A study was conducted of the persistence rates of new full-time students at San Jose Community College (SJCC) and Evergreen Valley College (EVC), California, for fall 1988 through spring 1990. Persistence was examined by ethnicity, gender, and age. Study findings included the following: (1) less than 7% of the colleges' students were new full-time students; (2) over an estimated 90% of the students on financial aid began SJCC/EVC below the college level; (3) Whites comprise 48% of the community population, but only 6% of new full-time students at SJCC and 4% at EVC; (4) Hispanics comprise 27% of the community population, and 22% of the new full-time students at SJCC, and 18% at EVC; (5) over the past 10 years, the proportion of Whites attending SJCC/EVC dropped dramatically, while the proportion of Asians and Hispanics climbed steadily; (6) at both colleges, most new full-time students (66%) were 20-24 years of age, while 21% at SJCC and 22% at EVC were 25-34 years of age; (7) EVC Pacific Islanders had the lowest first-semester completion rate (38%), followed by other EVC other nonwhites (51%), EVC Hispanics (58%), and SJCC Hispanics (59%); (8) the highest first semester completion rates were demonstrated by Asians and Whites (77% each) at SJCC, along with EVC American Indians (78%), Filipinos (78%), unknowns (76%), and Asians (76%); (9) Black males at SJCC (56%) and Asian females at EVC (76%) had the highest fourth semester persistence rates at their respective colleges; (10) compared to the community (27%), Hispanics were the least represented among graduates (16% at EVC and 17% at SJCC); (11) Whites represented a majority of graduates (55% at both SJCC and EVC), although they comprised less than 10% of new full-time students; and (12) in fall 1990, only 34% of new students had transfer as a goal, and 43% said they wanted an Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts degree. The report consists almost entirely of data tables, graphs, and charts, showing data by college and year. (JMC)