A study was conducted at a suburban multi-campus community college in southeastern Michigan to determine the differences in demographic and academic characteristics between those students receiving Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOG) and those financially independent students not receiving BEOG funds. The demographic and academic variables considered in the study were age, sex, campus location, program type (i.e., preprofessional, education and business management, secretarial science, technical programs, health programs, and liberal arts), credits attempted, and credits earned. The dependent variables were retention rate and academic progress. During the course of the study, the academic progress of 100 randomly selected BEOG recipients was compared with that of 100 randomly selected self-supporting students for three consecutive semesters; and telephone interviews were conducted with 33 students from the two groups who, during the three semesters, withdrew from college. Major findings indicate that women made up 66% of the BEOG group and 46% of the non-BEOG group, and that BEOG students were younger than their financially independent counterparts. Academic data reveal that the average number of credits carried per semester by the BEOG students was only 7.9, as compared to 11.4 by the independent students. Telephone surveys were completed with five BEOG and seven non-BEOG students, focused on reasons for withdrawal. (JP)