The establishment of the Nizamiyya schools by the powerful Seljuk vizier, Nizam al-Mulk al-Tusi, represents a landmark in the history of higher education in the Islamic world. The vizier’s motivations are a subject of scholarly debate, generally classified into two main perspectives. The first, a confrontational approach, is the well-known theory that the Nizamiyyas were founded in reaction to the rising intellectual and political power of Shi'i groups, particularly the Ismailis and the Fatimids in Egypt with their prominent institution, Al-Azhar. This view holds that the primary goal was to promote Sunnism and counter Shi'i influence. The second, a state-building perspective, emphasizes the Seljuk empire's internal needs. It argues that the schools were created to train an efficient and loyal bureaucracy of administrative and judicial personnel. This would consolidate the state, create religious unity under the Shafi'i school, and legitimize Seljuk rule. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method, critically re-examines both theories. The analysis concludes that the confrontational theory lacks historical evidence and is contradicted by existing documents. In contrast, the state-building approach aligns more closely with historical records and provides a more accurate explanation of Nizam al-Mulk's motivations.