THE LITERATURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION WAS SURVEYED TO EVALUATE (1) THE ACCESS OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND (2) THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH. THE FINDINGS FROM THE LITERATURE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED UNDER FIVE HEADINGS--(1) CIVIL RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, (2) PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE DISADVANTAGED, (3) CHARACTERISTICS OF DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, (4) SPECIAL ADMISSIONS AND GUIDANCE PROCEDURES, AND (5) THE NEGRO COLLEGE. AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DIVIDED UNDER THE SAME HEADINGS IS INCLUDED. IN A SUMMARY, THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT CONCERN FOR COMPENSATORY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAS GROWN IN THE PAST 2 OR 3 YEARS, BUT ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE STARTED DEVELOPMENT OF COMPENSATORY PROGRAMS. THOSE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST ARE PRINCIPALLY FOR NEGROES, SERVE VERY SMALL NUMBERS OF DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, AND HAVE SCARCELY TOUCHED THE RURAL WHITE YOUTH. SEVERAL FOUNDATIONS HAVE MADE IMPRESSIVE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT EFFORTS TO ATTRACT THE DISADVANTAGED TO COLLEGE COLLIDE WITH TRENDS TOWARD HIGHER ADMISSION STANDARDS. PRECOLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAMS WERE JUDGED TO BE AN IMPORTANT, ALTERNATE APPROACH THAT SHOULD BE EXTENDED. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT TREND IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS AT THE JUNIOR COLLEGE LEVEL. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT (1) SYSTEMATIC ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEANS FOR MODIFYING THE ATTITUDES AND LEARNING PATTERNS OF THOSE WHO ARE INEFFICIENT LEARNERS AND (2) SOME ALTERNATIVE FOR REMEDIAL READING IS NEEDED TO AID THESE STUDENTS IN LEARNING TO ACQUIRE AND PROCESS INFORMATION. (AL)