This study examined academic characteristics and tendencies of first-generation and second-generation students. Students at a mid-sized state university in Tennessee were surveyed to determine their preferred learning format, number of hours enrolled, hours applied toward studying outside the classroom, hours working off-campus, and current GPA. Results of the study revealed that first-generation students had slightly higher GPA's than second-generation students and preferred face-to-face instruction over on-line instruction. Researchers noticed that hours studied outside the classroom showed marginally significant differences over all the other categories observed.