Marquette Expands First-Generation Scholarship Fund

Marquette University announced this month that it is significantly expanding a scholarship program dedicated to first-generation college students, adding new funding tiers and support services aimed at helping students not just enroll but graduate. The expansion comes as the private Milwaukee institution, like many universities nationally, works to widen its pipeline of applicants beyond traditional feeder schools.

The scholarship fund, which has existed in smaller form for several years, will now offer additional need-based awards stacked on top of existing aid packages, along with a dedicated advising track for first-generation students during their first two years on campus. University officials say the goal is to address a pattern seen across higher education: first-generation students are admitted and enrolled at rates similar to their peers, but often struggle more with retention due to financial pressure, unfamiliarity with campus resources, and family obligations back home.

Addressing the Retention Gap

"Getting a student to campus is only half the challenge," said a Marquette financial aid officer familiar with the program's design. "If a student runs out of money in their sophomore year, or doesn't know how to navigate registration or advising, all that early investment can be lost. This expansion is really about closing that gap."

Under the new structure, eligible students will be paired with peer mentors who are themselves first-generation graduates or upperclassmen, alongside professional advisors trained specifically in the challenges these students face. The university is also adding a small emergency fund to help cover unexpected costs, such as textbook expenses or transportation, that advisors say can otherwise derail a student's semester.

Local high school counselors in Milwaukee Public Schools said they've already started referencing the expanded program when talking with students who assumed a private university tuition was out of reach. "A lot of families just see the sticker price and stop reading," said one counselor at a Milwaukee high school. "Programs like this, when they're communicated clearly, can change that calculation."

Funding Sources and Long-Term Goals

The expansion is being funded through a combination of donor contributions and university reserves, with administrators saying they hope to attract additional philanthropic support as the program demonstrates results. Marquette has set an internal goal of improving four-year graduation rates among first-generation scholarship recipients, though officials were careful to note that changes in outcomes typically take several years to measure reliably.

The university is not alone in this push. Other private and public institutions across Wisconsin, including several in the University of Wisconsin System, have rolled out similar first-generation support initiatives in recent years, reflecting a broader statewide conversation about college affordability and access.

Student Reactions

Current scholarship recipients said the added advising support may end up mattering as much as the additional funding. "Nobody in my family had gone through the financial aid process before, so even filling out forms felt overwhelming," said a Marquette junior who receives the scholarship and works part-time to help support her family. "Having someone to ask questions to made a bigger difference than I expected."

University leaders say they plan to review enrollment and retention data from the expanded program each spring, with the possibility of further growth if outcomes trend positively. For now, the expanded fund adds Marquette to a growing list of Wisconsin colleges betting that targeted, sustained support—not just a bigger scholarship check—is the key to helping first-generation students finish what they start.