The State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report is a tool to help policy makers and educators address broad public policy questions. SHEF seeks to inform policy deliberations with information and perspective on financial issues and national trends. The fiscal 2005 SHEF study builds on the work of Kent Halstead, who conceptualized and implemented a report on state finance for higher education and created a file of state financial data that extends back to 1972. The report also draws on surveys and analytical tools established in 1962 by M.M. Chambers and maintained by his successors; their work provides reference points for cross-validation. Appendixes include supporting tables, glossary of terms, data collection instrument, and list of data providers. (Contains 13 figures and 19 tables.) [Additional contributors include Hans P. L'Orange, Susan B. Winter, and Dianne Peterson. For the FY 2004 report, see ED502189.]