The purpose of this study was to explore the educational experiences of community college Hispanic students in Maryland. The researcher interviewed students to determine what programs and services existed in their high school and college environments that assisted them in the transition from secondary education to higher education. Furthermore, the researcher questioned students about the barriers that may have existed when they decided to enter college. Moreover, the researcher asked students about internal and external influences that may have existed when they were making the transition from high school to college. After each interview, the researcher used Jean Phinney's Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure to determine students' awareness of their ethnic identities. The researcher used Tinto's theory of integration and identified emergent themes from students attending these colleges to determine if students were both academically and socially acclimated to the college. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]