Overview: To assess the case for USAID support of tertiary education in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), we reviewed the literature on higher education and development as well as the common challenges facing institutions of higher learning. By focusing our attention on eight country case studies, we find that USAID should increase its support for higher education in SSA. USAID funding of higher education should focus on four broad areas: improving the administrative capacity of these institutions, developing successful accreditation and monitoring systems, increasing support for research and development (R&D) activities, and bridging the gap between academic programs and labor markets.