A study of selected higher education institutions investigated support services provided to low income women and single parents, particularly those who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). The study surveyed 76 institutions around the nation of which 60 responded. The study conducted 13 follow-up site visits in 9 states. The study also surveyed Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) policies in 32 states. Findings revealed that though JOBS administrators say they support access to postsecondary education, actual access is constrained by continuing ambivalence to providing access through the public welfare system and the different cultures of higher education and public welfare policy. Other findings include the following: (1) women who enrolled in college on their own initiative without being referred by a case worker were often penalized by JOBS as over half of states responding reported they do not provide JOBS resources to "self-initiated" students"; (2) colleges responded to JOBS and other constraints with a variety of strategies to assist their low income students including provision of child care, financial aid, special student centers, administrative linkages with state agencies, and special admissions and placement procedures. Appendixes contain copies of the surveys, a list of participating institutions, case studies, selected JOBS policies and a bibliography containing 28 references.) (JB)