This study describes the use of event history modeling as a tool for understanding student departure from college. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics High School and Beyond (HS&B)/Sophomore Cohort longitudinal study a detailed history of individual students' college careers was constructed using a regression-like methodology often called "survival analysis" or "hazard modeling". The model used customized event history files that included student files (e.g., transcripts), course files (college courses, year-specific college credits, grade point averages, and cumulative college credits), and institution-specific information (type and selectivity of institution) to create indicators of enrollment status, yearly performance data, time to graduation. Other factors considered by the analysis included financial aid and grade point average. It was concluded that the study demonstrated the potential of using HS&B data to study student outcomes. And it also demonstrates how event history modeling can be applied to longitudinal data to study events that take place over time. A third outcome of the study is the information provided to researchers and policymakers on the factors that affect student departure from college and how these effects change over time. Four figures and 11 data tables are included. (Contains approximately 53 references.) (CH)