The publicly supported higher educational institutions, with their large demands on State treasuries, are naturally objects of inquiry to the taxpayer, who is more and more alarmed at the increasing public burdens. The alarm is often based upon misconceptions and inaccuracies. The only way to check such fear is through the proper use of facts. Certainly, to satisfy questions, the authorities of the institutions need to know accurately the past, present, and probable future fiscal policies in State higher education. The knowledge needed must include answers to questions like the following: Is State higher education "free," or do these institutions require tuition and other fixed charges as do privately endowed institutions? What are the main sources of support to these institutions? What do the trends of income to these institutions show? What part of the cost of education does a student pay as compared with what the State appropriates for collegiate purposes? What have been the methods of State support, and what means may best be employed at present? What about the mill tax and other specially assigned taxes? To what extent did the Federal Government stimulate the foundings, and what part of their net receipts are Federal subventions? What effect have such Federal subventions as the 1914 Smith-Lever Act for extension work upon State support for collegiate purposes? How should the fiscal facts be presented in the fiscal reports of State colleges in order that the taxpayers who are providing part of the revenues may get an insight into the fiscal relationships of their institution? These same taxpayers have called upon the State governments to broaden continuously the entire educational program and to include in this program many functions previously cared for in the home or through other agencies, as through the extension work. A bibliography and an index are included. (Contains 23 tables and 39 charts.) [This study was undertaken in cooperation with the Educational Finance Inquiry Commission. Best copy available has been provided.]