This report analyzes the following issues affecting public higher education: student charges; deferred maintenance; state fiscal conditions; the National Retention Project; and prepaid tuition plans. In each section, the report includes an overview of the issue, and presents highlights, findings, analyses, extensive charts and graphs, and references. Concerning student charges, analysis focuses on average undergraduate resident tuition and fees (1985-95); appropriations vs. net tuition per student; and average room and board charges. Analysis of deferred maintenance focuses on indicators of the seriousness of the problem, current trends in physical plant/maintenance spending at public colleges and universities, and state and federal policy implications. For state fiscal conditions, the report finds that state finances are looking good, and calls higher education "the balance wheel of state finances." For the National Retention Project, findings indicate improvements in data collection and analysis, and note the influence of administrative, academic advising, and assessment conditions. Examination of prepaid tuition plans analyzes issues of participation and subsidy, and risk considerations. Data are presented in 23 tables and charts. (Contains 14 references.) (DB)