The article examines the impact of New York State's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) after 13 years of implementation at 70 institutions, focusing on the effects of participation by underprepared, low-income students. Considered also are college admission and enrollment policies, academic support services, and budgets. The study analyzed results of questionnaires and interviews with 37 HEOP program directors, as well as data from annual reports of the State Education Department and participating colleges. Positive findings included HEOP's clarity of mission and well-defined student population; the heightened awareness achieved by compensatory programs and availability of financial aid; and more efficient and imaginative coordination of federal, state, and institutional funding sources. Eight recommendations address the need for continued funding of opportunity programs, replicating programs and services that improve achievement, more systematic efforts in working with public schools to improve college preparation, utilization of the literature on instructionally effective schools, and development of studies to obtain follow-up data on HEOP alumni. (DB)