The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine if and to what extent a correlation exists between the two components of college self-efficacy, which are course efficacy and social efficacy, and college persistence, as measured by institutional commitment, in first-generation undergraduate online college students. There were 312 participants who qualified and provided consent. The theoretical frameworks of college self-efficacy and the theory of student departure were used to explore the following research questions: If and to what extent does course efficacy correlate with persistence, as measured by institutional commitment in first-generation online college students, and if and to what extent does social efficacy correlate with persistence, as measured by institutional commitment in first-generation online college students. Data were collected from an online survey that measured college self-efficacy and institutional commitment of participants that attended online at a southwest university and who resided in the metro area where the university was located. A Kendall Tau correlation revealed that there is a relationship between course efficacy and persistence (r[subscript [tau]][superscript 2] = 4.37) and between social efficacy and persistence (r[subscript [tau]][superscript 2] = 0.94) among first-generation online college students. The findings may benefit universities with online programs who may opt to measure course and/or social efficacy in an effort to focus on first-generation college students attending college online that score lower on course or social efficacy so as to improve their deficiencies and help them persist. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]