A study was conducted at Stark Technical College (STC) to determine whether high risk students who participated in STC's developmental program experienced a higher degree of academic success than similar high risk students who did not participate in the program. High risk students entering STC in fall 1980 were identified on the basis of composite scores on mathematics, reading, and English tests and a survey of study habits and attitudes. The records of 284 of these students were studied over a 2-year period, revealing that the 82 students who entered the developmental program as recommended achieved higher rates of academic success as judged by grade point average, credit hours attempted and completed, and academic persistence than the 202 high risk students who enrolled directly in regular academic programs. The study found no significant differences in the success rates of these two groups based on course areas, sex, age, or high school attended. The study report includes a review of the literature on open admissions and high risk students, a statement of the operational hypotheses and assumptions of the study, statistical tests of the hypotheses, a discussion of the implications of the findings, and recommendations for further research. An extensive bibliography is provided. (HB)