This study is an analysis of geographic, economic, and institutional factors that effect the amounts of research and development dollars historically black colleges and universities receive from external sources. Funds received in fiscal year 2000 by fifty-seven institutions are examined to determine which factors are relevant, and to what degree.

The findings of this study show that institutional proximity, to resource-rich centers performing academic research and development directly and indirectly support historically black colleges and universities that are high in degree production. Some of these institutions have active degree doctorate degree programs which further enhance their attraction. The combination of number of total degrees conferred, number of doctorate degrees conferred, and shared metropolitan location with research class mainstream universities explains sixty-six percent of the influencing factors on research and development expenditures received by the black colleges and universities in this study.