To identify differences and similarities among entering technician education students at four post-high school institutions, data were collected on personal and social background characteristics, socioeconomic background, and scholastic aptitude from 724 students. Researchers used two standardized instruments, the Nelson-Denny Reading Test and the Technical Scholastic Test, and a questionnaire designed to obtain personel-social data for use in determining the socioeconomic background of each student. The four institutions selected for this study were: (1) a public-supported residential junior college, (2) a public-supported residential vocational technical school, (3) a public-supported non-residential technical institute located in a metropolitan area, and (4) a public-supported technical institute located on a state university campus. Conclusions based on the findings of this study include: (1) Technician education students make choices with only limited knowledge of available programs and institutions, (2) Technician education students tend to express unrealistic educational objectives, (3) Technician students had limited contact with high school counselors, (4) Reading skills of technician education students tend to be lower than norms for grade 13 students. (CH)