According to the literature, people of color experience microaggression in their everyday lives. The literature speaks less of how students of color experience microaggression on college campuses. There is even less in the research about how students educated on predominately White colleges and universities in the northeast region experience microaggression. For the purpose of this study, the northeast region will include the following states: Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York. Additionally, there is very little research son what impact, if any, microaggression has on this population, and if they deteriorate, worsen, recover, or thrive. This study investigated if and to what degree first-generation students of color attending predominately White institutions (PWIs) in the northeast region of the United States experience microaggressions and their effects. This study used a grounded theory approach with a mixed method design. Sixty-three first-generation students of color from the northeast region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.) were surveyed for this study. Surveys were distributed to ascertain if students experienced microaggression. Additionally, ten interviews were conducted to further delve into the specific experiences of first-generation students of color on PWIs. The findings suggested that students of color experience microaggression on campus, constantly and up to three times a semester in classes by college staff and college student peers. Respondents interviewed for this study described their experience with microaggressions as feeling awful, humiliated, irritated, dismissed, disappointed, vulnerable, neglected, hurt, and unworthy. Some also revealed that microaggressions were traumatic, especially so when there was an accumulation of racial comments in social, educational and professional spaces. Respondents reported that these offenses left them affected but not broken. [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.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]