According to the US Department of Education (2001), Black college students, when compared with other racial groups, have the highest drop out rate at both two-year and four-year colleges. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine factors that might place Black students at risk of discontinuing their higher education. A path analysis was conducted on 187 Black students attending four-year Predominately White Institutions (PWI) of higher education and Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Overall results indicated that for Black students at PWIs and HBCUs alike, completion of college is both directly and indirectly related to a blend of individual, environmental and racial experiences which, speculatively, may be affected by interventions designed to reduce Black student drop out rates. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]