Abstract
Recruitment of minority students into schools of social work means little if students are unable to complete their studies. Retention of social work students has rarely been studied at the undergraduate or graduate levels, or as it pertains to minorities. This article reports on a study of 352 social work students, predominantly minority, admitted to a baccalaureate program between 1980 and 1987. It examines the factors contributing to retention or attrition, and possible strategies for reaching out to students “at risk.” It also presents the research methodology as a model for future studies.