This overview of trends and issues in Missouri higher education displays information through a series of tables, charts and figures using data primarily from the Missouri Statistical Summary 1989-1990. Some charts compare current data with earlier (10- to 20-year-old) data. Topics covered include the following: student preparation; student characteristics; degrees conferred and program resources; faculty characteristics; and financial and physical plant characteristics. Specific charts or tables address: educational degree aspirations of high school graduates; American College Testing (ACT) scores by type of high school curriculum; high school class rank of entering freshmen; freshman-to-sophomore attrition; 6-year completions by degree type; headcount enrollment by institution type; percent change in full time equivalent enrollments; geographic origin of undergraduate students; college age population trends; blacks as percent of total headcount enrollment; trends in women's enrollment; full time enrollment by age; trends in degrees awarded; degrees by discipline areas; trends in baccalaureate degrees completed; trends in teacher certifications; trends in doctoral degrees; first professional, doctoral, and engineering programs; full time employees; gender and ethnicity of full time faculty; faculty distribution by age; general revenue expenditures; sources of revenue; spending compared with other Midwestern states; trends in tuition; and students served by financial aid. (JB)