This 23rd annual statistical abstract covers the breadth of higher education activities in North Carolina in their quantitative aspect, presenting both past and 1989-90 academic year information. In 83 tables and 14 figures, data are presented concerning: (1) current enrollment (by institution, residence status, sex, level of instruction, age, geographic origin, and racial composition); (2) enrollment trends, with general trends from 1900 to 1989, and 1979-1989 data on percentage change in enrollment by institution, residence status, level of instruction, and geographic origin; (3) undergraduate transfers from 1979-1989, with data for 1989 by type of institution and sex; (4) degrees conferred by field of study, institution, type of institution, level of degree, race, and sex; (5) academic rank, sex, and highest earned degree of full-time faculty; (6) library resources and operating expenditures; (6) costs to students, by institution and level of instruction; (7) admissions, including average Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of entering freshmen; high school class rank; and number of freshman, graduate, and first professional applications, acceptances, and enrollees; (8) student financial aid, covering employment, scholarships, grants, awards, and loans; and (9) student housing and (10) degrees conferred. Appendices include sources of data and definitions of terms. (JDD)