Findings of the 1981-1982 and 1982-1983 Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) Graduate Project are summarized, with attention to application, admission, and enrollment data for representative departments across project institutions. This Nine Discipline Study (NDS) created a database for nine graduate fields representing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. These fields are: French, English, philosophy, political science, economics, biochemistry, chemistry, mechanical/aeronautical engineering, and chemical engineering. Data were collected from more than 150 departments at 20 colleges, on all applicants for full-time graduate study, with emphasis on doctoral study. Findings include: in both years, more than 11,000 applicants submitted over 21,000 applications to departments; the average number of applicants submitted to a given department averaged from under two to almost five per applicant; there was a highly selective admissions process that favored higher ability applicants; in all disciplines there was a strong relationship between admission rates and tested ability; and the probability of an admitted applicant's matriculating increased if financial support was offered. Information for English departments is provided. (SW)