This study sought to identify factors that explained variations in state support for higher education during the 1990s, particularly in view of declining federal support and greater pressure on states to fund other programs. The literature points to a complex array of factors that shape state budgets for colleges and universities. These include: economic and demographic factors (per capita taxes/income, population, unemployment rate, number of college age residents, number of public and private universities, and per capita expenditures on education, health care, and corrections); political influences; the governance structure; state culture and educational policy; and institutional characteristics and strategies (total full-time enrollment, tuition and fees, and campus expenditures on instruction, research, and public service). Fifty-nine public research I universities were sampled. Cross-case and multiple regression analysis mutually supported three main factors to explain the differences in unrestricted state support for research universities: (1) campus commitment to outreach and public service; (2) strength of the higher education governance system with a single governance system more likely to receive higher assistance than those with coordinating board systems; and (3) extent of gubernatorial and legislative support. Appended are a list of the institutions, data sources, statistical tables, and the interview protocol. (Contains 40 references.) (RH)