This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two types of vocational education programs in improving students' social and vocational adjustment and success. In a comparison between dropout rehabilitation and high school vocational graduates, 92 graduates of the Oklahoma City Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA) Youth Program and 65 high school graduates were interviewed and administered personality and achievement tests. After adjustment for differences in aptitude, statistical analysis showed significant differences in favor of the MDTA sample, especially when skill training was supplemented by academic education. MDTA graduates who had received academic training benefited more than the high school graduates in terms of factors of academic achievement and personal-social adjustment. This Ed.D. dissertation was submitted to Oklahoma State University. (BH)