The study examined the role of career maturity on the college persistence of traditional-aged college freshmen enrolled at a public four-year institution. Results indicate that the My Vocational Situation instrument (Holland et al., 1980), while reliable, is also valid. Theoretical formulations need to be revisited, since results indicate that Goal Commitment and Career Maturity are distinct constructs. Career Maturity was found to be positively associated with a number of variables important to college persistence (e.g., GPA, Academic Integration, Faculty Contact, Encouragement). This variable also contributed to explain variance in Intent to Persist. However, Career Maturity exerted no direct effects on Persistence. The results of this study have implications for theory and research.
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