This study investigated apsects of state regulation of public research or doctoral universities in all states and territories of the United States. The study examined: (1) dimensions of state control and administrative flexibility, and changes occurring between 1983 and 1995; (2) the extent to which state regulation of public universities is a product of the economic, political, and social characteristics of the particular state; (3) whether particular organizational characteristics of the universities attract different amounts and types of regulation; and (4) whether varying degrees of regulation and autonomy exert influences on measures of university quality. Campus and state characteristics data were assembled for 226 universities, 144 of them publicly controlled; 37 state characteristics and four broad campus dimensions were identified. Management flexibility and state regulation data were obtained for 122 public universities in 50 states; 47 flexibility and control variables were identified. Findings indicated: the strength and independence of both academic and administrative campus segments; increased flexibility of campuses in many states in their academic, financial, and personnel transactions; little evidence of a connection between state control and campus characteristics; and no evidence that flexibility exerts a significant influence on measures of faculty and student quality. Substantial data tables summarizing the results are appended. (Contains 24 references.) (MSE)