The South Carolina Impact Study, a formal research project designed to describe the effects of changing patterns of institutional and student financing on postsecondary enrollments, is described. It has as its objectives to: (l) examine the enrollment patterns and characteristics of the September freshman classes of 1972 and 1977; (2) relate identifiable changes to recognizable influences, including changes in federal, state, and institutional financial aid offerings and to other policies and practices that might affect enrollment patterns; (3) formulate findings so as to maximize their utility for specific audiences (such as legislators, college officials with planning responsibilities, and state agencies); and (4) disseminate findings actively. This report traces trends in postsecondary undergraduate enrollment, costs of postsecondary education in South Carolina, and student financial aid in those institutions in South Carolina. Numerous tables are presented, including such information as average student budgets, tuition revenues as a percentage of institutional expenditures, parental contributions, available state and federal student aid (aggregate and by type), indexes of change of federal programs, and percentages of first-time freshmen and senior SAT test-takers by sex, race, educational goal, family income, and other demographic factors. Most tables give statistics for the years 1972 through 1976. (MSE)