Role of Government in Higher Education
Governments and state agencies traditionally have played three roles:
(1) regulating and providing accurate public information, (2)
financing and (3) administering. Participation in elementary and
secondary education yields major collective benefits, while participation
in higher education is by choice and individual students collect
much of its benefits. The public good is highest in the former, which
has been the main argument for governmental regulation, finance and
administration at these levels.