Services
At $38 Billion, Harvard's Endowment Tops All Universities
Published:
Last Updated:
A new study of the endowments of the top colleges and universities in America puts Harvard’s endowment at $38.3 billion. The figure is well ahead of any other educational institution.
The 2018 figures are from the National Association of College and University Business Officers, which has a membership of over 1,900 colleges and universities.
Harvard’s endowment size is followed by the University of Texas System at $30.9 billion. It is actually eight universities, each founded in a different year and located in a different city. The endowment number is the largest for any public university system in the United States.
Yale, one of the universities that make up the Ivy League, along with Harvard, ranks third in endowment size. Its endowment is $29.4 billion. Fifth on the list of endowment size, Princeton’s is $25.9 billion. The University of Pennsylvania, also an Ivy League school, has an endowment of $13.8 billion, which puts it in seventh place.
In fourth place, California’s Stanford has an endowment of $26.4 billion. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, located just miles from Harvard, has an endowment of $16.5 billion, which is sixth on the list. The Texas A&M System is in eighth place with an endowment of $13.5 billion. The University of Michigan is in ninth place with an endowment of $11.9 billion. And in tenth place, Northwestern has an endowment of $11.1 billion.
Two other universities have endowments over $10 billion. Columbia, another Ivy League school, has an endowment of $10.9 billion. The University of Notre Dame has an endowment of $10.7 billion.
One thing the universities on the list have in common is very low acceptance rates. Among those with endowments over $10 billion, the figure averages well under 10%. Stanford’s is 6.4%, the lowest. Harvard’s is 7.2%.
The graduation rate is another number the schools on the list have in common. None has a rate of less than 94%.
| Institution | 2018 Endowment | Graduation Rate | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | $38,303,383 | 96% | 5.20% |
| Univ. of Texas | $30,886,018 | – | – |
| Yale | $29,351,100 | 97% | 6.90% |
| Stanford | $26,464,912 | 94% | 4.70% |
| Princeton | $25,917,199 | 97% | 6.40% |
| MIT | $16,529,432 | 94% | 7.20% |
| Univ. of Pennsylvania | $13,777,441 | 96% | 9.30% |
| Texas A&M | $13,524,947 | – | – |
| Univ. of Michigan | $11,901,760 | – | – |
| Northwestern | $11,087,659 | 94% | 9.20% |
| Univ. of California | $11,008,035 | – | – |
| Columbia | $10,869,245 | 95% | 6.60% |
| Notre Dame | $10,727,653 | 95% | 18.90% |
Take Charge of Your Retirement In Just A Few Minutes (Sponsor)
Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance—and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor.
Here’s how it works:
- Answer a Few Simple Questions. Tell us a bit about your goals and preferences—it only takes a few minutes!
- Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Our smart tool matches you with up to three pre-screened, vetted advisors who serve your area and are held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Click here to begin
- Choose Your Fit Review their profiles, schedule an introductory call (or meet in person), and select the advisor who feel is right for you.
Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. Click here to get started today!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.
You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.