In 1991, a study was conducted of semester-to-semester persistence patterns at Rancho Santiago College (RSC). The study involved tracking the attendance patterns of all RSC students entering as new students in fall 1983 and each subsequent fall until 1990; and comparing the persistence rates of matriculated and non-matriculated students in the fall 1988 cohort. Major study findings included the following: (1) of the students who initially enrolled in any fall semester, 37% to 50% returned the following spring, and 23% to 33% remained active one year later; (2) students who reported that their goal was to transfer with an associate of arts degree had a persistence rate of 61% to 66% one semester later, while students who enrolled for personal interest had a 27% to 39% persistence rate one semester later; (3) Asian students had the highest persistence rates, followed by Hispanic, White, and Black students; (4) beginning with the 1986 group, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and financial aid students were tracked separately, showing persistence rates of 87% to 98%, the highest of any group; (5) compared to the general student population, matriculated students demonstrated much greater persistence over two and three semesters after initial enrollment; and (6) students enrolled only in evening courses showed the poorest persistence whether they were matriculated or not. (JMC)