The purpose of this study was to examine ways foreign-born graduates of West African descent (WAD) at a midsize community college achieve college education and what lessons we learned about their motivation, success, and barriers to success. The researcher used qualitative research methodology for this study, which was designed to measure this population's motivation, success, and barriers to success. Some key findings: Affordable tuition and a faculty mentorship program were two cross-cutting themes between participants' motivation and success. Eighty percent of the participants attributed their motivation and success to affordable tuition and a faculty mentorship program at the mid-size community college. Six participants also mentioned diversity on campus as their motivation. Five participants stated their motivation and success was due to access to the library. Fifty percent of the participants attributed their motivation and success to persistence/self-determination, learning environment, and goal setting prior to enrollment. The lack of financial aid was the number one barrier to seven participants' success. Community college students (WAD) in the United States will be the direct beneficiaries of this study. Community colleges, too, will benefit as they will use the data to design programs to enhance their enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. This study provided data on WAD graduates' motivation, success, and barriers to success at a mid-size community college. [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.]