Graduation Term

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Committee Chair

Lenford Charles Sutton

Committee Member

Perry Schoon

Committee Member

Guy Banicki

Committee Member

Jim Applegate

Abstract

Performance-based funding (PBF) has become a widely adopted policy in higher education, linking state appropriations to measurable outcomes such as graduation rates, degree completions, and workforce alignment. While PBF aims to enhance institutional accountability and efficiency, its implementation has raised significant concerns about equity and political influence. This dissertation examines the political equity and implications of PBF policies through a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews with department chairs, and critical discourse analysis of state statutes and legislative debates. The findings reveal that PBF often exacerbates inequities, particularly for non-flagship universities serving diverse and under-resourced student populations. Department chairs expressed concerns about the fairness and validity of PBF metrics, highlighting structural disparities, career-stage inequities, and the challenges of meeting state-imposed performance targets. The study also uncovers the role of political agendas in shaping PBF frameworks, with unified partisan control often driving policy adoption and design. Additionally, the analysis highlights significant disparities in state-level PBF funding allocations, ranging from over 85% of higher education budgets tied to PBF in states like Ohio and North Dakota to less than 1% in states such as Arkansas and South Carolina. These variations reflect the influence of political control and priorities on the design and implementation of PBF systems. The research underscores the need for equity-focused metrics, transparent communication, and collaborative policymaking to ensure PBF systems align with institutional missions and support sustainable funding models. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on higher education funding, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and institutional leaders to design equitable and effective PBF frameworks that balance accountability with access and equity.

Access Type

Dissertation-Open Access

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