This report examines state policies and procedures affecting tuition, fees, and financial assistance at state institutions of higher education in 1996-97. The report is based on a fall 1996 national survey of state-level coordinating agencies or multi-institution governing boards. The report addresses: (1) policies and procedures for setting resident tuition (including tuition philosophy and roles and authority to set tuition); (2) policies and procedures for setting non-resident tuition (including tuition reciprocity); (3) tuition differentials; (4) tuition revenue (including control and retention of tuition revenue); (5) financial assistance and tuition wavers; (6) fees (mandatory and designated fees, technology fees); and (7) state college savings plans. Among the report's findings are that costs for a student to attend a public college or university will continue to be carefully scrutinized, and that discussions on student acess to college and on how much students and the public should pay will be ongoing. Tables in the text aggregate data, by two-year and four-year institutions where relevant. Appended are the survey instrument upon which the study was based, a listing of respondents, and additional state-by-state data. (BF)