A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper college (WRHC) in Illinois to provide basic institutional data about student performance over time. Data were obtained on performance and achievement at WRHC by following samples of 200 full-time and 200 part-time students in successive classes between 1974 and 1984. Study findings revealed: (1) the average grade point average ranged from 2.6 to 2.4, rising and falling in direct relationship to grading policy; (2) the average full-time student accumulated 45 hours while attending WRHC for 4.8 semesters, and 37% earned a degree or certificate; (3) the average part-time student accumulated 18 hours while attending WRHC almost 4 semesters, and about 12% achieved a degree or certificate; (4) older students who enrolled beyond two semesters were more likely to persist to graduation than younger students; (5) only approximately 9% of the students transferred credit hours from another college, even though 35% to 40% had attended another college prior to entering WRHC; (6) almost one fourth of the full-time students and one third of the part-time students eventually enrolled in both degree credit and continuing education offerings at the college; and (7) similar to national trends, the American College Testing program composite scores of entering students dropped over the years even though students' high school class rank remained constant. (Author/MPH)