A recent flurry of announcements from some of the wealthiest and most competitive private colleges brought welcome news to lower- and middle-income families. Many Ivy League institutions, along with dozens of smaller colleges that also attract high-achieving students, unveiled student-aid plans that will significantly lower the cost of attendance…

Nearly seven months before the November election, a plurality of Americans favor Barack Obama to tackle what they consider the most pressing issue in higher education: the runaway cost of a bachelor's degree. According to a new nationwide survey conducted through The Chronicle/Gallup Panel, 42 percent of Americans think that controlling college…

Institutional spending on student aid rose 87 percent from 1980-81 to 1987-88, nearly doubling that of the federal government, with 53 percent of students receiving some aid. Recently, most aid was spent on grants and scholarships, generally based on need. Endowment and gifts supplied 30 percent, tuition and other revenues the remainder. Spending…

National trends in private support of colleges and universities indicate increased giving, but at rates barely above inflation. Data are presented on trustee gifts, dollar totals and averages by institution type in 1991-92 and 1992-93, and top 20 institutions in total giving, alumni donations, total giving per student, and alumni giving per…

Based on data from tax forms, information is given on the 1996-97 institutional expenditures and income, presidential pay (1995-96 and 1996-97), 1996-97 fringe benefits, and pay and benefits of several other administrators at 475 private colleges and universities. (MSE)

Revenues of doctoral, comprehensive, general baccalaureate, and two-year private and public institutions are outlined by source (tuition and fees, appropriations, grants and contracts, private support, endowments, and others); expenditures are tabulated by function (instruction, research, public service, libraries, academic support, student…

Study examining the earnings of students accepted by elite colleges but who chose to attend less-selective institutions finds that students do not enhance earnings by graduating from colleges with high average Scholastic Assessment Test scores, suggesting that admissions decisions fail to account for intangibles such as students' ambition,…

Data are provided on 142 college and university fund-raising campaigns, by institution type (public, private, research/doctoral, master's, liberal arts, two-year, medical centers, professional and specialized). Information includes campaign goal, beginning date, length, scope, and gift amounts (both face and present value) raised by June 30, 1995.…