Information is presented on costs at U.S. educational institutions for 1980-81 to assist foreign students in financial planning. For approximately 4,200 institutions listed alphabetically within each state, monthly maintenance rates (MMR) are presented for each institution. The MMR covers room, board, incidentals, and makes no distinction between on-campus and off-campus living. For approximately 1,000 institutions, information is presented on tuition and fees, the kind of calendar used, the academic periods, and the preferred reporting date, and examination period ending date. It is suggested that the following additional expenses and allowances should also be considered by foreign students: settling-in allowance, books, accident and health insurance, additional equipment, vacation periods, field trips, thesis/dissertation and related research costs, additional costs for accompanying dependents, expenses of maintaining an automobile, study-related or research-related travel, and senior student grantee/scholar supplement. The system for determining MMRs, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual review of family budgets in 40 urban and five nonmetropolitan areas, is described. (SW)