Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serve a disproportionate number of first-generation students who are less likely than their counterparts to persist to graduation. One way they are working to retain first-generation students is through social engagement. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the social engagement of first-year, first-generation college students attending a non-urban Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the Southeastern United States that the researcher gave the pseudonym Xavier State University (XSU). The primary research question of this phenomenological study was: What are the lived experiences of first-year, first-generation college students socially integrating into a non-urban HBCU in the Southeastern United States? The following three sub questions guided the inquiry: 1) What do first-year, first-generation students perceive as the opportunities and the challenges for their own social integration? 2) What are first-year, first-generation students' perceptions of how the institution's geographic location in a non-urban community influences their social integration? 3) What are first-year, first-generation students' perceptions of how the institution supports them in socially integrating into the campus environment? The researcher conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with six first-year, first-generation students at XSU. Through the interviews, the researcher gathered rich data to provide thick descriptions of their lived experiences at XSU. Three themes with multiple sub-themes emerged: 1) Selection of XSU; 2) XSU Programming; and 3) Social Supports. The study produced four results: (a) students select XSU because it is affordable, close to home, and small with small class sizes; (b) students have limited knowledge of and interaction with the TRIO program; (c) students are engaged in social activities on campus; and (d) students' peers and staff help them socially integrate into the campus environment. Based on the findings, recommendations for practice and for future research are offered. [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.]