Examining Differences in State Support for Higher Education: A Comparative Study of State Appropriations for Research I Universities

In this study, quantitative and qualitative methods were used to identify factors that best explain variations in state appropriations for Carnegie Public Research I Universities during the late 1990s. A combination of cultural, political, and institutional factors emerged as critical elements accounting for differences in support including institutional commitment to public service and outreach, strength of postsecondary education governance structure, and gubernatorial and legislative support.