A comparative study of higher education for older adults was conducted using data from two surveys in the United States and one in Japan. The U.S. surveys, one of 200 higher education institutions in the country (69 percent response) in 1986 and a 1990 survey of all 308 higher education institutions in California (50 percent response) had the following findings: (1) hundreds of older students are studying in many two-year and four-year institutions; (2) older people have opportunities to study in many types of programs; (3) many institutions have tuition-reduction programs for older students; (4) many colleges have special programs for older adults; and (5) more funding for these programs is needed. In Japan, a 1987 study of 320 four-year universities (248 responses) showed that only 10 older students were admitted to the universities that year, that only 8 universities had special programs for older adults, and that about 10,000 older persons attended extension lectures. Factors affecting the participation of older adults in higher education include the development and expansion of learning opportunities in the United States, demographic changes, sociocultural factors, and institutional barriers. The study concluded that higher education institutions in the United States have been much more active in meeting the educational needs of older adults than have those in Japan. (26 references; 9 figures; 3 tables) (KC)