In the spring of 1972, over 6500 black and white, male and female high school students in 23 northern Mississippi schools responded to questionnaires concerning their educational plans, when (early or late) they consider the best time to marry, whether they were sure they wanted to marry, and whether they were sure they actually would marry. Controlled variables, based on students' reports, include father's and mother's education, academic ability, grade point average, and the influence of significant others. The major method of analysis is Multiple Classification Analysis. Results indicate that white students are more likely than black students to be sure they want to marry some day. White females are more likely to be sure they want to marry than white males and black males and females. Females (both black and white) report earlier ages than males as the best time to marry. Those students who report earlier ages as the best time to marry are unlikely to plan to attend college; those who report later ages for marriage are the most likely to attend college. Marital timing decisions are most independent of educational plans among males, especially black males. Finally, females more often perceive marriage as an alternative to higher education, especially white females. (KC)