The present study investigated the role of pedagogical, technical, and institutional profile factors in an institution of higher education's decision to select an open‐source learning management system (LMS). Drawing on the results of previous research that measured patterns of deployment of open‐source software (OSS) in US higher education and the relative importance of specific selection criteria when considering an OSS LMS, a Web survey was conducted among 285 Chief Information Officers and Chief Academic Officers from a variety of US institutions to determine patterns of OSS LMS deployment, as well as the influence of specific selection criteria. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed Carnegie Classification, institutional governance, previous experience with OSS, focus on student learning, and the commitment to organizational self‐reliance to be key influencers in the OSS LMS selection decision. The implications of these findings for future research and for institutional decision‐making are discussed.