In 1981-82, a study was conducted to determine why students left LaGuardia Community College (LCC) before completing the requirements for an associate degree. Interviews were conducted with dropout students over the course of the study, and questionnaires were administered to entering and continuing students to provide a comparative framework. The study focused on reasons for withdrawal, current activities of dropouts, demographic and educational characteristics of dropouts and continuing students, attitudes toward LCC, academic plans and expectations, work and finances, the cooperative education program, academic ability and basic skills courses, studying, homework, and consultation with teachers, freshman seminar, use of services and assistance at LCC, suggestions for dropout prevention, and anticipated social life at LCC. Study findings included the following: (1) a relatively small number of motives explained dropping out for the majority of students, with various personal problems (e.g., family problems, health, pregnancy, and/or marriage) accounting for just over half of all withdrawals; (2) other reasons for dropping out included characteristics of the school itself (especially lack of specific programs), poor motivation, career choices that do not need college-level study, and academic deficiencies; (3) 23% of the dropouts enrolled in other educational programs; (4) LCC dropouts and continuing students did not differ either on demographic variables or on measures of past educational performance or ability; and (5) students who left LCC were less likely to have financial aid or parental assistance and more likely to work full-time than continuing students. The survey instruments are appended. (AYC)