Information about postsecondary education in the 50 states and the District of Columbia is presented. The information includes descriptive statistics including 1977-78 information about the state population and trends, state and local financial base, state and local governmental spending, state and local spending on higher education, institutional revenues and expenditures, student demand, enrollment trends and 1978-79 information about faculty characteristics, and student tuition and fees. Among the groups for which narrative descriptions are provided are the following: state-level coordinating or governing agency, institutional governing boards, the 1201 commission, state student assistance agency, state board of vocational education, the state-level organization for private colleges, the state licensure or approval agencies, nongovernmental organizations whose membership includes both public and private institutions, and statutory advisory committees. Annual and biennial reports published by state agencies and special reports and studies recently published, currently underway, or planned are listed. For each report, the following information is presented: title, publication date, availability, the agency requesting and completing the report, and major issues covered in the report. Summary statistical tables and data sources and references for the descriptive statistics are appended. (SW)