The cost-benefit of administrative data at a state college is placed in perspective relative to the institutional involvement in computer use. The costs of computer operations, personnel, and peripheral equipment expenses related to instruction are analyzed. Data bases and systems support institutional activities, such as registration, and aid managerial decision making. Decisions focus on establishing the effectiveness of institutions (e.g., delivering quality instruction) and enhancing the efficiency of resource utilization. Since the data bases were developed to meet federal, state, and institutional needs, they deal almost exclusively with the parameters of efficiency. The data bases do a fair job in providing information of instructional workload but are poor-to-nonexistent in providing data on faculty quality and amount of noninstructional activity. Efforts should be made to augment the data systems to include constructs more directly related to effectiveness. The measurement of activities and outputs must be expanded and become a priority of faculty and their organizations. Efforts also must be extended to develop data exchanges for comparable colleges and curricula. Administrators have started in this direction, but if faculty do not become involved, the results will focus on indices of efficiency and not on the parameters of effectiveness. (SW)