The Competency-Based Degree Program (CBDP) at Oklahoma City University is an effort by a traditional university to serve a new and expanded group of students while maintaining a high level of quality in the services it provides. The CBDP is unique in that it is truly a nontraditional program operating within a traditional university with well established traditional programs. The nontraditional elements in the program are that each student (1) designs his or her own degree contract; (2) can receive credit for nontraditional prior learning; and (3) is not required to complete any prespecified coursework or attain any prespecified competencies. This study explores and describes the CBDP, and provides comparisons between nontraditional and traditional students and the variables of age, race, sex, marital status, and number of hours worked off campus. Additional data is given on CBDP students' reasons for enrolling, goals, what they might be doing if there were no CBDP. (Author/MSE)