This document identifies and describes the sources of public support for postsecondary vocational training in the United States, including the mix of public assistance that is currently available to economically disadvantaged individuals. Following an introduction, the second section is an overview of the general financing situation. Tables report amounts of assistance for 1988 and the distribution of high school graduates from the classes of 1972 and 1980 entering postsecondary education within 4 years. The third section provides a more detailed description of public support for institutions and programs, describing the distribution of postsecondary credits by field for the class of 1980; the level and the recipients of state and local assistance; and federal appropriations made under the Higher Education Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act, and the Job Training Partnership Act. The fourth section describes publicly provided student financial assistance, including the three types of student aid (need-based, merit-based, and aid designed to serve special populations) historically available to postsecondary students. The impact of student financial aid is discussed. The fifth section describes tax subsidies for postsecondary training. It is concluded that while the variety of available subsidies is effective and while there are remarkably few overlaps between programs, there are still four areas that warrant further study. The document concludes with a brief description of these areas. A 19-item bibliography is also provided. (CML)