List of colleges and universities in the United States by endowment
Many colleges and universities in the United States maintain a financial endowment consisting of assets that are invested in financial securities, real estate, and other instruments. The investment yields a return that funds a portion of an institution's operational expenses while the principal exists in perpetuity. U.S. colleges and universities maintain some of the largest endowments in the world and make up the vast majority of higher education institutions with endowments greater than $1 billion.
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) maintains information on endowments at U.S. higher education institutions by fiscal year (FY).[1] As of FY2023[update], the total endowment market value of U.S. institutions stood at $839.090 billion, with an average across all institutions of $1.215 billion and a median of $215.682 million.[2][3]
Enhancements and levies[edit]
The tabulated data below are from NACUBO. Some universities benefit from endowments that are not under their direct control but which are nonetheless dedicated to the welfare of one or several institutions. Examples of these foundations include The Duke Endowment, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.
In 2017, a federal endowment tax was enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 in the form of an excise tax of 1.4% on institutions that have at least 500 tuition-paying students and net assets of at least $500,000 per student. The $500,000 is not adjusted for inflation, so the threshold is effectively lowered over time.[4][5]
The endowment tax provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has been criticized as funding tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy at the expense of education. Critics note that the tax could threaten financial aid for low-income students, stifle social mobility, and obstruct life-saving research.[6][7][8] Lobbyists representing wealthy private universities continue to advocate for its repeal.[9][10] The Don't Tax Higher Education Act, which would repeal the endowment tax, was introduced in the 115th United States Congress,[11] 116th United States Congress,[12] and 117th United States Congress[13] but died in the Ways and Means Committee each time.
Endowments greater than $1 billion[edit]
Private schools[edit]
Public schools[edit]
For public universities, larger endowments are often associated with flagship state universities, especially those associated with a medical school. Eighteen states do not have institutions included in this list: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Many of these states have small populations. The New England states, however, are known for well-endowed private institutions. New York is one of the few populous states without a public university with a large endowment.
Endowments per student greater than $1 million[edit]
Counterbalancing the effect of the large endowments per student for private institutions, average tuition and fees at private four-year institutions were approximately two to four times the average tuition and fees of four-year public institutions in academic year 2021–22.[14]
| Institution | Enrollment[3] (FTE – Fall 2022) |
Endowment per student[3] (USD – FY2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller University | 273 | $8,664,540 |
| Princeton Theological Seminary | 308 | $4,593,980 |
| Princeton University | 8,887 | $3,832,426 |
| Yale University | 14,647 | $2,781,928 |
| Pardee RAND | 130 | $2,236,142 |
| Stanford University | 17,349 | $2,103,579 |
| Harvard University | 24,348 | $2,032,820 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 11,703 | $2,004,054 |
| Williams College | 2,129 | $1,637,651 |
| Pomona College | 1,709 | $1,625,259 |
| Swarthmore College | 1,699 | $1,601,135 |
| California Institute of Technology | 2,401 | $1,526,531 |
| Columbia Theological Seminary | 178 | $1,508,328 |
| Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary | 110 | $1,346,256 |
| University of Notre Dame | 12,908 | $1,287,304 |
| Bowdoin College | 1,911 | $1,268,411 |
| Dartmouth College | 6,744 | $1,175,879 |
| Wellesley College | 2,641 | $1,093,855 |
| Berea College | 1,418 | $1,063,762 |
| Principia College | 841 | $1,034,472 |
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ NACUBO classifies the University of Delaware as a private institution. It is chartered as a state-assisted, privately governed university.[15]
- ^ a b c d Endowment value includes related foundation(s).
- ^ System-wide endowment pool managed by the Regents of the University of California.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Endowment value includes foundation(s).
- ^ Endowment value includes affiliated entities.
References[edit]
- ^ "Historic Endowment Study Data". National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). February 17, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ "Number of U.S. Institutional Respondents to the 2023 NTSE, and Respondents' Total Endowment Market Values, by Endowment Size and Institution Type" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "U.S. and Canadian 2023 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2023 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY22 to FY23, and FY23 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student" (XLS). National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Seltzer, Rick (January 1, 2018). "Wealthy colleges face uncertainty as they seek ways to avoid new endowment tax". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Seltzer, Rick (February 17, 2020). "The wealthiest universities are paying big endowment tax bills, but how much are others who are on the hook paying?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ The Crimson Editorial Board, ed. (February 20, 2018). "End the Endowment Tax". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, John (January 15, 2018). "Why the Endowment Tax Is Unconstitutional". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ Powell, Alvin (December 21, 2017). "Tax on university endowments passes". The Harvard Gazette. Harvard University. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ Kreighbaum, Andrew (April 23, 2018). "Endowment Tax Fight Not Over Yet". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ Fang, Lee (July 25, 2022). "Ivy League Universities Push for Special Tax Cut". The Intercept. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "H.R.5220 – Don't Tax Higher Education Act". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "H.R.4438 – Don't Tax Higher Education Act". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "H.R.4438 – Don't Tax Higher Education Act". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Tuition costs of colleges and universities". National Center for Education Statistics. United States Department of Education. August 4, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Alamdari, Natalia (March 3, 2020). "Is UD public or private? 'We're special,' lawyer says, and have to agree to charter changes". The News Journal. Gannett. Retrieved July 5, 2023.