Information about postsecondary education in the 50 states and the District of Columbia is presented into four main parts. The first part provides a narrative description of the state-level coordinating or governing agency, institutional governing boards, current master planning activities, the 1202 commission, the state student assistance agency, the state board of vocational education, the state-level organization for private colleges, the state licensure or approval agencies, and voluntary or statutory committees for educational articulation. Part two presents descriptive statistics including 1981 information about state population and trends, state and local financial base, state and local governmental spending and spending on higher education, institutional revenues and expenditures, enrollment trends, faculty characteristics, and student tuition and fees. The third part contains a listing of the annual and biennial reports published by state agencies that are available for distribution, along with recently published special reports and studies (titles, publication date, availability, and major issues). Lastly, part four lists special reports and studies currently in progress or being planned. Summary tables, data sources and references, a list of national associations representing state agencies, and a list of state higher education executive officers are appended. (SW)