A survey of two random samples of 500 students drawn from lists of returning and non-returning students at Triton College was conducted to study student retention between Fall 1978 and Spring 1979. Data, gathered from 248 returning and 159 non-returning respondents, were analyzed in terms of: (1) student educational intent, (2) reasons for termination, (3) employment characteristics, and (4) other considerations, including number of credit hours completed, relationship between average. Results indicated that non-returning students had different educational objectives and requirements than returning students and were less satisfied that their individual goals had been met. Reasons for not returning included, among men, "conflicting job hours" and, among women, "completed needed courses" and "other personal/family reasons." Non-returning students gave high ratings to instructional quality, yet gave "neutral" ratings to counseling, course advisement, tutoring, and veterans' services. Of the non-returning students, 75% were employed full-time, compared to only 46% of returning students. Miscellaneous findings indicated that returning students tended to complete more courses and expect more indirect benefits from their college experience than non-returning students. (JP)