In spring 1986, a study was conducted at Fayetteville Technical Institute (FTI), North Carolina, to determine why students decided to continue their education, what factors triggered their enrollment, and what factors influenced their decision to attend FTI. A questionnaire was administered to 119 students enrolled in randomly selected day and evening accounting classes. Study findings, based on responses from 89 students, included the following: (1) when compared to findings of a 1979 statewide survey of North Carolina community college students, study results showed the FTI sample to be older, to include more women, and to have higher levels of educational attainment; (2) the typical FTI student was a married female, 27 years of age, who enrolled for the opportunity of obtaining a better job; (3) the top ranked reasons for continuing education were to "get a better job,""to earn more money,""to gain a general education,""to learn more things of interest," and "to contribute more to society"; (4) the most commonly cited reasons which triggered enrollment were "received encouragement,""dissatisfied with job,""financial aid became available,""obtained information about FTI," and "moved to community"; and (5) the top ranked institutional characteristics influencing the decision to attend were "courses available,""low cost,""location,""financial assistance," and "quality of instruction." The survey instrument is appended. (LAL)