The primary goal of the California State University's (CSU) Graduation Initiative 2025 (GI 2025) is to reduce time to degree. The results of a survey and focus groups involving students at three CSU campuses, undertaken by the Education Insights Center (EdInsights) on behalf of the CSU Student Success Network, indicate that this goal is consistent with students' aspirations. Most students enroll in the CSU intending to graduate in a traditional timeframe--four years for students enrolling as freshmen and two years for those transferring from a community college. According to survey results, 85 percent of those who enrolled as first-time freshmen intended to graduate "on time"--within four years. Among transfer students, 70 percent enrolled in the CSU planning to graduate in two years. Nearly all students enter the California State University system intending to graduate "on time," and graduation rates are increasing systemwide. Currently, less than a quarter of incoming freshmen graduate within four years and a third of community college transfer students graduate in two years. This study investigates the personal and institutional obstacles that students experience as they navigate through college on the pathway to timely graduation.