Current trends affecting private research universities include: privatization, more programmatic support of research, dispersion of university research, and a shift in the balance of activities from the center toward the periphery. Differences in finance and control of private universities are related to their disproportionate importance, given their relatively low share of the student population, in the percentage of advanced degrees awarded, their large share of research expenditures, and their high standings in rankings of excellence. These institutions are also involved in new entrepreneurial behaviors, especially more programmatic research--research intended to be useful to outside sponsors such as the Department of Defense or the National Science Foundation. A third trend has been toward greater dispersion of university research to a wider group of institutions resulting, however, in decreased research shares by those universities most recognized for academic quality. The shift to the periphery is noted in decreases in academic degrees in arts and sciences and increases in organized research units outside of academic departments. For the future, private universities will need to contend with an uncertain financial environment, changes in government support of research, and critics, both external and internal. (Contains 33 references.) (BF)