This study compared college seniors' self-evaluation of skills considered important for lifelong learning from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The study used data from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), a national database begun in 1983 which includes over 200,000 student records from over 600 colleges and universities. An index derived from the CSEQ, the Capacity for Life-Long Learning, was applied to the records of 26,629 college seniors from 173 colleges and universities who completed the CSEQ in 1984-87 and 16,794 seniors who completed the CSEQ in 1994-97. Findings led to three conclusions: (1) the capacity for life-long learning of seniors in the 1990s approximated that of their 1980s counterparts; (2) students at selective liberal arts colleges exhibited the greatest capacity for life-long learning during both time periods, especially when compared with students at general liberal arts colleges and comprehensive colleges and universities; and (3) students majoring in basic academic disciplines fared better than others (especially business and computer science majors) in developing life-long learning skills and competencies. (Contains 34 references.) (DB)