Higher Education expenditures and common economic indices are charted: Consumer Price Index and Higher Education Price Index (1958-79); U.S. Gross National Product (GNP) in current and 1972 dollars (1946-79); general and higher education expenditures as a percentage of the GNP (1949-79); and total and per student voluntary support of higher…

Projections of student expenses are indexed for comparison with the Consumer Price Index. Forecasts include: no slower rate of increase of average expenses; by 1984-85, total student expenses at private institutions will double public institutions'; tuition is now the dominant cost; and two-year institutions are not much less expensive than…

The prosperous 1980s will be followed by an economic slowdown challenging to higher education. Faced with slower public, private, and endowment revenue growth and increasing operating costs, institutions will have to make tough choices. Data on government contributions, private gifts, endowments, expenditures, and shifting allocations are offered…