Mission and Margin
A Practical Guide to University Finances
$142.89
- Hardcover
256 pages
- Release Date
21 March 2026
Summary
An insider’s guide to university finances, for non-insiders.
The finances of higher education have never been more challenging. From two-year institutions to the Ivy Leagues, from department chairs to provosts, administrators face revenue shortfalls and financial insecurity. A fundamental understanding of financial management is more essential than ever for university leaders at every level—as is a true partnership between academic leaders and their CFOs.
In Margin and M…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780226844145 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0226844145 |
| Author: | Daniel Diermeier, Brett C. Sweet |
| Publisher: | The University of Chicago Press |
| Imprint: | University of Chicago Press |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 256 |
| Release Date: | 21 March 2026 |
| Weight: | 513g |
| Dimensions: | 23mm x 152mm x 229mm |
Critics Review
“Mission and Margin [provides] a practical financial guide for academic leaders who are new to an administrative role in higher education, focusing on how to make financially astute economic trade-offs and decisions even in the face of external uncertainty.”
* Journal of Economic Literature *“With clarity and concision, Mission and Margin does a terrific job of providing a primer on university finances for academic leaders (from chairs, deans, and provosts to presidents).” – Sandro Galea | author of “Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time”
“Mission and Margin constructs a clear and accessible framework for understanding the financial management of universities for those who may understand the educational mission but have limited knowledge of the subtleties that arise when accounting concepts, appropriate to for-profit enterprises, are applied to universities.” – John Y. Campbell | Harvard University
“This superb volume, full of lucid writing and wonderfully illustrative examples, draws upon insights from decades of academic leadership and offers an invaluable template for financial management.” – Kerwin K. Charles | dean, Yale School of Management
“Mission and Margin distills core principles of financial management in higher education, drawing on the authors’ experience at Vanderbilt University. Essential reading for administrators, trustees, policymakers, and others, Mission and Margin provides the knowledge needed to make sound financial decisions that advance the mission of higher education.” – Melissa Gilliam | president, Boston University
Daniel Diermeier
Daniel Diermeier is chancellor of Vanderbilt University and formerly the provost of the University of Chicago. He is the author five books, most recently of Reputation Analytics.
Brett Sweet is vice chancellor for finance and information technology and chief financial officer of Vanderbilt University. He formerly was the dean for administration and finance at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
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