Why do Universities receive taxpayer money?

I know there are exceptions, like Hillsdale college, but why would others take money from
tax payers? Would they not be able to survive on their own with just tuitions? How does
Hillsdale do it?

Is it like NPR and PBS? Their business model is not strong enough to support itself?

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Patriot96 · 56-60, C

Harvard has enough money in their endowment fund to pay tuition for millions

MarineBob · 56-60, M

@Patriot96 most colleges do

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@MarineBob they take federal grants to do research and then make good profits on what they patent. They should be up front every year about the money they are getting from those patents.