The purpose of this study is to develop a retention path model which is appropriate for African American students enrolled at a historically black college and university (HBCU). The applied approach for this model development was guided by the need for such a model at Clark Atlanta University. One of the most prevalent theories of student retention in higher education is Tinto's Model of Student Departure (1975, 1987). Tinto's theory describes a process by which students become integrated into the academic and social environment of the university which, in part, leads to student persistence. This model has been widely tested, primarily with White students and to a lesser extent with African American students on traditionally White colleges and universities. Little research has examined the applicability of the model to African American students at HBCUs. This research study used path analysis with hierarchical regression to test a modified version of Tinto's (1975, 1987) model with first-year students at a HBCU. The model was then modified to incorporate additional variables hypothesized to have effects on student persistence for this population. Results indicated that there was moderate support for the hypothesized model for African American students at HBCUs. The combination of all causally prior variables in the model accounted for 12% of the variance in persistence behavior. The hypothesized model was validated, to a limited degree, in an independent sample from the population. Support was found for inclusion of a financial construct in the explanation of student persistence for African American students at a HBCU.