[GOPcapitalist]

Re the distinction of 118 colleges south of the Mason-Dixon line in 1850 to 114 north of it - I suppose it could be accurately stated that Delaware, or any portion of it, did not participate in the confederacy in a substantial way. Delaware had 2 colleges in 1850, thus if you wish to adjust the numbers that makes an even split of 116 to 116.

The 11 confederate states plus the three border states that, at least in part, supported the confederacy or divided on the issue had a total of 116 colleges between them. It could also be noted that at the time of the war there were 34 states. From this we may observe that:

1. The 11 CSA states made up 32% of the total number of states yet had 36% of the colleges.
2. The non-border yankee states made up 59% of the total number of states yet had only 50% of the colleges.

Put another way, the south had a disproportionately higher number of colleges to its total number of states than the north, which ran a disproportionate deficit.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Border States were not part of the Slaver political empire and did not share its cultural void. They remained part of the Union.

Again I do not consider the educational potential the same from one college to another. Neither do authorities on this issue.