The 1980 Cohort Study was initiated at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) as a follow-up of full-time students who began their studies in fall 1980. The goal of the study was to distinguish the educational and career outcomes of graduates from those of students who have achieved various other levels of academic progress. The fall 1980 cohort consisted of 1,532 new students, including 240 non-returners who attended for only one semester, 652 non-graduates who attended for two or more consecutive semesters, 237 stopouts who attended intermittently, and 403 graduates as of spring 1984. Study findings, based on information gathered from student records and responses to a spring 1984 survey of educational goals, study habits, enrollment patterns, and employment and transfer experiences, included the following: (1) Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics made up 73%, 17%, and 4% of the cohort, but 85%, 9%, and 2% of the graduates; (2) graduation rates varied widely across programs of study; (3) most students responding to the survey selected "to prepare for a first career" as their main educational goal; (4) most respondents planned to complete a degree or certificate at MCCC; (5) approximately 40% to 50% of the graduates, non-graduates, and non-returners attended another college after leaving MCCC; (6) 48.7% of the non-returners, 75.7% of the non-graduates, 72% of the stopouts, and 82.9% of the graduates were working while at MCCC; and (7) non-returners were least likely to be employed while at MCCC and most likely to leave school upon finding employment. Survey instruments are appended. (EJV)