The University of Chicago has an endowment fund of $7.9 billion. Of that, it spends roughly $433 million on research. Back in 1890, the university was founded by John D. Rockefeller, and it now ranks as one of the best universities in the world – eighth-best to be precise.
It has strong programs in law, business, and medicine. The sizeable donations to the University of Chicago have been pumped back into the school in the form of an expanded School of Medicine, the Harris School of Public Policy studies, and a new arts center.
Duke University is located in North Carolina and is the 24th-best university in the world. Duke’s biggest benefactors are the Duke family. Washington Duke helped co-found the university, including a $300,000 donation with the stipulation that women would be admitted.
Duke University has programs that are sought after in the Fuqua School of Business, Pratt School of Engineering, and Sanford School of Public Policy. The current endowment at Duke is $8.5 billion, and it spends roughly $1.1 billion on annual research.
The University of Notre Dame, located in Indiana, has more than sports. It has a huge endowment fund of $10.7 billion. It spends roughly $212 million of that on research each year. Notre Dame is ranked 18th in the nation, according to U.S. News.
It has programs that very esteemed, especially in business, law, and architecture. One interesting fact about Notre Dame is that at least half of its students go abroad for at least one semester to study, making it one of the top 10 schools whose students study overseas, according to Work + Money.
Columbia University, located in New York, was founded in 1754 as King’s College. At first, it was funded by state lottery funds, but it was able to support itself before long. The university has an endowment fund of $10.86 billion, of which it spends $893 million on research.
Colombia is mainly known for its programs in teaching, business, medical, journalism, and law. Since the early 1900s, 84 Colombia staff or alumni have been awarded a Nobel Prize, so it’s easy to say Colombia University is doing good work.
The University of California has a huge system. There are 10 official campuses, five of which are ranked among the best universities in the nation. It’s no wonder that this school has become one of the top choices in America.
The University is known for getting some huge donations, including $500 million from BP oil. If you add everything together, the University of California has an endowment fund just above $11 billion. This university also spends a ton on research – roughly $4.4 billion annually.
Northwestern University opened in 1850, but it didn’t open to the public until five years later. After a ton of donations, this university has built up an endowment fund of $11.08 billion. The amount they spend on research each year reaches around $751 million.
Northwestern University’s specialty is business, education, and law. In fact, all of those programs are ranked top ten in the country, according to U.S. News. Currently, Northwestern University has three campuses, two in Illinois and one in Doha, Qatar.
Texas A&M is giant. It’s become one of the biggest tertiary systems in the United States. The whole thing consists of 11 campuses throughout Texas, although A&M College Station is the star. It currently has an endowment fund of $13.5 billion.
Much of that money is thanks to an extremely successful year in fundraising. In 2013, it raised over $740 million, which made A&M the nation’s top fundraising institution. A good portion of that money goes to research. The university spends around $905.5 million on research annually just at College Station. A&M has tons of great programs, including projects funded by NASA.
Princeton University in New Jersey is one of the top universities in the nation, as well as the 10th-best university in the world. Naturally, it has an endowment fund to match it, nearly $26 billion. It’s one of the wealthiest schools in the nation, and it spends a lot of that back into the school.
It has a world-renowned art museum, with pieces from van Gogh, Monet, and Andy Warhol. Princeton also has produced 17 Nobel Prize winners, two presidents, and three current Supreme Court judges. However, of its large endowment, Princeton only spends $326 million on research.
The University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor, is the ninth-best university in the world. Even though it’s well-known for sports, this school has a lot more to offer. The National Science Foundation (NSF) rated the University of Michigan as the top public research universities in the country.
That isn’t too much of a surprise since the University of Michigan spends roughly $1.5 billion in research per year. The current endowment fund for this university is $11.9 billion.
The University of Texas system has plenty of campuses – nine campuses – but Austin reigns supreme. The University of Texas has an endowment fund of $30.8 billion, of which it spends $652 million in research expenditures in Austin alone.
A large chunk of the money is spent on research with a medical focus. The University of Texas ranks third for patent applications in the nation and is a world-leader in cancer research. On top of that, there are three National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers located on its campuses. In 2016 alone, the University of Texas built two new medical schools.
Stanford is the sixth-best university in the world. It’s particularly known for its schools of law, education, engineering, medicine, and business. Over the years, it’s received huge donations, which has helped it build a $26.5 billion endowment. Of that money, it spends roughly $1.1 million on research.
Stanford is historic and even helped give rise to Silicon Valley due to the Stanford Research Park for Technology, which was started by staff and students. The university is a world leader in AI, robotics, and energy technology.
Yale University is one of the most sought-after schools to attend in the world, so it’s no surprise that it’s the fifth-best university in the world. Yale is highly selective of its students, especially those applying for the schools of law, medicine, management, and drama. Due to its reputation, it has a huge endowment fund of $29.35 billion and spends roughly $951 million on research expenditures.
Yale also has a large number of overseas students who come to the states to learn. In fact, one of its most substantial donations came from Zhang Lei, a Chinese MBA graduate, who donated nearly $9 million. However, one of the largest contributions to-date comes from Charles B Johnson, who gifted Yale $250 million.
Of course, MIT had to be on this list. Located in Massachusetts, this famous university was founded in 1865 by a mysterious donor known as “Mr. Smith.” Now, we know that man to be George Eastman, founder of Kodak. This university is a world leader in science, technology, and engineering. It’s also the third-best school in the nation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has an endowment fund of $16.5 billion, and it spends roughly $952 million on research. Currently, MIT has had 59 National Medal of Science winners, 90 Nobel Laureates, and 75 MacArthur follows among alumni and staff.
The University of Pennsylvania has a great history. It was co-founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1751 and is ranked the 15th-best university on the planet. While there are tons of great programs, this university is particularly known for the Wharton School of Business and its School of Medicine.
Overall, the University of Pennsylvania has an endowment fund of $13.78 billion, of which it spends around $1.4 million on annual research. According to The Best Schools, this ranks it as the fourth-largest university in research expenditures.
Was this one a surprise? Harvard is the wealthiest school in America. This Massachusetts university has an endowment fund of $38.3 billion, largely thanks to beneficiaries like Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, David Rockefeller, and the NFL Players Association. Of those billions, Harvard spends roughly $1.123 million on research.
Harvard is the number one university in the world, and eighth largest for research expenditures. While Harvard has a strong emphasis on medicine (with one of the best medical schools in the world), it also has several other excellent programs. The only problem is that Harvard is very choosey with its students.
At $11.467 billion as of 2023, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, boasts an astounding endowment, however it has somewhat decreased year over year by 6.4%. It was founded way back in 1853 and has grown to become a well regarded university renowned for its outstanding academic and research accomplishments.
The university dedicates significant resources to a range of disciplines, such as medicine, law, and business. It's worth noting that this place is home to some top-notch medical facilities and research centers, which have made remarkable contributions to the field of healthcare. In addition, the Olin Business School has a strong reputation and is known for attracting exceptional faculty and students.
Vanderbilt University, situated in the vibrant city of Nashville, Tennessee, continues to possess a substantial endowment of $9.684 billion as of 2023, even though it experienced a slight decline of 5.1% compared to the previous year. Established in 1873, Vanderbilt has become a well-respected research institution known for its academic achievements and forward-thinking programs.
The university dedicates its financial resources to provide support for a wide range of academic disciplines, including medicine, engineering, and education, all of which are areas of expertise. Vanderbilt Medical Center, affiliated with the university, is renowned for its innovative healthcare research and exceptional patient care that is recognized globally.
Emory University, nestled in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, boasts a robust endowment of $10.240 billion as of 2023, reflecting a noteworthy 2.4% growth from the previous year. Emory University, established in 1836, has developed a solid reputation for its rigorous academic programs, groundbreaking research, and commitment to serving the community.
The university prioritizes the allocation of its financial resources to promote excellence in a wide range of academic fields, including healthcare, law, and the humanities. Emory Healthcare, in partnership with the university's prestigious School of Medicine, is known for its commitment to advancing patient care, conducting groundbreaking research, and providing top-notch medical education.
The University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, has an impressive endowment of $11.467 billion as of 2023, which saw a slight decrease of 6.4% compared to the previous year. UVA, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, is widely recognized for its impressive history, academic excellence, and dedication to serving the public.
The university carefully distributes its financial resources to support a wide range of programs and initiatives, with particular expertise in law, business, and the humanities. The School of Law at UVA is known for its distinguished faculty and challenging curriculum, while the Darden School of Business is highly regarded for its cutting-edge approach to management education.
Cornell University is situated in the beautiful town of Ithaca, New York. It has a substantial endowment of $10.036 billion as of 2023, which shows a commendable increase of 2.0% compared to the previous year. Established in 1865, Cornell has a long history of academic excellence and is well-known for its groundbreaking research and wide range of educational programs.
The university focuses its financial resources on enhancing its well-regarded programs in areas like engineering, agriculture, and the life sciences. Check out Cornell's College of Engineering, for example. It has a reputation for conducting impressive research projects and making valuable contributions to technological advancements. It's so famous, people feature it in movies and TV shows.
Johns Hopkins University, situated in beautiful Baltimore, Maryland, boasts an impressive endowment of $10.539 billion as of 2023, demonstrating a noteworthy increase of 27.8% from the previous year. Ever since it was established in 1876, Johns Hopkins has gained a global reputation for its exceptional education, research, and healthcare services.
The university carefully distributes its financial resources to support a diverse range of initiatives, with notable expertise in medicine, public health, and the sciences. Johns Hopkins Medicine, which includes the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital, is known for its cutting-edge medical advancements and exceptional patient care. The Bloomberg School of Public Health within the school is a global leader in tackling urgent public health issues.
Located in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California, the University of Southern California (USC) has an impressive endowment of $7.463 billion as of 2023. This reflects a commendable increase of 2.0% year-over-year. Established in 1880, USC has grown into a globally recognized institution celebrated for its commitment to education, research, and innovation.
The institution deliberately uses financial resources to support a wide range of academic programs, with special strengths in cinema, business, and engineering. USC's School of Cinematic Arts, for example, is widely recognized for its contributions to the entertainment industry, whereas the Marshall School of Business and Viterbi School of Engineering are renowned for their creative approaches to teaching and research.
With an impressive endowment of $7.240 billion as of 2023, Houston, Texas-based Rice University has shown resiliency by only slightly declining by 0.7% year over year. The university, which was established in 1912 by industrialist William Marsh Rice, is evidence of his goal of establishing a prestigious university in Texas.
Rice University has dedicated itself from the beginning to academic brilliance, creative research, and community service. The university's well regarded graduate programs and innovative research projects balance its strong emphasis on undergraduate education. Rice invests its financial resources in many academic fields, although it focuses especially on science, engineering, and the humanities. The cooperative research centers and institutes of the university address difficult issues including healthcare inequalities and sustainable energy solutions.
When Brown University was founded, Baptist theologian James Manning and Rhode Island's first treasurer, John Brown, committed to academic independence, intellectual inquiry, and the quest of knowledge for the benefit of society. Brown has adjusted over the ages to meet the evolving demands of both its students and society at large, all the while adhering to its original values.
The university's commitment to enabling students to take charge of their education and pursue multidisciplinary subjects according to their interests and aspirations is reflected in the open curriculum, which was first offered in the 1960s. By 2023, Brown University will have amassed an endowment of $6.201 billion. The university's operations are vitally supported financially by this endowment, which pays for student scholarships, faculty salaries and research, upkeep of the campus, and funding of extracurricular and academic activities.
Located in the vibrant city of New York, New York University (NYU) has a substantial endowment of $5.877 billion as of 2023, showing a significant 14.2% increase compared to the previous year. NYU, founded in 1831, has grown into a prominent institution in the field of higher education, known for its wide range of academic programs and dedication to achieving high standards.
NYU was established by Albert Gallatin and other influential New Yorkers with the vision of creating a hub for progressive education in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Today, it carefully distributes its financial resources to support programs in a wide range of areas, such as the arts, business, and social sciences.
The endowment of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is impressive, at $3.888 billion as of 2023, up a healthy 0.8% year over year. Since its founding in 1900 by businessman Andrew Carnegie, CMU has been a world leader in innovation, research, and teaching. Andrew Carnegie wanted to build a school that would combine the academic and the practical to prepare pupils for problems in the real world and to encourage creativity and intellectual curiosity.
At CMU, this objective continues to direct the mission. With strengths in computer science, engineering, and the arts, CMU allocates its financial resources sensibly to support creative research and a wide range of academic offerings. Ground-breaking discoveries and original solutions to challenging problems arise from its interdisciplinary approach, which encourages collaboration between academic disciplines.
In 2023, the endowment of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California reached $3.665 billion, showing a solid 0.8% increase compared to the previous year. Caltech, a vocational school established in 1891, has grown into a prominent hub for scientific and engineering research and education on a global scale.
Caltech, which began as an idea of Amos G. Throop to build a college that would prepare students for technical careers, has stayed committed to expanding the frontiers of scientific knowledge and promoting creativity. Caltech carefully distributes its funding to promote ground-breaking studies in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Renowned for its contributions to space exploration and technology development is the university's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is run in association with NASA.
As of 2023 Williams College, which is situated in Williamstown, Massachusetts, had a respectable endowment of $3.487 billion, a little decline of 1.4% from the previous year. Williams, which was founded in 1793, is today one of the top liberal arts institutions in the country, known for its small class sizes, close-knit community, and outstanding academics.
With special strengths in the arts, social sciences, and scientific sciences, Williams carefully distributes its financial resources to support a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities. Close faculty-student relationships and small class numbers at the institution provide a collaborative learning atmosphere where students are urged to follow their interests and intellectual curiosity.
As of 2023, Boston College (BC) in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, has an impressive endowment of $3.461 billion, up 3.7% year over year. The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded BC in 1863. Since then, it has grown into a distinguished research institution renowned for its dedication to academic achievement, Jesuit principles, and community involvement.
With special strengths in business, education, and the humanities, Boston College carefully distributes its financial resources to support a broad range of academic programs and research projects. While the university's Lynch School of Education trains future educators and leaders in the area of education, its Carroll School of Management is well known for its creative curriculum and close ties to the business sector.
Tucked down in Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College has a decent endowment of $3.342 billion as of 2023, up just 0.6% year over year. As one of the top liberal arts institutions in the country, Amherst was founded in 1821 and is well-known for its demanding coursework, small class sizes, and dedication to diversity and inclusion.
Particularly strong in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, Amherst allocates its financial resources sensibly to fund a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. The school encourages students to follow their hobbies and give their academics their all in a vibrant intellectual community that is cultivated by small class sizes and close faculty-student connections.
Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C., has a significant endowment of $3.299 billion as of 2023, showing a notable increase of 2.8% compared to the previous year. Established in 1789 by John Carroll, Georgetown holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in the United States.
At Georgetown, they divide up their financial resources sensibly to offer robust backing for a wide range of academic programs and research projects. In disciplines including public policy, law, and foreign affairs, their university shines. While its Law Center trains future attorneys and leaders for careers in public service and advocacy, the university's School of Foreign Service is renowned for its multidisciplinary approach to comprehending global concerns.
