This annual report on the status of Missouri's system of higher education is organized around five strategic initiatives. The report notes such positive trends as the more than 325,000 students who are pursuing degree programs and the nearly 50,000 students who graduate each year from the state's public and independent colleges, universities, and…

Extensive data tables present information on the public and independent institutions of higher education in Missouri for the year 1997-1998. Data tables are organized into the following categories: (1) preparation of enrolled freshmen, fall 1997, including distribution of American College Testing scores and high school rankings; (2) access,…