The authors" innovative approach to the presentation of data, prominently featured in the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe, is a welcome change from the traditional form of dry statistics, tables, and charts. Here is an essential reference book which will be enthusiastically welcomed by all those interested in American higher education. This innovative approach to the presentation of educational data is a welcome change from the traditional portrayal of such data in the form of dry statistics, tables, and charts. The striking visual approach provides the reader with a clear, concise understanding of higher education in this country and a comprehensive overview of current trends. By seeing the data graphically portrayed, even a casual reader can develop a broad understanding of basic information in a relatively short period of time.From the masses of information that are regularly collected and compiled by the many agencies and associations concerned with higher education, the authors have carefully chosen the most important data and those that highlight the spatial patterns. The Atlas clearly shows the influence of the 50 separate and distinct systems that make up American higher education. Moving beyond the relatively simplistic portrayals of statistical data found in existing fact books, The Atlas of American Higher Education presents dozens of maps on such topics as enrollment; students and faculty; cultural diversity; specialized institutions; two year colleges; outcomes of higher education; student costs and student aid; and financing of higher education, as well as general background and summary chapters. The Atlas includes balanced coverage of both public and private, two- and four-year institutions. In addition to portraying data by state, the Atlas portrays basic underlying demographic variables such as population density and distribution by age groups. The Atlas of American Higher Education is an indispensable text for college and university administrators, students and faculty in master"s and doctoral programs in the field of higher education, as well as anyone concerned with educational policy. Geographers, those interested in American studies, and other social scientists will find the Atlas useful in courses that deal with social, cultural, and demographic issues.