The results of the most recent survey on foreign students in regionally accredited institutions of higher education in the United States are provided. In-depth information is included on such topics as: what proportion of students from a specific country are graduates or undergraduates; what proportion of students in different fields are graduates or undergraduates; what proportion of students from a certain country are studying business and management, and what proportion of those are male or female; and what countries or world regions foreign students attending schools in California come from. Background is provided on methodology and data characteristics, organization, and special reports. Foreign student characteristics by world region and place of origin look at African, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, North American, Oceanian, and South and East Asian students. Information is provided on foreign students within U.S. region, academic level, and field of study (geographic and educational destinations, academic level, and field of study). The appendices are detailed cross-tabulations; step 2/step 3 comparisons; selected characteristics of foreign students by country or other place, subregion, and world region of origin; fields of study; countries and other places by world region and subregion; and 1985/86 individual data (step 3) survey materials. Forty-one tables and figures are included. (SM)