Characteristics of students and their family/personal income was studied for each of the four segments of California higher education to determine how college costs were met. Data sources were the 1982-1983 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS) and student data files. Major findings include the following: In 1982, more than 300,000 community college students came from families with incomes under $12,000, or were self-supporting students whose own income fell below that level; the 1982-1983 total average student expenses, including tuition and required fees, for financially dependent full-time undergraduates were $2,900 in the community colleges, $4,405 in the state university, $5,385 in the University of California, and $10,280 in private colleges; low-income students in all sectors were the most likely to receive grant assistance; the greatest immediate financial burden falls directly on the parents of financially dependent students rather than on the students themselves; and the major cost to students to attend a more expensive institution is the increased long-term indebtedness from loan obligations. Information is included on student credit load, age groups, ethnicity, marital status, and full- and part-time student status. Appendices include the SEARS questionnaire and a list of participating colleges. (SW)