Information on the way in which tuition and fees are determined in each of the 13 western states served by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming) is presented. Changes in tuition and fee charges at western institutions since 1977 are also reported. Several issues related to setting public college tuition are reviewed, including the following: the share of the cost of education in each type of institution that should be borne by students through student charges, and whether the cost borne by each source of financial support should be different for different levels of education (lower and upper divisions and graduate). The policy or basis for setting tuition and fees for full-time students at colleges and universities in each of the 13 western states is described, and policy profiles for public four-year and two-year institutions are appended. Additional considerations for setting tuitions are examined in regard to the following broad categories: determining the share of costs for tuition charges, determining tuition increases, and technical considerations in defining the cost of education. Recent changes in the amounts charged for tuition and fees and information on tuition differentials for resident and graduate students are examined. The analysis indicates that four states index charges to some percentage of the cost of education and nine do not. Furthermore, although authority to set tuition is usually reserved for the appropriate governing board, state legislatures strongly influence the process. (SW)