for the last two decades, financing the higher education and specially funding have been posed as an important issue in most countries such as Iran. The main question of this study is to globally investigate financing models in higher education. The purpose of this research which is done by descriptive and library method is to extract some lessons in order to improve current financing conditions in Iran. Findings show that Praneviciene & Puraite model (2010), Baro Crawford model (2005) and Ziderman & Albrecht model (1995) are among the most important models. Based on these models and according of theoretical knowledge and practical experiences of authors it is suggested that quasi-market financing models should be used in the fields with high social demand and high employment rate. In other fields which non-governmental actors do not show special interest for collaboration and investment, the bureaucracy model can be used.