Data are presented from a survey covering the period of October 1, 1977 through September 30, 1978. The figures given represent all obligations to institutions of higher education in the United States by 14 federal agencies. A summary analysis is given for three categories of data: those on colleges and universities in general, university-administered federally-funded research and development centers, and independent nonprofit institutions and nonprofit-administered federally funded research and development centers. Detailed statistical tables and some technical notes are appended. The federal agencies represented are the Agency for International Development; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department of Transportation; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Energy; Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of the Interior; Department of Labor, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; National Science Foundation; and Department of Agriculture. Dollar amounts of obligations are given for each institution and each agency funding it. (MSE)