A total of 295 first-year students were recruited from multiple campuses of a state-wide university system. Multiple-group path analysis compared parental and peer influences between two student subgroups. First-year students attending 4-year institutions reported higher rates of alcohol use and were more likely to experience alcohol-related consequences than community college students. Baccalaureate students' alcohol use was more strongly related to peer descriptive norms, relative to community college students. Multiple-group analyses within the community college sample indicated different patterns of associations for three demographic characteristics: gender, living arrangements and minority status. Future prevention efforts for first-year community college students need to consider unique risk and protective factors and may focus on targeting parental attitudes and behaviors that discourage underage alcohol use.