Conclusion

Public research universities are dedicated to the public: that is their mission; it is the value that animates all of their activities. They serve their communities, states, region, and the nation through their commitment to excellence and access. They have contributed broadly to economic growth, innovation, upward socioeconomic mobility, civic engagement, and our vibrant democracy. The United States’ public research universities are unparalleled in the level of service provided to the nation through research, economic stimulus, and individual well-being.

In its fifth and final publication, the Lincoln Project will offer substantive policy recommendations for sustaining public research universities, calling on all funding partners—states, the federal government, philanthropies, business, and the public—to maintain and enhance their investment in these institutions.