A retention study was conducted at Tallahassee Community College (TCC) to determine reasons student withdrew from TCC prior to meeting their educational objectives. The survey population consisted of all students, apart from graduates and those who had been academically suspended, who were enrolled in winter 1981 but had not returned by winter 1982. Study findings, based on responses from 25.5% of the 1,115 former students sampled, revealed: (1) 69% of the respondents were female, 85.6% were white, 52.7% were single, and their mean age was 30.75 years; (2) 54% had sought an associate degree, and 14.1% had taken classes primarily not for college credit; (3) 35.2% withdrew because they were dissatisfied with themselves or their academic goals, 32.5% were dissatisfied with the courses that the college offered, and 30.9% had achieved their academic goals and/or transferred to another college; (4) 11% of the respondents had been enrolled in business courses, 9% in computer science, 8% in general studies, 7.5% each in nursing and accounting, and 6% in criminal justice; (5) 65.6% were employed for more than 20 hours a week while enrolled at TCC; and (6) the major nonacademic reasons for withdrawal were conflicts between schooling and family and work commitments, and family changes or pressures. Survey findings led to recommendations to, for example, increase intramural and on-campus activities. The survey instrument is appended. (HB)