Retention attrition in a special elementary teacher preparation program at the University of British Columbia was studied over a 9-year span with 130 American Indian freshmen. Background variables such as age, gender, marital status/parenthood, ethnic status, entrance year, and locality did not differentiate graduates from non-graduates except that the married student rate of graduation was significantly higher. The freshman Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) contrasted significantly with eventual outcome on Impulse Expression, Personal Integration, Anxiety Level, and Response Bias, indicating the lesser socio-emotional adjustment of the non- graduates. Graduates were found to be internally oriented and well-adjusted with positive self-attitude and good academic adjustment. Non-graduates were found to be impulsive with less personal integration, high anxiety, and a more negative self- image. No Intellectual Disposition Category (IDC) differences were found. The findings are discussed in terms of their use and limitation in explaining the complexity of student persistence and the OPI is recommended as an appropriate culturally unbiased psychological tool for use in counseling American Indian university students. Freshmen mean t-scores on the 14 OPI and IDC scales are provided. (Author/LFL)