In an effort to determine the causes of student attrition, a study was conducted at American River College (ARC) in December 1979, involving: (1) a survey of 1,174 students who had dropped at least one class while at ARC, and (2) a categorization of the reasons for college withdrawal indicated by 591 students on ARC's standardized withdrawal form. The survey instrument, administered to high enrollment day and evening classes, asked students to rate the importance of 42 items with regard to their decisions to drop past classes. Since there were no withdrawal forms for evening students at ARC, their reasons could not be included in the college withdrawal analysis. Study findings indicated that students dropped courses for predominantly academic reasons. The most commonly cited were"course content too difficult,""subject matter not what expected,""could not keep up with course work," and "boring presentation by the instructor." College withdrawal, however, was motivated by non-academic reasons, such as financial/employment problems, moving, ill health, personal problems, and transferring to another school. The study report includes a literature review, an examination of the funds lost by ARC due to attrition, recommendations for improved grading and instructional techniques designed to reduce class drops, and the questionnaire. (JP)