ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSFirst, I would like to thank all of the faculty members at the University and especially the members of my committee. All of them were very supportive of me as a non-traditional graduate student. Each one of them was patient and understanding as I transitioned back into the classroom after a number of years in the "real world." I would also like to thank all of my teachers and professors who taught me prior to the University of Iowa. I can honestly say that this degree is a credit to each teacher I had in elementary school, junior high school, high school, and College. Without you, this would not have been possible.A special 'thank you' to my colleagues at both work and school. My work colleagues allowed me to be absent at times when I normally would be present. They not only covered for me but also supported me in my pursuit of this degree. Meanwhile, my school colleagues helped keep me abreast of important topics with the Department and included me in their social outings. This was despite the fact that I was not present for many events outside of class. I was never treated as an outsider.I would like to express my gratitude to my family. First, to my mother, Cheryl Kimmel Matthews, who taught me the importance of education. I learned a great deal watching her prepare to teach her elementary students each and every day. Her dedication to the students and to her craft is second to none. To my children Kyle and Nicholas, I want to thank them for their patience as dad "did his homework." I know there were plenty of evenings and weekends that they wanted to hang out with me and were unable to do so.iii One of the most difficult parts of this task was that my father, Frank H. Reisinger III, was not able to be with me in body; though he was in spirit. He never thought he was smart enough to be an academic, but he sold himself short. His ability to communicate from the pulpit each Sunday demonstrated his ability to use his intelligence to make people stronger in their faith.Finally, to my wife, Heather Schacht Reisinger PhD, I cannot express enough gratitude to you. You have managed to build your career and helped to raise two wonderful children while I went back to school. Our 20 years of marriage has been more than I ever could have hoped and I look forward to many more years in the future….I love you.iv ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between intercollegiate participation and persistence in college. In addition, it explored the different factors that influenced student athletes' persistence patterns as compared to non-student athletes at residential liberal arts schools. Using data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education (WNS), I first examined if student athletes were more likely to persist while controlling for background characteristics. Next, using Braxton's revised theory of student departure as a theoretical lens, I examined how eight factors (ability to pay, commitment of the institution to student welfare, communal potential, institutional integrity, proactive ...