The science and education talent and knowledge produced by academic research form crucial building blocks to innovation that improve the quality of life for our Nation's citizens, create jobs and in some cases even new industries, and are vital to maintaining U.S. global leadership in science and education. The focus of this book is public research universities, which are subject to greater financial and legislative pressure than their private counterparts. Nevertheless, the health of the research university system and the overall higher education system relies on the strength of all of its component parts. This book highlights the importance of these universities to states and the Nation and describes the challenges posed by recent trends in student population growth and university revenue and costs.