The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of mainland college students, graduates of a unique Hawai'i high school, to identify factors that influenced higher education persistence. Students not persisting at college, a problem for students and higher education institutions is defined for this study as a student that did not return to study at the same institution for the following semester. Using a qualitative multi-case study research approach, eleven students were interviewed to understand the essence of their college experiences. A student involvement theoretical perspective was considered however, other theories were also considered to explain student persistence. Data was collected through private, in person, and video-conference interviews that employed predetermined and contemporaneously constructed questions. The sharing of student-selected artifacts enhanced the ability of this study to collect data and construct meaning from the student participant's college experiences. The data was analyzed through the Constant Comparative Data Analysis and the Category Construction Data Analysis methods. This study identified a total of 109 factors that spoke to the essence of their experiences and influenced College Student Persistence (CSP). There were 63 factors that were positive influences to CSP and 46 factors that were adverse influences to CSP. For organizational purposes, similar factors were grouped together, which resulted in the construction of five groups or categories entitled: Student Self, Other People, Student Involvement, Institutional Support, and Other Adverse. Of all the factors that were reported by the study participants, six factors were identified as Key Factors that significantly influenced CSP of these eleven student participants: Coping, Homesickness, Motivation, Support of Classmates, Friends and Family, Involvement with Associations, Classmates, Roommates, and Professors, and College Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships. Strategy recommendations to promote persistence for future graduates of this unique Hawai'i high school that desire to study at mainland colleges were based on the results of this study. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]