The problem with which this study is concerned is that of determining the effect of the Dartmouth College case on the evolution of higher education. The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of the Dartmouth College decision upon the evolution of higher education by (1) the investigation of the historical sequence of events leading up to the decision, (2) the study of the legal proceedings as they led to the actual decision in 1819, (3) the inspection of subsequent court decisions involving higher education which have cited the Dartmouth case as a point of reference, and (4) the organization of this information into an analysis of impact to show the probable effect upon higher education.