Criteria for admission to graduate programs are used by departments and graduate schools to identify characteristics assumed to be associated with “success”. They allow for more uniformity in student ability and preparation so graduate education is more efficient. This study analyzes the relationship between selected student characteristics and experience and two proxies for “success”—graduate GPA and the probability of completing an Agricultural Economics graduate program. Data are from past students in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas Tech University. Statistical differences among the means of student characteristics were evaluated, a regression model was estimated to predict graduate GPA, and a logistical regression was estimated to examine the probability of not completing a graduate program. Results show some difference in characteristics between those who complete and do not complete. Graduate GPA is significantly related to citizenship, degree program, quantitative GRE score, and previous program GPA. However, only above-average prior GPA and existence of financial assistance are significantly related to the probability of nor completing a graduate program.