This research explored the technical inefficiency of 813 private, not-for-profit, four-year, bachelor's and master's colleges and universities in the U.S. using data from 2006 to 2011. The goal of the study was to describe and explain the level of technical inefficiency in this group of institutions that can be identified using a (SFE) method and to evaluate the applicability of SFE to higher education. Categories of expenditures were utilized to create a production frontier against which the inefficiency of individual institutions to produce degreed students was measured. The analysis using panel data showed this sector of higher education is operating with a mean technical inefficiency of 21%. Instructional expenditures had a positive effect on inefficiency while institutional support and student services had a slight negative effect on inefficiency. It was concluded that the SFE can be used to provide a reliable relative measure of technical inefficiency in higher education. The SFE can be useful in guiding decision makers by giving them a way to compare themselves with institutions of similar characteristics and competing in the same market. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]