Тhe article presents the results of the historiographical analysis of domestic literature devoted to modernization of the Russian higher school after 1917, in particular, problems of financing of higher education institutions are presented. Discussed is the historical experience of socio­political shocks in our country of the 1920th and the 1990th when large­scale reforms of the higher technical education were underway, as well as the subsequent progress of the country in the conditions of the scientific and technical revolution .The author provides the historiographical analysis of the main issues of the Russian higher school updating in the aspect of their logistics and stipendies.