Declines in the numbers of 18-22-year-old college students, coupled with rapidly rising costs for providing education, are contributing to the increased efforts that colleges and universities are making to attract nontraditional students into both traditional and nontraditional programs. A study was made of all 73 colleges and universities in Virginia to ascertain what factors influence the development (or nondevelopment) of programs for older adults. Information was collected on how such factors as financial resources, administrative support, cost of the program, community interest and support, etc., might influence program development. Results indicated that two factors had the most positive impact on program development overall: general demand or need for such a program and administrative support within the institution. Two factors having the most negative impact were inadequate financial resources and cost of the program to participants. Analysis of differences between those colleges with, versus those without, a current proqram revealed that knowledge and support of the community and adequate financial resources most clearly differentiated these two groups. Finally, general demand, administrative support, and community support were much more positively related to program growth for two-year public institutions when compared with four-year public and private institutions. It was concluded that the knowledge of and access to the community, along with state and institutional policies that provide incentives for financial viability, are central to the development of programs for older adult learners. (Author/KC)