In order to determine the extent of attrition at Essex County College, all students registered for the fall semester of 1975 who did not return for the winter semester were identified and were surveyed by mail (n=2,000) to ascertain their reasons for not returning. A total of 546 questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 27.3%. Analysis of the resultant data showed: (1) the overall attrition rate was 33.4%; (2) new students who did not return most often cited family problems, disappointment with program of study, financial reasons and illness, in that order, as reasons for non-return, while continuing students most often cited illness, financial problems, family problems, and disappointment with program of study, in that order, as reasons for their non-return; and (3) overall, no single reason such as academic difficulty could be isolated as a cause of attrition. Additional data analyses were performed examining the non-returning students according to their educational objectives, curriculum, academic status, future educational plans, number of credits attempted, level of education completed, and several attitudinal variables. Grade point averages of new students were analyzed against scores on the Comparative Guidance and Placement Test. Overall, the findings indicated a greater tendency for younger students in general and black students in particular to become attrition statistics after the first year of college. (JDS)