The proportion of high school graduates who require remedial courses in one or more subjects when they enter college has grown into an avalanche nationwide. Teaching them what they should have learned in earlier grades, but didn't, is imposing huge costs on colleges and universities, experts report. College administrators are beginning to complain loudly about having to foot the bill.

• This year, 64 percent of freshmen entering the California state college system failed the entry-level math test, and 43 percent failed the verbal exam -- even though all of them were in the top third of their graduating classes.

• Even at elite University of California campuses, 35 percent of entering freshmen needed remedial instruction in basic English proficiency.

• In New York, 87 percent of students entering one of the City University's (CUNY) six community colleges fail at least one initial exam.

• A 1995 federal survey found 41 percent of college freshmen at public two-year colleges took at least one remedial course -- and only 23 percent of those who started at such institutions received either a community college degree or a bachelor's degree within five years.

Such situations are prompting a revolt in higher education and among some politicians.

• New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani has proposed removing remedial work altogether from the CUNY system.

• In Georgia, regents voted last year to limit the number of freshmen needing remedial work.

• Massachusetts was one of four states to consider charging high schools for remedial courses for their graduates.