The demographic, educational, and personal attributes of the 1980 entrants to The City University of New York (CUNY) were studied, and a 6-year longitudinal analysis was undertaken. Of the total freshmen class of 31,890, 11,625 students completed a questionnaire concerning their social origins, financial resources, employment situations, and educational attitudes and aspirations. Additional sources of study data were high school background records; scores on tests in mathematics, reading, and writing; and registration information indicating the level of enrollment (senior or community college), and status as a special program or regular admission student. It was found that relative to college students nationally, CUNY freshmen are older, and more likely to be minority groups and economically disadvantaged. Special program students appear to have academic difficulties as a result of their extremely disadvantaged educational backgrounds. However, CUNY continues to enroll substantial proportions of students from more secure economic and educational backgrounds. A social background questionnaire is appended. (SW)