A study was conducted at a medium-sized California community college to identify the characteristics of students who had previously dropped out of college and then returned to the community college and the influences on their decision to re-enroll for college credit. Surveys were mailed to 396 stopouts, asking them to rate the significance of various factors to their decision to return to college, to identify the one or two events that triggered their decision at the specific time, and to provide information on their personal decisions. Study findings included the following: (1) the typical returning student was a white female between the ages of 28 and 32, taking less than six units during the evening and working in excess of 40 hours per week; (2) 30% of the students had been out of school for 5 years or longer, 23.7% for 1 year, and 10% for 2 to 3 years; (3) "desire to learn" was the most important influence to return to college for both men and women and for all ethnic groups, except black students; (4) other significant influences were "improved earning potential,""increased value on education,""improved emotional outlook,""occupation requires," and "dissatisfaction with job"; (5) the six top-ranked influences corresponded closely to the top-ranked "trigger" influences; and (6) 73% were returning to the college they had left originally. A literature review, the survey instrument, and a 119-item bibliography are included. (AC)