Top US Universities by Endowment

University endowments represent critical financial resources for higher education institutions in the United States, consisting of donated funds and investments that generate income to support academic programs, research, scholarships, and operational expenses. According to the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, the total endowment market value across U.S. institutions reached $837.720 billion, with an average endowment of $1.322 billion and a median of $244.426 million. The study covered 658 colleges and universities, revealing an average return of 11.2% for fiscal year 2024, an improvement from the 7.7% return reported in FY 2023.

Harvard University maintains its position as the wealthiest university in the world with a $51.977 billion endowment, followed by the University of Texas System at $47.5 billion. The top 30 institutions are dominated by elite private universities and major public university systems, with endowments ranging from Harvard's massive $52 billion down to approximately $7.9 billion for the 30th-ranked University of California, Los Angeles. Notably, 15 of the top 20 universities by endowment size are also ranked in the top 20 of all National Universities in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, demonstrating the correlation between financial resources and academic prestige. The University of Texas System represents the largest public university endowment, while other prominent systems like the University of California System and University of Michigan also rank highly.

Sources: NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments 2024, Wikipedia "List of colleges and universities in the United States by endowment," Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Visual Capitalist