The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the first-year experiences of 10 first-generation college students who participated in university-established learning communities at a small private Historically Black College. Further, this study was conducted to discover what participants felt was the role of the learning community environment on their academic development and social integration during their first-year transition to college. This study tested the student-engagement theory, expanded the scholarly literature, and provided information that could benefit the efforts towards improving the student success of first-generation college students and the effectiveness of learning community programs. The research question for this study was: How do university-established learning communities influence the first-year college experience of first-generation college students? The research design was a basic or generic qualitative study that examined the first-year experience of first-generation college students who participated in a learning community environment. A thematic analysis method was used to achieve the findings that determined participants had mostly positive learning community experiences that they attributed to their academic development and social integration into college. The findings also determined there was a need for more structured learning community environments that were supported by committed and engaged faculty and staff. Further research is recommended to examine the experiences of first-generation students in living and learning environments and with students who participate in specific academic learning communities such as honors college programs. It is also recommended that this study be repeated at a larger institution with a more diverse study body population. [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.]