Details are provided to the New Jersey Board of Higher Education on the level of basic skills among freshmen admitted to the state's public colleges/universities. Levels of proficiency are estimated from performance on the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT). Categories reflect performance of students tested at the campuses of all public colleges and 11 independent colleges. They are separated by public college sectors--county, state, Rutgers, and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Results are noted by statewide findings, college sectors, recent and non-recent high school graduates, and demographic data. College basic skills remediation in other states and the outcomes of skills-deficient student in college are described. Results include: the highest percentages of proficient students are found at Rutgers and NJIT; students who graduated high school in the spring of 1987 were slightly more proficient in all three areas than the total population tested; and there is a large proportion of underprepared students in New Jersey. Seven appendices include a description of the NJCBSPT, NJCBSPT mean scaled scores for 1983-1987, a description of the proficiency levels established by the Basic Skills Council, items representative of those included on the NJCBSPT mathematics section, comparison of statewide self-reported student background information 1983-1987, participating independent colleges and universities, and NJCBSPT year to year score equating. Figures and tables are included.(SM)