First-generation students represent 36% of first-time, full-time enrolled students in public community colleges and are at increased risk of failing to complete a degree or credential. First-generation students also have higher drop-out rates than non-first-generation students. At both state and national levels, institutions of higher education have increased pressure to improve retention and completion rates. This quantitative study explored the relationship between factors associated with student retention and completion and the extent to which those factors predict retention and completion as they accumulate among first-generation students. The research focuses on first-time full-time first-generation students enrolled at an open-access public community college as the study population. Research questions focused on individual risk factors and compounded risk factors and their association with fall-to-fall retention and with completion. The results identified which factors had a negative association with retention and completion and, when accumulated, increased the prediction for students' non-retention and non-completion. Chi-Square correlations were run testing the strength of association for the chosen factors with both fall-to-fall retention and completion. Logistic regression was run for the compounded factors against fall-to-fall retention and completion. Results found some significance but very low association for both dependent variables. Regressions found that very little of the variance in both fall-to-fall retention and completion was explained by the model. This study begins filling the research gap that exists for first-generation community college students as the focus group. [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://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]