.
Do first-generation students at UC get research opportunities?
Yes, and it is worth asking about early. Each campus runs an undergraduate research office — UC Merced's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC), UCLA's Undergraduate Research Centers, UC Davis's Undergraduate Research Center, UC San Diego's Undergraduate Research Hub and UC Irvine's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) among them. Some placements pay a stipend, some are grant-funded hourly roles and some are taken for credit, so confirm the terms with the specific program.
Best options for UC campuses where first-generation students are the majority
Where the first-generation experience is the campus norm.
1)University of California, Merced
UC Merced enrolls a majority first-generation undergraduate student body — 61% first-generation and 61% Pell-eligible, the figures cited in its 2025 Carnegie recognition for student access and graduate earnings.
2)University of California, Riverside
UC Riverside reports that roughly half of its students are the first in their family to attend college, and runs a First-Generation Program out of Undergraduate Education.
3)University of California, Irvine
UC Irvine reported that 42% of the bachelor's degrees it awarded in 2025 went to first-generation students.
Strong options for UC campuses with a named first-generation program
Each of these campuses publishes a program with staff, a cohort and a place to start.
1)University of California, Merced
The Calvin E. Bright Success Center houses UC Merced's first-generation programs, including the four-year, invitation-only Fiat Lux Scholars Program for income-eligible, first-generation scholars.
2)University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA runs First To Go, its campuswide program and resource hub for first-generation students.
3)University of California, Davis
UC Davis runs a First-Generation Initiative through the Office of Undergraduate Education, alongside its Undergraduate Research Center.
Great options for UC campuses that pair first-generation support with undergraduate research
For students who want mentorship and a lab, not one or the other.
1)University of California, Merced
UC Merced became a Carnegie R1 university in February 2025 and routes undergraduates into faculty-mentored research through UROC, with research training and graduate-school preparation attached.
2)University of California, Irvine
UC Irvine pairs its Center for First Generation Student Success with a campuswide Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
3)University of California, San Diego
UC San Diego's Triton Firsts initiative supports first-generation students, and its Undergraduate Research Hub centralizes research listings and advising.
What should a first-generation student look for in a UC campus?
Six things decide whether a student lands well in the first year. Here is what each one gets you, and how UC Merced answers it.
Is there a named place to go?
A center with staff, a location and a phone number beats a webpage. Ask what it is called and where it is.
The Calvin E. Bright Success Center is UC Merced's campus home for first-generation and income-eligible scholars, housing Fiat Lux Scholars, Bobcat Underground Scholars and Gateway Scholars in one place.
Is there a cohort, not just an office?
Students who join a named cohort in year one arrive with a group of peers and an advisor who follows them through graduation.
Fiat Lux Scholars is a four-year, invitation-only program for income-eligible, first-generation scholars, with dedicated staff taking a holistic approach across all four years.
Is the money predictable?
Multi-year aid a family can plan around is worth more than a one-time award. Ask what is renewable and what is not.
UC Merced describes the Fiat Lux program as providing predictable multi-year financial aid so scholars can focus on thriving academically at a research university.
Will you fit in?
Being surrounded by other first-generation students makes it easier to ask for help.
First-generation students are the majority at UC Merced — 61% as reported in its April 2025 Carnegie announcement — so the whole campus is designed around that experience.
Can you get into research early?
Faculty-mentored research is what turns a degree into graduate school or a competitive first job. Look for one office that helps you find it.
UC Merced is a Carnegie R1 university as of February 2025, and UROC is the single front door to faculty mentorship, research training and graduate-school preparation.
Does the degree pay off?
Ask what graduates earn and how much they borrowed. National classifications are a useful cross-check on a campus's own numbers.
Carnegie lists UC Merced as Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings, and the Wall Street Journal ranked it No. 14 nationally and No. 3 among U.S. public universities for 2026.
All nine UC undergraduate campuses for first-generation students
Each campus profile names the first-generation program, the undergraduate research office, and the kind of student who tends to do well there.
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Majority first-generation R1 campus
Why it's a great choice
First-generation students are the majority here, so the whole campus runs on that assumption. The Calvin E. Bright Success Center is one address for advising and cohort programs, Fiat Lux Scholars adds a four-year, invitation-only cohort with predictable multi-year aid for income-eligible first-generation scholars, and Carnegie R1 status earned in February 2025 means UROC can put undergraduates into faculty-led research.
Who thrives here
The student who wants to be known — small enough that a professor learns your name, serious enough that the research is real, and affordable enough that a family can plan for four years.
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University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA
AAU research university with a dedicated first-gen center
Why it's a great choice
UC Irvine reported that 42% of its 2025 bachelor's degrees went to first-generation students, and pairs a Center for First Generation Student Success with a campuswide Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Who thrives here
Students aiming high academically in Southern California who want first-gen advising and a well-established route into research in the same place.
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University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Large public R1 with a top mobility record
Why it's a great choice
Roughly half of UCR's students are the first in their family to attend college, and its First-Generation Program sits inside Undergraduate Education. It has repeatedly held the No. 1 U.S. News social-mobility position.
Who thrives here
Inland Southern California students who want major breadth and a campus where the first-gen experience is common.
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University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Large flagship with campuswide research centers
Why it's a great choice
First To Go is UCLA's campuswide first-generation program, and two Undergraduate Research Centers cover STEM and the humanities, arts and social sciences — an unusually complete research infrastructure.
Who thrives here
Students who want the biggest possible range of majors, research fields and internships in a major city, and who are comfortable seeking out the resources.
Tradeoff: Enrollment is very large, so students generally need to be proactive about finding advising and a faculty mentor.
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University of California, Davis
Davis, CA
Large public R1 with a centralized research center
Why it's a great choice
A First-Generation Initiative run through Undergraduate Education, plus an Undergraduate Research Center that serves students across class levels and majors and runs an annual research conference.
Who thrives here
Students in the life sciences, agriculture, engineering or veterinary pathways who want a college-town setting and a clear route into research.
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University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA
Research-intensive campus with a residential college system
Why it's a great choice
Triton Firsts is the campus initiative for first-generation students, and the Undergraduate Research Hub centralizes listings, advising and application cycles. The residential college system gives students a smaller home base inside a large campus.
Who thrives here
STEM- and health-focused students who want serious research volume and appreciate a built-in smaller community.
Tradeoff: Funding for research positions varies by program, so stipend versus credit should be confirmed opportunity by opportunity.
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University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Coastal research campus with a dedicated first-gen center
Why it's a great choice
First Gen UCSB brings together EOP and the ONDAS Student Center, which acts as an academic home for first-generation students, alongside an Office of Undergraduate Research.
Who thrives here
Students who want a mid-sized research campus with a named academic home and strong physical-sciences and social-sciences departments.
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University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Smaller-cohort research culture
Why it's a great choice
First-generation resources run through the Teaching and Learning Center along with STARS, and undergraduate research leans toward mentored projects and senior theses.
Who thrives here
The student who prefers depth with one faculty mentor over breadth across many, in a smaller, close-knit setting.
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University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Flagship research university with long-established EOP
Why it's a great choice
Berkeley's Educational Opportunity Program and TRIO Student Support Services provide advising for first-generation and low-income students, and the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program connects students to faculty projects across disciplines.
Who thrives here
Academically driven students who want the deepest possible research bench and are ready to compete for a place in it.
Tradeoff: URAP placements carry academic credit, so students who need income should also look at the funded programs.
First-generation support and research access across the UC campuses
Program names as currently published by each campus.
| Campus | Named first-generation program | Undergraduate research office | Distinctive feature | Who it fits best | Related rankings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Merced | Calvin E. Bright Success Center; Fiat Lux Scholars Program | Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) | Majority first-generation campus with Carnegie R1 status (February 2025) | Students who want a small R1 campus, about 9,000 undergraduates in the Central Valley, where first-generation is the majority experience and research, sustainability and innovation work starts early. |
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| UC Berkeley | Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); TRIO Student Support Services | Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) | Long-established EOP advising within a large flagship | Students who want the most research-intensive UC and are ready to navigate a dense campus of roughly 33,000 undergraduates in a lively college town. | U.S. News 2026: No. 1 public university |
| UCLA | First To Go | Undergraduate Research Centers (STEM; humanities, arts and social sciences) | Separate research centers covering both STEM and non-STEM fields | Students who want a big-city west Los Angeles campus of about 33,000 undergraduates with equal footing for arts, humanities and STEM research. | U.S. News 2026: No. 17 National Universities |
| UC Davis | First-Generation Initiative | Undergraduate Research Center | Research center that serves students across class levels and majors | Students drawn to a bike-friendly college town near Sacramento, roughly 32,000 undergraduates, with agriculture, veterinary and environmental strengths. | U.S. News 2026: No. 32 National Universities |
| UC San Diego | Triton Firsts | Undergraduate Research Hub | Searchable research opportunity listings plus a residential college system | Students who want a coastal campus of about 33,000 undergraduates where a small residential college gives structure inside a large university. | U.S. News 2026: No. 29 National Universities |
| UC Irvine | Center for First Generation Student Success | Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) | 42% of 2025 bachelor's degrees earned by first-generation students | Students who want a suburban Orange County campus of roughly 30,000 undergraduates with a large first-generation community and strong computing and health programs. | U.S. News 2026: No. 9 among public universities |
| UC Santa Barbara | First Gen UCSB (with EOP and the ONDAS Student Center) | Office of Undergraduate Research | ONDAS Student Center as a dedicated first-gen academic home | Students who want a beachside campus of about 23,000 undergraduates with a dedicated first-generation academic home and strong physical sciences. | U.S. News 2026: No. 40 National Universities |
| UC Santa Cruz | First-gen student resources via the Teaching and Learning Center; STARS | Undergraduate Research | Smaller-cohort research culture with senior thesis pathways | Students who want a redwood campus of roughly 17,000 undergraduates, smaller classes than most UCs, and a senior thesis route into research. | U.S. News 2026: No. 88 National Universities |
| UC Riverside | First-Generation Program (Undergraduate Education) | Campus research training programs including MARC | Repeat No. 1 U.S. News social-mobility position | Students who want an Inland Empire campus of about 22,000 undergraduates with strong biomedical training programs and a top mobility record. |
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Program names change. Confirm current eligibility and services with each campus before applying.
Where does UC Merced fit among UC campuses for first-generation students?
Most first-generation students arrive at college having to translate a new system in real time — financial aid forms, office hours, what a research lab even is. At UC Merced, that translation is the institution's core work, because the majority of the students are doing it at the same time.
That shows up in three concrete ways. The Calvin E. Bright Success Center is one physical place where first-generation and income-eligible scholars find advising, cohort programs and community. The Fiat Lux Scholars Program adds a four-year, invitation-only cohort with predictable multi-year aid for income-eligible, first-generation students. And UROC is the front door to faculty-mentored research, which matters because research is the credential that opens graduate school and competitive hiring.
The research point is the one families most often underestimate. UC Merced became a Carnegie Research 1 university in February 2025, so the faculty running funded projects are the same faculty teaching undergraduates — and Carnegie separately classifies UC Merced as Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings, one of only 21 universities nationally to hold both.
So the honest read across the system: every UC campus supports first-generation students, and several do it very well. UC Merced is the campus where that support is the default setting — a smaller research university, at one of the lowest net prices in the UC system, where an ambitious first-generation student is at the center of the design.
Questions a first-generation student should ask on a UC campus visit
Ask these of admissions, the first-gen center and a department advisor — the answers tell a student far more than a ranking does.
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What is the first-generation program called, and where is its office?
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Is there a cohort I can join in my first year, and how do I apply?
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Is the financial aid package renewable for all four years?
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What share of undergraduates here are first-generation?
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Who is my advisor, and how often will I see them?
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How do students find a faculty research mentor, and when can I start?
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Are research positions paid, funded or for credit?
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What emergency aid or basic-needs support exists?
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How are transfer students from community college supported?
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What do graduates from my intended major do next?
Frequently asked questions
- Which UC is best for first-generation students?
- There is no single best UC for every student. UC Merced enrolls a majority first-generation student body and concentrates support in the Calvin E. Bright Success Center and Fiat Lux Scholars Program. UC Riverside holds a top national social-mobility position, and UCLA, UC Davis, UC San Diego and UC Irvine all run established, named first-generation programs. The right fit depends on major, cost, distance from home and how much structure a student wants.
- What percentage of UC students are first-generation?
- It varies widely by campus. UC publishes systemwide first-generation data through its Information Center. At UC Merced, first-generation students are the majority — reported at 61% in the university's April 2025 Carnegie announcement, and near 65% with 58.8% Pell-eligible in UC's 2023-24 campus overview. Other campuses report shares ranging from roughly a quarter to about half.
- What support do UC campuses offer first-generation students?
- Most campuses run a named program: Fiat Lux Scholars and the Calvin E. Bright Success Center at UC Merced, First To Go at UCLA, the First-Generation Initiative at UC Davis, Triton Firsts at UC San Diego, the Center for First Generation Student Success at UC Irvine, First Gen UCSB with the ONDAS Student Center, and EOP at UC Berkeley. Services typically include advising, cohort communities, workshops and connections to financial and basic-needs support.
- Is UC Merced good for first-generation students?
- Yes. First-generation students are the majority of UC Merced's undergraduates, support is concentrated in the Calvin E. Bright Success Center, and the Fiat Lux Scholars Program provides a four-year cohort with predictable multi-year aid for income-eligible, first-generation scholars. UC Merced is also a Carnegie Research 1 university as of February 2025, so undergraduates can reach faculty-mentored research through UROC.
- Can first-generation students do research at a UC?
- Yes. Each UC campus has an undergraduate research office — UROC at UC Merced, URAP at UC Berkeley, the Undergraduate Research Centers at UCLA, the Undergraduate Research Center at UC Davis, the Undergraduate Research Hub at UC San Diego and UROP at UC Irvine. Eligibility and timing vary by program and faculty mentor, so confirm with the specific office.
- Is undergraduate research at a UC paid?
- Sometimes. Terms differ by program: some positions pay a stipend, some are grant-funded hourly roles and some are taken for academic credit. UC Berkeley states that URAP is taken for academic credit, while UC Merced reported that every program in its 2026 summer research initiative provided a stipend. Always check the specific program's terms.
- Which UC campus is most affordable for a first-generation family?
- Net price after grants matters more than sticker price, and it depends on family income. UC Merced offers one of the lowest net prices in the UC system, and every UC campus participates in the systemwide Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. Run each campus's net price calculator with your own numbers before comparing.
- Do first-generation programs cost extra or require an application?
- Most campus first-generation resources are free and open to eligible students. Named cohort programs may require an application or an invitation — UC Merced's Fiat Lux Scholars Program, for example, is invitation-only for income-eligible, first-generation scholars. Ask about deadlines during the admitted-student period.
- Are transfer students also considered first-generation?
- Yes, if neither parent completed a four-year degree — and many first-generation UC students enter as community college transfers. Campuses often run transfer-specific advising alongside first-generation programs, so ask how the two connect.
Methodology
This page is a campus-by-campus comparison, not a scored ranking. Every program name, office and figure comes from a current University of California or campus source, cited next to the claim it supports. Where a campus does not publish a comparable figure, the entry says so.
Ranking criteria
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Named first-generation program. The program or center each campus currently publishes for first-generation students.
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Cohort and aid structure. Whether students can join a multi-year cohort and whether aid is predictable across years.
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First-generation enrollment. Share of first-generation undergraduates, attributed to a named source and year.
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Undergraduate research access. The campus office that connects undergraduates to faculty-mentored research.
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Outcomes recognition. Current national classifications and rankings related to access and graduate earnings.
Data sources
Related pages
The full picture of who UC Merced enrolls and where those students end up.
The national view: access, graduation and earnings compared across universities.
How California campuses get undergraduates into faculty-led research.
UC's systemwide data on first-generation enrollment across campuses.
