Background information on the Higher Education Act and issues and options for each title of the Act are considered in this report, which was prepared to help the U.S. Congress in its consideration of the reauthorization legislation. Included are basic data about higher education in the United States and an overview of research and development (R&D) activities being conducted in higher education institutions. The following topics are addressed: institutional purpose, enrollment trends, earned degrees, faculties, institutional support, public funds for private institutions, institutional versus student aid, tuition policies, institutional eligibility, benefits and costs, and private sector support and collaboration. Student grant and loan programs and work-study programs are covered, along with: institutional aid programs; the college library program; construction, renovation, and equipment programs; special programs for the disadvantaged; teacher education; cooperative higher education programs; international education programs; the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education; continuing education programs and planning; and R&D funding. Appendices contain a brief summary of the recent report entitled "Involvement in Learning" and abstracts of the reports issued by the National Commission on Student Financial Assistance. (SW)