To assess the junior college role in electronic data processing (EDP) programs, under current training conditions in computer-related jobs, this study examined (1) job classifications in business data processing, the importance of math, accounting, and statistics to the job, the educational level of EDP employees, and the ideal programmer; (2) EDP programs available in junior colleges (to describe a model program and a selected EDP class; and (3) related high school and 4-year college programs. From organizations using EDP, the author chose 12 representative fields of activity (and items for the Q sorts to go with his questionnaire). He collected data on 46 firms, 56 supervisors, and 65 programmers, and more data (from other agencies) on employment in EDP and on high school and junior college programs. Of 25 revised questionnaires sent to selected colleges, 21 were returned. Analysis of all data showed a shortage of trained people in computer related jobs. Of one firm's 340 employees, only 30% were professionals (systems analysts and programmers). Of the latter, 40% had under four years of college; of the operators, 68% had less than two years. The cost of establishing an EDP program, for a college of 1000 students, did not seem prohibitive. The programs surveyed appeared adequate for both programmers and operators. More cooperation between colleges and industry may widen the base for recruitment of trainees and lead to an A.A. degree in computer programming. (HH)