A case study of the relationship between governmental funding of public universities and governmental control in one nation, Mexico, is presented. Three factors in the university's autonomy from financial control are discussed: (1) university power to distribute its funds as it sees fit; (2) security against stark income fluctuations; and (3)…

Three criteria used to differentiate public and private colleges/universities are considered, and it is suggested that these variables of financial source, control, and mission are not adequate distinctions. Although public universities receive greater shares of their income from the government than do private ones, there are difficulties in…