Two-year colleges in Japan have traditionally absorbed the major portion of female college entrants due at least partially to long-held gender stereotypes: women are to prepare themselves for marriage and homemaking at a two-year college. Recently, Japanese women began to explore selfhood outside the traditional realm of motherhood and womanhood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether traditional gender stereotypes continue to influence the decision of Japanese female students as to whether to pursue a two-year college education. A sample of 214 Japanese female students currently enrolled in a two-year college participated in this study. The 18-item survey questionnaire was developed to examine factors perceived influential by Japanese women on their decision to choose a two-year college. The items were adopted based on a review of literature pertinent to gender-roles and women in higher education in Japan, and the government surveys on Japanese women's life course plans. This study employed SPSS for analyzing the data collected through the survey questionnaire. Factor analysis extracted three factors: Traditional Gender Expectations, Career and Marriage and Career Interests. Students in this study ranked Career Interests highest, followed by Traditional Gender Expectations and Career and Marriage. The results suggest that women's choice of two-year college was based first on their concern for job and financial security, second for marriage and family and third for the dual goals of pursuing both a career and marriage and family. While women in the present study uphold traditional roles, building career and financial independence are stronger reasons for their college choice. Two-year college administrators and faculty need to carefully consider the factors underlying women's decision to chose a two-year college, and evaluate whether the role of two-year colleges is satisfactorily meeting the expectations of contemporary women. (Contains 3 tables.)