Not always, I only know open admissions to be for community colleges. But, although you might get into the community college, a lot of their degree programs require a little more rigor to get into.
My community college offers a very popular nursing school and radiology school, in which only 20-something people can get into each every year.
In community college especially, open admission students are often on some kind of court-ordered diversion program. It's a way to stay out of jail. The students are not much motivated to study, and they are one more handbag theft away from major time.
It depends on the program. The University in my home town has open enrollment. Some of the programs are horrible, and some are awesome. It is just where the school is spending their money! Our Nursing and science programs are awesome, the art, history, etc are horrible. It just depends on the focus of the school and they are all different.
