In Central America the Cold War support of the elites by the United States was designed to ward off the communist threat. At the same time social and economic demands by the working and middle classes created revolutionary movements in the face of rigid and violent responses by Central American governments. Issues of social justice pervaded the church debate during the Cold War era, and seemed to coincide with the goals of U.S. policy in the Alliance for Progress, centered on issues of social and economic inequities. Like the church and education the Alliance found itself deep in the battle for change against the status quo. The Alliance, the Church, and education failed to gain the support of US policy makers, the "Cold Warriors". The university became a microcosm of these pressures. Universities became the battleground of class struggle as the middle class, and gradually working class elements, attempted to use them for their advancement. Education was a flashpoint for social issues during the 1960s and the universities led the demand for change. Among the evolving institutions of the time were the Central American private Jesuit universities--the first in the region. In this article, the author talks about private higher education during the Cold War era in Central America and the role of private higher education in framing public opinion and driving public policy. (Contains 2 notes.)