The Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21 on cost principles for educational institutions, which was published in the Federal Register on March 6, 1979, is reproduced in its entirety, and a brief introduction by Max A. Binkley is presented. The circular established principles for determining costs applicable to federal grants, contracts, and other agreements with educational institutions. The principles deal with the subject of cost determination applicable to research and development, training, and other sponsored work performed by colleges and universities under federal aid or under other agreements with the federal government. The circular discusses direct costs, indirect costs, the identification and assignment of indirect costs, the determination and application of indirect cost rate(s), a simplified method for small institutions, and general provisions for selected items of cost. This circular is a revision of Federal Management Circular 73-8. A summary of comments received on the revision, grouped by subject area, is included. (SW)