A survey conducted by the Higher Education Panel sought trends in various items of information about the financial condition of colleges and universities. A stratified sample of 760 insitutions was used, excluding major research universities. Information was requested on basic finance data, dormitory occupancy rates, occurrence of institutional loan defaults or moratoria, and selected faculty and student information. The response rate was 68 percent. Responses were statistically adjusted to represent the eligible national population of 2,508 institutions. Data are for the academic years 1974-75, 1976-77, and 1978-79. A series of financial indicators (ratios) were developed to use these and other data. They treat two basic types of resources: financial (relating to the value of available assets), and nonfinancial (faculty, students, administrators, and physical plant). The trends assessed are in current fund ratios, ratio of available fund balance to operating expenses, ratio of fixed commitments to revenues, and ratio of salaries and wages to total expenditures. Trends are shown for institution type and sector. Appended are the survey instrument, methodology notes, and notes on survey estimate reliability. (MSE)