When you look for a university to attend, you probably consider factors like location, reputation, faculty, and degree programs. But do you consider a school’s wealth?

The wealthier the university, the better its facilities are likely to be. Better facilities mean more up–to–date technology and research opportunities. Richer schools tend to attract a world–class faculty and usually have more scholarship money to distribute. Sometimes, these colleges and universities even entirely waive tuition costs for students in financial need.

While a university’s wealth typically comes from monetary donations, people and charitable foundations also donate things like land, buildings, artwork, rare books, valuable documents, and other things of high monetary value.

The following schools are the 100 richest schools in North America. Many of them are also on our ranking of the 100 Best Universities in the World, as well as our ranking of the 50 Best Online Colleges & Universities 2019, which demonstrates a connection between endowment and school quality. We have ranked them by financial endowment (sourced from the 2019 NACUBO–Commonfund Study of Endowments), meaning the trust available to each university through cash and other assets. We have also included important information, such as the average undergraduate cost of tuition before any reductions (from the National Center of Education Statistics), average salary for full professors (from the Chronicle of Higher Education), and Annual Research Expenditures (from the National Science Foundation annual report).

Note: This ranking is more time–sensitive than most TBS rankings is updated regularly since endowments can change quickly because of major cash donations as well as investment volatility. This ranking was last updated September 2019.

If you want to find out which universities spend the most on research, then jump to our list of institutions ranked by research expenditure.

The 100 Richest Universities in North America

2. The University of Texas System — $30.8 Billion Austin, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $30,886,018,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $37,580 per year (Austin)

Average Full Professor Salary: $156,505 (Austin)

Annual Research Expenditures: $652,187,000 (Austin)



: $30,886,018,000: $37,580 per year (Austin): $156,505 (Austin): $652,187,000 (Austin) Founded in 1876 and consisting of nine independent schools (including the flagship UT Austin), the University of Texas system is valued at over $30.8 billion. A large part of this wealth has come from individual donors such as the Moody Foundation, Hearst Corporation, and Mulva Family Foundation. The Bill & Melinda Gates Science Complex, Dell Computer Science Hall, and (Red) McCombs School of Business are all results of large monetary contributions. Since 2011, University of Texas has also been able to boast a valuable ESPN deal worth a reported $300 million, the “Longhorn Network” though it has not proven to be as successful as had been initially hoped. Check out some of The University of Texas System’s other rankings: Ranked the #27 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

3. Yale University — $29.3 Billion New Haven, Connecticut







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $29,351,100,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,430 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $214,575

Annual Research Expenditures: $951,084,000



: $29,351,100,000: $53,430 per year: $214,575: $951,084,000 Ranked the fifth–best university in the world, Ivy League Yale is a highly selective university known for its schools of law, medicine, management, and drama, among others. With a rapidly increasing endowment currently hovering around $29.3 billion, Yale is also one of the richest universities in the world. Although a quarter of Yale’s wealth comes in the form of its many assets, most its wealth is traditional endowment. Some of Yale’s largest single–donation contributions have occurred in the last five years. In 2010, Zhang Lei, a Chinese MBA graduate, donated nearly $9 million. The next year, media magnate John C. Malone followed that up with a $50 million donation. And in 2014, former Franklin Resources chairman Charles B. Johnson gifted Yale with a massive $250 million. Check out some of Yale University’s other rankings: Ranks #13 for Largest Research Expenditures

Ranked the #5 University in the World

4. Stanford University — $26.4 Billion Stanford, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $26,464,912,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $51,534 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $244,530

Annual Research Expenditures: $1,109,708,000



: $26,464,912,000: $51,534 per year: $244,530: $1,109,708,000 The fourth–wealthiest school in North America and the sixth–highest–ranked in the world, Stanford University is known for its schools of education, engineering, law, medicine, and business, among others. Originally, founded in 1885 by former U.S. Senator Leland Stanford, the massive university is located on valuable land in the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, much of the 1940s was spent encouraging staff and alumni to found the companies that would lead to the rise of nearby Silicon Valley. More recently, Stanford has solidified itself as the leading fundraising college in the U.S. Since 2001, it has received several sizable monetary gifts from big–name donors such as the Hewlett Foundation, Dorothy and Robert King, and real estate mogul John Arrillaga. In 2016, Philip K. Knight, co–founder of Nike, gave Stanford its largest donation ever, at $400 million. Stanford’s current endowment is an impressive $26.4 billion. Check out some of Stanford University’s other rankings: Ranks #9 for Largest Research Expenditures

Ranked the #6 University in the World

5. Princeton University — $25.9 Billion Princeton, New Jersey







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $25,917,199,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $50,340 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $213,769

Annual Research Expenditures: $326,207,000



: $25,917,199,000: $50,340 per year: $213,769: $326,207,000 Founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is now the tenth–highest–ranked university in the world, and the fifth–wealthiest in North America. Valued at nearly $26 billion, Princeton’s wealth includes traditional endowment, graduate donations, and a world–renowned art museum which houses pieces by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude Monet. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman donated $30 million to complete Whitman College, while the Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies was partly funded by a $10 million gift from graduates Bijan and Sharmin Mossayer–Rahmani. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is also a major contributor to Princeton. Princeton’s largest donation came in 2015 from the will of William H. Scheide, who left his alma mater $300 million worth of rare books. Check out some of Princeton University’s other rankings: Ranked the #10 University in the World

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — $16.5 Billion Cambridge, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $16,529,432,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $51,832 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $222,819

Annual Research Expenditures: $952,017,000



: $16,529,432,000: $51,832 per year: $222,819: $952,017,000 Founded in 1865 and relocated to Cambridge in 1916, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded with money left by an anonymous donor known only as Mr. Smith. Later, that donor was revealed to be George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak. Since then, MIT has become a leader in science, technology, and engineering, and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the third–best school in the nation. Former General Motors CEO Alfred P. Sloan was one of the school’s biggest early donors, followed shortly after by retail tycoon Sebastian S. Kresge. Their respective donations resulted in the Sloan Business School and Kresge Auditorium. Including a recent $260 million gift from the F.W. Olin Foundation, MIT’s current endowment is $16.5 billion. In October of 2018 MIT received yet a massive donation of $350 million from Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone. Check out some of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s other rankings: Ranks #12 for Largest Research Expenditures

Ranked the #11 University in the World

8. Texas A&M University System — $13.5 Billion College Station, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $13,524,947,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $37,495 per year (College Station)

Average Full Professor Salary: $142,677 (College Station)

Annual Research Expenditures: $905,474,000 (College Station)



: $13,524,947,000: $37,495 per year (College Station): $142,677 (College Station): $905,474,000 (College Station) Texas A&M has become one of the biggest tertiary systems in the United States. Though the system consists of 11 campuses throughout the state of Texas, its flagship is undoubtedly Texas A&M College Station, home of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The endowment is currently valued at $13.5 billion, increased in part by a wildly successful fundraising campaign in 2013 that raised $740 million. Notably, the system is heavily involved in research of various kinds, with projects funded by NASA and the National Institute of Health, among others. In each of the last five years, the system has spent upwards of $700 million on research. Check out some of Texas A&M University System’s other rankings: Ranks #17 for Largest Research Expenditures

11. University of California System — $10.86 Billion Oakland, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $11,008,035,000

Undergraduate Tuition: N/A

Average Full Professor Salary: N/A

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $11,008,035,000: N/A: N/A: N/A With five of its 10 official campuses ranked amongst the 50 best universities in the U.S., University of California has become one of the top choices in public education. Though the UC System has its origins in 1868 with UC Berkeley, the headquarters of the UC system’s Board of Regents resides in Oakland. Thanks to consistent, sizable donations, including $500 million from oil giant BP, the University of California System endowment currently sits at over $11 billion, not including some of the also notable endowments of its individual schools that appear later this list.

13. University of Notre Dame — $8.5 Billion Notre Dame, Indiana







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $10,727,653,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,391 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $180,896

Annual Research Expenditures: $212,823,000



: $10,727,653,000: $53,391 per year: $180,896: $212,823,000 The University of Notre Dame, ranked #18 among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report , is the 13th–wealthiest university in the North America. Its current endowment is worth a reported $10.72 billion. The Catholic university was founded in 1842 on land donated by its first benefactor, the former Bishop of Vincennes Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière. More recently, its Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies was founded in 1986 with a large donation by the McDonald’s tycoon. Another large donation in 2000, this time by NetApp executives Tom and Kathy Mendoza, was contributed to the well–regarded Mendoza College of Business. In 2017, Notre Dame received its largest single donation to date of $100 million from Kenn and Pamela Ricci.

15. University of Chicago — $7.59 Billion Chicago, Illinois







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $7,928,485,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $58,230 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $239,787

Annual Research Expenditures: $433,328,000



: $7,928,485,000: $58,230 per year: $239,787: $433,328,000 Established in 1890 with a $600,000 donation from oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, University of Chicago ranks as the eighth–best university in the world. It is especially known for strong graduate programs in law, business, and medicine. In 2008, after a $300 million donation by alumnus Davie G. Booth, the School of Business was renamed as the Booth School of Business. Other sizable contributions have resulted in an expanded School of Medicine, the Harris School of Public Policy Studies, and a new center for the arts. Currently, the university’s endowment is just over $7.92 billion. Check out some of University of Chicago’s other rankings: Ranked the #8 University in the World

16. Washington University in St. Louis — $7.29 Billion St. Louis, Missouri







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $7,594,159,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,399 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $195,887

Annual Research Expenditures: $754,462,000



: $7,594,159,000: $53,399 per year: $195,887: $754,462,000 Established in 1853 by a consortium of local politicians, businesspeople, and religious figures, it wasn’t until 1976 that the Washington Institute was renamed Washington University in St. Louis. Throughout its history, the university has both attracted foreign attention and proven itself a point of local pride. New York–based businessman John M. Olin established the Olin Library and Olin Business School, while George Warren Brown, a local entrepreneur, gifted $1 million to found the School of Social Work — considered today as one of the best of its kind in the country. The university currently has an endowment of $7.86 billion. Check out some of Washington University in St. Louis’s other rankings: Ranks #25 for Largest Research Expenditures GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

17. Emory University — $7.23 Billion Atlanta, Georgia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $7,292,165,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $51,306 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $173,155

Annual Research Expenditures: $664,888,000



: $7,292,165,000: $51,306 per year: $173,155: $664,888,000 Ranking as the 21st–best school in the United States by U.S. News & World Report , Emory University almost didn’t survive the Civil War. Heavily, damaged during the war, Emory was rescued by Methodist banker George I. Seney, who donated $130,000 towards its restoration. Since then, Emory has established itself as an academic powerhouse, especially in various engineering fields. Throughout Emory’s history, Coca–Cola has been a major contributor. In 1915, it was Coca–Cola president Asa Candler who relocated the school to metropolitan Atlanta and replaced “college” with “university.” A little more recently, former Coca–Cola president Robert W. Woodruff donated a sizable sum to Emory’s nursing school in the name of his wife, Nell Hodgson Woodruff. Emory’s wealth has continued to grow in the last decade, and its rapidly increasing endowment currently stands at $7.29 billion. Check out some of Emory University’s other rankings: Ranks #30 for Largest Research Expenditures

Ranked the #82 University in the World

19. University of Virginia — $6.27 Billion Charlottesville, Virginia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $6,953,380,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $49,032 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $170,715

Annual Research Expenditures: $469,382,000



: $6,953,380,000: $49,032 per year: $170,715: $469,382,000 Founded as an institution with a “national character and stature” in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is the most visited college campus in the United States. It is the only World Heritage Site located in America, and is the home of the famous Pantheon–inspired rotunda. In addition to its historic significance, University of Virginia is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the country. In 2007, billionaire Frank Batten, Sr., donated an impressive $100 million to found the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The National Social Norms Institute, another highly regarded program, was established with the help of a $2.5 million gift from Anheuser–Busch. In 2016, the University of Virginia received a $40 million gift from Thompson Dean to support the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The University of Virginia’s current endowment is $6.95 billion. Check out some of University of Virginia’s other rankings: Ranked the #59 University in the World

20. Rice University — $5.54 Billion Houston, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $6,277,506,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $47,350 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $192,712

Annual Research Expenditures: $167,277,000



: $6,277,506,000: $47,350 per year: $192,712: $167,277,000 Rice University was founded as the Rice Institute in 1912 by the entrepreneur William Marsh Rice, donating $4.6 million as the school’s first benefactor. A $43 million fundraising campaign in the 1960s solidified Rice as a top fundraising college. Since then, the university’s wealth and reputation have continued to grow, and in 2015 it received its largest single donation in its history from John and Ann Doerr, a sum of $50 million. Rice University is ranked as the 16th–best school in the United States by U.S. News & World Report , and has a current endowment of $6.27 billion. Check out some of Rice University’s other rankings: Ranked the #83 University in the World

22. Dartmouth College — $5.21 Billion Hanover, New Hampshire







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $5,494,203,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,453 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $188,163

Annual Research Expenditures: $308,445,000



: $5,494,203,000: $55,453 per year: $188,163: $308,445,000 Established in 1754 as the Moor’s Charity School for Native Americans, Dartmouth has grown to become the 12th–highest–ranked college in America by U.S. News & World Report , and #22 among the wealthiest universities in North America. Much of its wealth comes in the form of building and land assets. In fact, as the biggest independent landowner in Hanover, Dartmouth’s land and asset value is nearly $1 billion. Dartmouth also boasts a long history of impressive benefactors. Former Secretary of State Daniel Webster was one of its first benefactors, while more recent years have brought in donations by Audrey and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel (after whom the Geisel School of Medicine was named), Amos Tuck (Tuck School of Business), and Sylvanus Thayer (Thayer School of Engineering). Dartmouth currently has an endowment of $5.94 billion. Check out some of Dartmouth College’s other rankings: Ranked the #72 University in the World

23. Ohio State University — $4.6 Billion Columbus, Ohio







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $5,211,434,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $30,742 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $141,931

Annual Research Expenditures: $864,327,000



: $5,211,434,000: $30,742 per year: $141,931: $864,327,000 With a current endowment of $5.21 billion, Ohio State University is the 23rd–wealthiest university in North America. Founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the University gained major financial clout. In 1952, Ohio alumnus Ralph D. Mershon donated $7 million to fund the Interdisciplinary Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Graduate Leslie (“Les”) Wexner, founder of The Limited, gifted $25 million for the Wexner Center for the Arts in 1989, to which he later gifted the $45.1 million Picasso painting “Nude in a Black Armchair. More recently, Ohio State University received a $65 million gift from Leslie and Abigail Wexner. Check out some of Ohio State University’s other rankings: Ranks #19 for Largest Research Expenditures

30. Brown University — $3.432 Billion Providence, Rhode Island







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $3,603,848,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,466 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $181,173

Annual Research Expenditures: $212,290,000



: $3,603,848,000: $55,466 per year: $181,173: $212,290,000 Brown University was established in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Fortunately, its name was shortened in 1804, when alumnus Nicholas Brown, Jr., gifted the school with $150,000. Known for its top economics and mathematics programs, as well as its many graduate programs, Brown University ranks as the 39th–best university in the world. Brown has continued to attract wealthy donors, as well. In 2004, alcohol industry billionaire Sidney E. Frank wrote a check for $120 million. Only, a few years later, Warren Alpert donated $100 million and his name to the School of Medicine, while the Watson Institute for International Studies was established and named for alumnus and benefactor Thomas J. Watson. Brown’s current endowment is $3.6 billion. Check out some of Brown University’s other rankings: Ranked the #39 University in the World

34. California Institute of Technology — $2.764 Billion Pasadena, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,879,493,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,362 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $202,821

Annual Research Expenditures: $400,312,000



: $2,879,493,000: $52,362 per year: $202,821: $400,312,000 California Institute of Technology (CalTech) is ranked as the 35th–best university in the world. Founded in 1891 as Throop University, it changed its name and location when early benefactor Arthur Fleming made a sizable land donation in beautiful Pasadena, California. Known for its engineering and science programs, CalTech has a long history of pioneering and influential alumni, including Intel co–founder Gordon Moore, who gifted an incredible $600 million to his alma mater in 2001, as well as another $100 million in 2015. Another recent donation, $25 million from the Annenberg Foundation, partly funded the state–of–the–art Annenberg Center for Information Studies and Technology. CalTech’s current endowment is $2.879 billion. Check out some of California Institute of Technology’s other rankings: Ranked the #35 University in the World

36. Williams College — $2.623 Billion Williamstown, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,749,653,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,450 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $144,854

Annual Research Expenditures: $5,227,000



: $2,749,653,000: $55,450 per year: $144,854: $5,227,000 Williams College’s first benefactor, Colonel Ephraim Williams, Jr., agreed to finance the establishment of the school if the town agreed to change its name from West Hoosac to Williamstown. Today, Williamstown is a thriving college town, while Williams College is ranked the #1 liberal arts college in America by U.S. News & World Report . Over the last 20 years, Williams has received several multi–million–dollar gifts, including $20 million to fund a state–of–the–art dance and drama center, and $15.75 million to update and rename the student center. In 2012, the reunited class of 1962 also contributed $12.7 million to the college. Williams current endowment is $2.749 billion.

38. Purdue University — $2.522 Billion West Lafayette, Indiana







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,523,770,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $28,794 per year (West Lafayette)

Average Full Professor Salary: $139,863 (West Lafayette)

Annual Research Expenditures: $622,814,000 (West Lafayette)



: $2,523,770,000: $28,794 per year (West Lafayette): $139,863 (West Lafayette): $622,814,000 (West Lafayette) One of the largest university systems in the United States, Purdue University is also one of the wealthiest. With six campuses spread across the state of Indiana, Purdue educates approximately 75,000 students at any given time. The 56th–best university in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report , Purdue is especially known for its Krannert School of Management, which was founded in 1962 with a $2.7 million donation by businessman, Herman C. Krannert. More recently, in 2003, the management school was expanded to include Rawls Hall after graduate Jerry S. Rawls gifted the school with $10 million. In 2015, Purdue University received its largest single donation ever, with $40 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc. Purdue’s current endowment is $2.523 billion. Check out some of Purdue University’s other rankings: Ranked the #65 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

39. University of California – Los Angeles — $2.511 Billion Los Angeles, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,522,638,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $42,218 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $201,328

Annual Research Expenditures: $8,274,000



: $2,522,638,000: $42,218 per year: $201,328: $8,274,000 Founded in 1919, the University of California, Los Angeles, one of the oldest in the University of California system, may be best known as a basketball school, producing an unmatched legacy of 11 NCAA championships in Men’s basketball since 1964. However, UCLA also boasts quality academic programs, and ranks as the 13th best university in the world. With recent large donations by former UCLA Bruins players Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love, as well as $100 million by entertainment mogul David Geffen, UCLA’s endowment is currently $2.522 billion. Check out some of University of California – Los Angeles’s other rankings: Ranked the #33 University in the World

40. University of Richmond — $2.477 Billion Richmond, Virginia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,511,584,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,610 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $161,531

Annual Research Expenditures: $3,106,000



: $2,511,584,000: $52,610 per year: $161,531: $3,106,000 Founded in 1830 as a Baptist school called Dunlora Academy, University of Richmond was shut down during the Civil War and only reopened in 1866 thanks to a $5,000 donation by tobacconist James Thomas, Jr. In 1969, the university was saved yet again, this time by a $50 million gift from alumnus and pharmaceutical millionaire E. Claiborne Robins. Another large gift from the Robins family of $175 million established the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business, one of the most highly regarded programs of the university today. University of Richmond’s current endowment is $2.511 billion.

41. Boston College — $2.397 Billion Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,477,700,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,464 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $182,904

Annual Research Expenditures: $58,088,000



: $2,477,700,000: $55,464 per year: $182,904: $58,088,000 Boston College might have the fastest growing endowment of any college on this list. Its current endowment is $2.477 billion, a huge increase from $1.8 billion in 2013 and $1.6 billion in 2012. The college’s increased wealth is partly in thanks to its many donors, several whom have made sizable donations between the aforementioned years. In 2010, Fidelity Management and Research Company (and Boston grad) Peter Lynch gifted $20 million to create an academic program specializing in educational leadership, and in 2012, realty investor and alumnus Patrick Cadigan donated $15 million. Boston College is ranked #38 on the U.S. News & World Report list of top American colleges, and is especially known for its Connell School of Nursing, Carroll School of Management, and Lynch School of Education.

43. Carnegie Mellon University — $2.377 Billion Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,385,986,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,465 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $160,803

Annual Research Expenditures: $328,100,000



: $2,385,986,000: $55,465 per year: $160,803: $328,100,000 Like so many other post–Civil War industrialists, Andrew Carnegie sought to found a university as part of a large philanthropic campaign. The initial institution, Carnegie Technical Schools, was expanded into Carnegie Mellon University in 1965 when it merged with nearby Mellon Institute of Industrial Research. The ambitious research culture of both institutions remains a vital part of Carnegie Mellon’s modern success, and is part of why the university is ranked the 25th best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report . About half of the annual research budget comes from government agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. Donors both private and corporate seem to share the government’s enthusiasm for the school’s research center, which can be seen in the university’s largest ever donation of $265 million from William S. Dietrich in 2011. The primary recipients of donations are the School of Computer Science, the Software Engineering Institute, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the Mellon College of Science. Its current endowment is $2.385 billion. Check out some of Carnegie Mellon University’s other rankings: Ranked the #74 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

44. Amherst College — $2.273 Billion Amherst, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,377,537,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $56,426 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $154,033

Annual Research Expenditures: $4,070,000



: $2,377,537,000: $56,426 per year: $154,033: $4,070,000 When Williams College (#36 on this list) was experiencing financial difficulties in the 1820s, Amherst College was founded as what was assumed would be a replacement. Fortunately, both colleges proved to be a success. A 2012 poll found that 56.4 percent of Amherst graduates give back to the school in some way, an impressive feat that is certainly envied by any academic institution in the world. In fact, an in–house, five–year fundraising campaign ending in 2013 raised over $502 million, including two anonymous donations of $100 million and $25 million. Amherst’s rapidly increasing endowment is currently $2.377 billion.

45. Pomona College — $2.257 Billion Claremont, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,273,707,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,780 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $156,506

Annual Research Expenditures: $3,205,000



: $2,273,707,000: $52,780 per year: $156,506: $3,205,000 Founded in 1887, Pomona College is an extremely selective school with admissions prerequisites comparable to many Ivy League colleges. Pomona is part of a larger system of schools that includes Scripps College, an exclusively female campus founded in 1926 by benefactor Ellen Browning Scripps, and Claremont McKenna College, founded by Donald McKenna, one of the system’s original founding trustees and benefactors. Pomona College itself has received several large donations in the last few years, including $25 million from entrepreneur Rick Sontag in 2015, and $1 million from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. Pomona’s current endowment is $2.273 billion, though it is expected to continue increasing at a faster rate than the average American university.

46. University of Rochester — $2.197 Billion Rochester, New York







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,257,557,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,909 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $163,548

Annual Research Expenditures: $353,003,000



: $2,257,557,000: $53,909 per year: $163,548: $353,003,000 With an endowment of $2.257 billion, the University of Rochester consists of six schools and 158 buildings that collectively house over 200 academic majors. Founded in 1850, the university is well known for several programs, most notably music, medicine, and science, and ranks as the 79th–best in the world. The Eastman School of Music (so named because of a $10 million donation by Eastman Kodak, Inc.) was recently named “Hottest School for Music” by Kaplan/Newsweek. The Institute of Optics, founded in 1929, was the first educational program dedicated entirely to optics, while the Laboratory for Laser Energetics is the second most energetic fusion laser in the world. Rochester’s medical program and hospital, the Strong Health System, is the single largest employer in the Greater Rochester area, and one of the largest employers in New York. Check out some of University of Rochester’s other rankings: Ranked the #79 University in the World

47. Boston University — $2.194 Billion Boston, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,197,808,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,948 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $181,568

Annual Research Expenditures: $421,360,000



: $2,197,808,000: $53,948 per year: $181,568: $421,360,000 Boston University (BU) is a well–respected private research university ranked #66 among the best universities in the world. To remain competitive among other notable Boston institutions, Boston University benefits greatly from its long list of notable alumni donors. These include seven Nobel laureates, 35 Pulitzer Prize–winners, nine Academy Award–winners, and multiple members of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Besides its sizable endowment, much of BU’s wealth comes in the form of property. The university consists of two urban campuses, both of which are located on prime Boston city real estate. BU received the largest donation in its history, $115 million, in 2017 from Rajen Kilachand. BU’s current endowment is $2.197 billion. Check out some of Boston University’s other rankings: Ranked the #66 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

48. The Rockefeller University — $2.155 Billion New York, New York







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,194,255,000

Undergraduate Tuition: N/A

Average Full Professor Salary: N/A

Annual Research Expenditures: $319,037,000



: $2,194,255,000: N/A: N/A: $319,037,000 Founded in 1901 in Manhattan’s Upper East side, Rockefeller University originated as an institute for medical research. The school still prides itself on its research–heavy environment, and the school’s motto is “Science for the benefit of humanity.” Known especially for its biological and medical research, Rockefeller University is associated with a large number of Nobel Prize–winners. The university was originally founded by iconic industrialist John D. Rockefeller, and in 2012, his grandson, David, donated a record sum of $100 million to the school. Rockefeller’s current endowment is $2.194 billion.

49. Swarthmore College — $2.105 Billion Swarthmore, Pennsylvania







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,155,768,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,588 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $153,128

Annual Research Expenditures: $3,569,000



: $2,155,768,000: $52,588 per year: $153,128: $3,569,000 Originally founded in 1864 by Quakers, Swarthmore College has a long history of being well respected. The first college to graduate a woman with a degree in philosophy was also one of the first co–educational schools in the United States, and is today ranked the third–best liberal arts college in the country by U.S. News & World Report . The 399–acre campus was also recently listed as one of Travel+Leisure’s most beautiful college campuses in the nation. Uniquely, Swarthmore belongs to a Tri–College Consortium, a cooperative arrangement with Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, in which the schools share class enrollment opportunities and an integrated library system of more than three million volumes. In 2012, Swarthmore received the largest gift to its endowment in its over 150–year history: philanthropist and alumnus Eugene Lang gifted $50 million for new engineering and science facilities. Swarthmore is currently worth $2.155 billion in endowment money.

50. Wellesley College — $2.091 Billion Wellesley, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,105,212,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,732 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $156,005

Annual Research Expenditures: $10,326,000



: $2,105,212,000: $53,732 per year: $156,005: $10,326,000 Tied as number three on the U.S. News & World Report ranking of National Liberal Arts Colleges, Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college in Massachusetts. The 720–acre campus, which includes several historical, Elizabethan–inspired buildings that Travel+Leisure call, “Some of the most beautiful in the country,” has inspired everyone from poets to filmmakers over the years. It’s also inspired plenty of donors. The college has received monetary support from several prominent women and organizations over the years, but perhaps its most passionate was the gift from alumna Kathryn Wasserman Davis, who pledged $11 million to save the school’s Russian Studies program. However, its largest donation, a sum of $50 million, came from an anonymous donor in 2015. Wellesley’s current endowment is $2.105 billion.

51. Georgia Institute of Technology — $1.991 Billion Atlanta, Georgia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $2,091,110,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $33,020 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $150,946

Annual Research Expenditures: $804,301,000



: $2,091,110,000: $33,020 per year: $150,946: $804,301,000 Ranking as the 35th–best university in the nation with U.S. News & World Report , Georgia Institute of Technology (better known as Georgia Tech) is well recognized for its degree programs in engineering, computing, business administration, sciences, architecture, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech was originally built as part of Reconstruction plans after the Civil War, and now sits on prime land in Atlanta, Georgia (with satellite campuses in Savannah, Georgia; Metz, France; Athlone, Ireland; Shanghai, China; and Singapore). The university continues to expand both its size and value. It recently spent over $179 million to open Technology Square, which was built over rundown neighborhoods and has initiated a general revitalization of the entire Atlanta midtown area. The school’s current endowment is just over $2.091 billion. Check out some of Georgia Institute of Technology’s other rankings: Ranks #21 for Largest Research Expenditures

Ranked the #89 University in the World

52. Grinnell College — $1.951 Billion Grinnell, Iowa







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,991,605,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,392 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $137,518

Annual Research Expenditures: $4,953,000



: $1,991,605,000: $52,392 per year: $137,518: $4,953,000 Founded in 1846 as Iowa College, Grinnell College experienced several setbacks in its early years, including the Civil War and a devastating tornado. However, judging by its current $1.991 billion endowment, Grinnell College has recovered nicely. A private liberal arts college, Grinnell College ranks as #11 among the best Liberal Arts Colleges in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report . Enjoying large fundraising totals every year, Grinnell College is quickly moving up in the ranks of the richest schools.

53. Virginia Commonwealth University — $1.944 Billion Richmond, Virginia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,951,337,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $35,834 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $126,173

Annual Research Expenditures: $235,464,000



: $1,951,337,000: $35,834 per year: $126,173: $235,464,000 Virginia Commonwealth University has a long history of healthcare–related research. Originally, founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, it went through stints as the Medical College of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute, before becoming what it is today in 1917. Recent years haven’t quite matched the record $256 million in sponsored research funding that VCU received in 2011, but the campus is still considered by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. To progress its research mission, the university funds a wide variety of highly respected centers and institutes, involving faculty from disciplines in public policy, biotechnology, and healthcare discoveries. VCU’s current endowment is $1.951 billion.

55. University of Toronto — $1.875 Billion Toronto, Ontario







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,925,509,000 (USD)

Undergraduate Tuition: N/A

Average Full Professor Salary: N/A

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,925,509,000 (USD): N/A: N/A: N/A Found in 1827 as King’s College by a royal charter, and originally controlled by the Church of England, the University of Toronto is now a large public research university, and one of two international members of the Association of American Universities. With large recent donations, including $11 million in 2012, $30 million in 2016, and $100 million in 2019 (the largest single donation in school history), the University of Toronto’s endowment numbers are on the rise, currently weighing in at $1.925 billion in U.S. dollars. Check out some of University of Toronto’s other rankings: Ranked the #20 University in the World

56. Case Western Reserve University — $1.845 Billion Cleveland, Ohio







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,886,761,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $49,042 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $145,840

Annual Research Expenditures: $408,609,000



: $1,886,761,000: $49,042 per year: $145,840: $408,609,000 Case Western Reserve University is a private research university that has produced quite a lot of wealth in its time. In fact, its long list of notable alumni–turned–donors include 16 Nobel Prize winners, Gmail creator and developer Paul Buchheit, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, and Norton AntiVirus developer Peter Tippett, to name but a few. The university is located on 550 acres a mere stone’s throw from downtown Cleveland. Surrounding the university are several other educational, medical, and cultural institutions, some of which are owned by Case Western. The university is best known for its programs in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biology, biological sciences, and medicine, and was only the second school in the U.S. to graduate a woman from medical school. Case Western Reserve is ranked #85 among the best universities in the world. Its current endowment is $1.886 billion. Check out some of Case Western Reserve University’s other rankings: Ranked the #85 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

57. Smith College — $1.798 Billion Northampton, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,875,093,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,404 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $140,129

Annual Research Expenditures: $6,055,000



: $1,875,093,000: $52,404 per year: $140,129: $6,055,000 Ranked as #11 among the best national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report , Smith College is a private, women’s college founded in 1871. Over its history of offering young women access to high quality education, Smith College has seen such notable alumni as Julia Child, Nancy Reagan, Gloria Steinem, and Sylvia Plath. Also notable: for the 2000–2001 school year, Kurt Vonnegut served as the College’s Writer in Residence. With the largest single donation in the school’s history of $10 million from an anonymous donor in 2015, the endowment at Smith College now stands at $1.875 billion.

58. Tufts University — $1.769 Billion Medford, Massachusetts







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,845,956,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $56,382 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $152,438

Annual Research Expenditures: $233,409,000



: $1,845,956,000: $56,382 per year: $152,438: $233,409,000 Originally founded in 1852, Tufts University is a private university well known as a respected research institution. In addition to its main campus located just outside of Boston, Tufts includes three other campuses in Massachusetts and one in the French Alps. Though it offers more than 120 programs, Tufts is especially well–known for its degrees in international relations, art studies, and economics. In fact, Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is the oldest school in the United States dedicated solely to graduate studies in International Affairs. It was originally established in 1933 with the bequest of Austin Barclay Fletcher, who gifted over $3 million upon his death in the early 1920s. Tufts University’s current endowment is $1.845 billion.

59. George Washington University — $1.74 Billion Washington, D.C.







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,798,810,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $55,230 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $178,440

Annual Research Expenditures: $245,519,000



: $1,798,810,000: $55,230 per year: $178,440: $245,519,000 Known for strong graduate offerings, especially its Law School and Graduate School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University, named after the first president of the US, was founded in 1821. Currently, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 63rd–best university in the nation, the university’s endowment began with a donation of shares in the Potomac Company by George Washington himself. In 2014, the university received a whopping $80 million three–part gift from the Milken Institute, the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation, and the Milken Family Foundation. Its endowment currently stands at $1.798 billion. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

60. Georgetown University — $1.735 Billion Washington, D.C.







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,769,557,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $54,104 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $203,899

Annual Research Expenditures: $212,319,000



: $1,769,557,000: $54,104 per year: $203,899: $212,319,000 With an endowment of $1.769 billion, Georgetown University, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 22nd–best university in the country, is also the 60th–wealthiest in North America. Much of Georgetown’s wealth is held in its assets. Founded in 1789, Georgetown’s centrally located Washington, D.C., campus includes numerous Romanesque buildings, including National Historic Landmark Healy Hall. Georgetown’s top–ranked law school sits right on Capitol Hill, while auxiliary campuses exist in Italy, Turkey, and Qatar. The school enjoys a healthy donor pool, as well, including former L.A. Dodgers owner Frank H. McCourt, Jr., who in 2014 pledged a record $100 million to build the McCourt School of Public Policy. Check out some of Georgetown University’s other rankings: Ranked the #88 University in the World

61. University of Kansas — $1.735 Billion Lawrence, Kansas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,740,763,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $27,358 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $125,907

Annual Research Expenditures: $300,319,000



: $1,740,763,000: $27,358 per year: $125,907: $300,319,000 University of Kansas (KU) is the largest and wealthiest research university in the state of Kansas. There are five campuses throughout the state, including the flagship campus in Lawrence. Though the university owns a successful sports program, prime real estate in Kansas’s largest cities, and several museums, most KU’s wealth is held in its endowment. In 2018, KU received the largest donation in its history: $66 million from the Sunderland Foundation. Other recent donations include $20 million from the Capitol Federal Foundation of Topeka (for a new School of Business) and $35 million from alumni Charles and Mary Jane Spahr (for the School of Engineering). KU’s current endowment is $1.74 billion. Check out some of University of Kansas’s other rankings: Ranked the #96 University in the World

62. University of Oklahoma — $1.723 Billion Norman, Oklahoma







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,735,527,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $26,919 per year (Norman)

Average Full Professor Salary: $119,621 (Norman)

Annual Research Expenditures: $272,239,000 (Norman)



: $1,735,527,000: $26,919 per year (Norman): $119,621 (Norman): $272,239,000 (Norman) The University of Oklahoma is a highly ranked and well–respected research university with a current endowment of $1.735 billion. The school is ranked first among public universities in enrollment of National Merit Scholars, and among the top 10 in the graduation of Rhodes Scholars. The 3,000–acre campus includes two prominent museums: the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, specializing in French Impressionism and Native American artwork, and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, specializing in the natural history of Oklahoma. Not surprisingly, much of the university’s wealth also comes from its successful sports program, which boasts seven NCAA Division I National Football Championships, and two NCAA national baseball championships, among others. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

64. University of Nebraska — $1.664 Billion Lincoln, Nebraska







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,723,230,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $25,038 per year (Lincoln)

Average Full Professor Salary: $127,205 (Lincoln)

Annual Research Expenditures: $302,204,000 (Lincoln)



: $1,723,230,000: $25,038 per year (Lincoln): $127,205 (Lincoln): $302,204,000 (Lincoln) Originally founded in 1869 with just one campus in Lincoln, the University of Nebraska system now consists of five campuses located throughout the state. Lincoln, however, has remained its flagship and is the largest research university of the bunch. Much of Nebraska’s wealth comes in the form of land and property. The campus that took up only four city blocks in 1869 now consists of two campuses on nearly 3,000 city acres. The Lincoln campus boasts $800–million expansion called the Nebraska Innovation Campus, a state–of–the–art facility that houses biotechnology and other life science research. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

66. University of California – San Francisco — $1.628 Billion San Francisco, California







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,664,471,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $26,544 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $133,081

Annual Research Expenditures: $1,409,398,000



: $1,664,471,000: $26,544 per year: $133,081: $1,409,398,000 Yet another entry from the University of California System, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a research university that focuses solely on the health sciences. Founded as the Toland Medical College in 1864, before becoming incorporated with the University of California in 1873, UCSF has since become a renowned (and wealthy) medical university. In 2017, it received what is not only the largest donation in school history, but one of the largest in U.S. history, an incredible sum of $500 million from the Helen Diller Foundation. Check out some of University of California – San Francisco’s other rankings: Ranks #3 for Largest Research Expenditures

67. Southern Methodist University — $1.627 Billion Dallas, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,632,763,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $54,492 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $165,705

Annual Research Expenditures: $29,879,000



: $1,632,763,000: $54,492 per year: $165,705: $29,879,000 Southern Methodist University (SMU), originally founded in 1911, is located in University Park, its own municipality inside Dallas, Texas. Satellite campuses also exist in Plano, Texas, and Taos, New Mexico. In 2015, SMU received the largest single donation in its 100–year history: $45 million from a Dallas foundation to benefit the museum and arts school. That museum adjoins the George W. Bush Institute, a library and presidential museum administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Another jewel on the SMU campus is the Bridwell Library. Named for philanthropist Joseph Sterling Bridwell, the library is one of the leading theological research collections in the United States. Southern Methodist University currently has an endowment of $1.632 billion.

68. Bowdoin College — $1.603 Billion Brunswick, Maine







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,628,165,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,922 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $146,530

Annual Research Expenditures: $2,340,000



: $1,628,165,000: $53,922 per year: $146,530: $2,340,000 With an alumni list that includes Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Joshua Chamberlain, it is no wonder Maine’s Bowdoin College was ranked the fifth–best liberal arts school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report . Located on the shores of Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River, Bowdoin includes an undergraduate campus, plus a 118–acre coastal studies center on Orr’s Island and a 200–acre scientific field station on Kent Island in the Bay of Fundy. A generous donation by ’29 alum George B. Knox resulted in the world–famous Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum, while other notable donors include television actor Paul Adelstein (Private Practice and Prison Break), Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings, and Subway sandwich shop co–founder Peter Buck.

69. Texas Christian University — $1.5 Billion Fort Worth, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,627,790,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $46,590 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $144,726

Annual Research Expenditures: $7,255,000



: $1,627,790,000: $46,590 per year: $144,726: $7,255,000 Established in 1873 as the AddRan Male & Female College, Texas Christian University is a private school, and the biggest associated with the Disciples of Christ. Known for well–regarded business programs, and ranked as the 80th–best university in the country by U.S. News & World Report , the university has a current endowment of $1.627 billion, bolstered by steady fundraising, as well as a single $30 million donation by Spencer Hays in 2014.

70. Washington and Lee University — $1.451 Billion Lexington, Virginia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,603,114,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,455 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $148,363

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,603,114,000: $52,455 per year: $148,363: N/A Washington and Lee is the ninth–oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and as such it has a long history of interesting and historically significant financial backing. In fact, its first major donor was President George Washington, who in 1795 endowed the then–struggling university with a gift of stock large enough to warrant the renaming of the university after him. In 2007, the school received the largest gift in its nearly 300–year history: an initially anonymous donation of $100 million, later revealed to be from alumnus Rupert Johnson Jr. Washington and Lee is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 11th–best liberal arts college in the nation. Its current endowment is $1.603 billion.

71. University of Iowa — $1.432 Billion Iowa City, Iowa







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,500,456,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $31,233 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $138,122

Annual Research Expenditures: $494,280,000



: $1,500,456,000: $31,233 per year: $138,122: $494,280,000 With a current endowment of $1.5 billion, University of Iowa is a public research university originally founded in 1847. As the oldest university in the state, it has racked up quite a bit of wealth and accolades in its time. Most of the campus’s best–known buildings, such as Van Allen Hall, the Voxman Music Building, and the Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, are elegantly modern buildings funded with large private donations. The campus also includes a system of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, as well as a Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, Athletic Hall Fame and Museum, and a Medical Museum, among others. Ranked 89th on the U.S. News & World Report list of National Universities, University of Iowa is considered a “Public Ivy.” The university’s largest donor, the Roy J. Carver Charitable trust, has given the university nearly $2 billion dollars over the years, including $45 million in 2016. Check out some of University of Iowa’s other rankings: Ranked the #61 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

72. University of British Columbia — $1.413 Billion Vancouver, British Columbia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,477,886,000 (USD)

Undergraduate Tuition: N/A

Average Full Professor Salary: N/A

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,477,886,000 (USD): N/A: N/A: N/A Founded in 1908 as the McGill University College of British Columbia, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is the oldest institution of higher learning in British Columbia. It currently ranks as the 53rd–best university in the world; not surprising, considering UBC boasts seven Nobel Prize–winners, 69 Rhodes Scholars, 65 Olympic medalists, two Canadian Prime Ministers, and 195 Royal Society of Canada fellows among its faculty and alumni. One such alum, John Kluge, recently gifted the school with $400 million in 2007. Additionally, with a research budget of nearly a half–billion dollars, the university is able to fund upwards of 8,000 projects per year. UBC’s current endowment is $1.477 billion in U.S. dollars. Check out some of University of British Columbia’s other rankings: Ranked the #53 University in the World

75. University of Delaware — $1.361 Billion Newark, Delaware







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,413,197,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $34,310 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $125,572

Annual Research Expenditures: $183,428,000



: $1,413,197,000: $34,310 per year: $125,572: $183,428,000 “Public Ivy” University of Delaware (UD) consists of a main campus in Newark, and satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. UD has several top–ranking programs, including engineering, education, business, city management, mathematics, and public affairs. Its doctoral program is also ranked among the best in the nation, according to both U.S. News & World Report and the United States National Research Council. In 2010, an anonymous alumnus donated $10 million to the Department of Chemical Engineering. Not only was this donation the largest since 1995, it was the largest ever to be given to the College of Engineering. In 2017 this donation was tied in value, through a large collection of Victorian books, by Mark Samuels Lasner. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

76. Tulane University of Louisiana — $1.36 Billion New Orleans, Louisiana







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,384,371,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $54,820 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $146,488

Annual Research Expenditures: $180,993,000



: $1,384,371,000: $54,820 per year: $146,488: $180,993,000 In addition to its status as one of the top private schools in the nation, Tulane University has enjoyed some of the largest donations to a college in recent history. In 2004, Tulane received the largest combined gift in its history: two $30 million donations from Netscape founder Jim Clark and Yahoo! co–founder David Filo. Only, a few years later, the school received the largest gift to ever be given from an alumnus: $4.4 million to the School of Medicine. Passionate donations are nothing new to Tulane: in 1886, a $3.6 million gift from Josephine Louise Newcomb led to the establishment of the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College. Tulane’s current endowment is $1.384 billion and growing.

78. University of Kentucky — $1.338 Billion Lexington, Kentucky







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,361,246,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $29,099 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $123,972

Annual Research Expenditures: $378,374,000



: $1,361,246,000: $29,099 per year: $123,972: $378,374,000 University of Kentucky (UofK) has become synonymous with college basketball, but it’s working hard to prove that it can be taken seriously as a respected research institution, as well. In fact, UofK received nearly $260 million in external research grants and contracts in the 2013–14 academic year alone. In that same year, it secured $105 million from donors — the first time in its history that it received more than $100 million. Over the last four years, UK has self–financed more than $1 billion in capital investment to enhance its academic, research, service, and healthcare missions.

79. University of Colorado — $1.33 Billion Boulder, Colorado







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,360,521,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $37,286 per year (Boulder)

Average Full Professor Salary: $104,737 (Boulder)

Annual Research Expenditures: $499,389,000 (Boulder)



: $1,360,521,000: $37,286 per year (Boulder): $104,737 (Boulder): $499,389,000 (Boulder) The University of Colorado (CU) claims four campuses located throughout the state of Colorado. Its flagship campus, Boulder, is the wealthiest, highest–ranked, and best known for its research–related academic programs. Each year, the university receives nearly $300 million in sponsored research from programs such as the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, and JILA (formerly known as the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics). The school has also produced a long list of alumni–turned–donors, including 11 Nobel laureates, nine MacArthur Fellows, and 18 astronauts. Its largest single donation ever came in 2016 by way of alumnus Walter Scott Jr., to the sum of $53.3 million. CU’s current endowment is just over $1.06 billion.

80. Lehigh University — $1.329 Billion Bethlehem, Pennsylvania







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,353,116,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $52,930 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $159,537

Annual Research Expenditures: $36,969,000



: $1,353,116,000: $52,930 per year: $159,537: $36,969,000 When Lehigh University was established in 1865, it was done so with the highest individual donation to any private university in the United States — $500,000 from businessman Asa Packer. Since then, it has become one of the top universities in the nation, ranked #53 by U.S. News & World Report . In 2012, Lehigh received 755 acres of some of the most valuable land in the Lehigh Valley. This multi–million–dollar gift from an alumnus initiated ambitious plans to further develop the campus. Other sizable donations received recently include $25 million from Pittsburgh–based titanium magnate Peter C. Rossin. Lehigh’s current endowment is just over $1.353 billion. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

81. Syracuse University — $1.312 Billion Syracuse, New York







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,338,287,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $51,853 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $129,381

Annual Research Expenditures: $145,705,000



: $1,338,287,000: $51,853 per year: $129,381: $145,705,000 With an endowment sitting around $1.338 billion, beautiful Syracuse University is well known for its nationally recognized programs in library science, engineering, and the arts. As one of the top–ranked private universities in the country, Syracuse receives its fair share of donor support. In 2010, three children of law alumni Robert and Carolyn Dineen donated $15 million for a new school in their parents’ honor. Just a year later, celebrated sports agent David Falk donated another $15 million. Another large part of Syracuse’s wealth is Bird Library, which is generally known as the largest collection of national archives of Kenya and Tanzania. In 2008, a generous donor gifted the library with the largest collection of 78 rpm records (worth more than $1 million) in the country outside of the Library of Congress. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

83. Wake Forest University — $1.298 Billion Winston–Salem, North Carolina







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,329,255,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $53,322 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $154,777

Annual Research Expenditures: $182,227,000



: $1,329,255,000: $53,322 per year: $154,777: $182,227,000 With a current endowment of just over $1.329 billion, Wake Forest University is known for its strong sports programs and even stronger academics. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the school as the 27th–best university in the country. Wake Forest is especially proud of its business programs. Its Graduate School of Management, named for donors Mary and Charles Babcock, maintains a presence at both the main campus in Winston–Salem and in Charlotte. In 2010, Mike and Mary Flynn Farrell donated $10 million toward a new state–of–the–art building for the School of Business, which opened in 2017. Also in 2017: the university received its largest donation ever from Porter B. Byrum.

84. Baylor University — $1.297 Billion Waco, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,312,753,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $45,542 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $123,587

Annual Research Expenditures: $29,400,000



: $1,312,753,000: $45,542 per year: $123,587: $29,400,000 Founded in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor University is the oldest continuously operating school in the state. Baylor is best known for its schools of law, medicine, business, science, and English. In fact, Princeton Review named Baylor a “Best Western College,” while Kiplinger’s included it among the private colleges with the best value. In 2010, Baylor received an anonymous donation of $200 million — the largest in the university’s history. This seems to have inspired several other prestigious donations, because almost immediately afterwards Baylor received $35 million for the construction of a new business school, and another sizable donation from local lawyer Walter Umphrey. Baylor has also proven itself in terms of research. In 2005, it was invited to join the Collider Detector at Fermilab, one of the world’s largest experimental physics collaborations. With this, Baylor was upgraded to “Research University” status by the Carnegie Foundation. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

85. Texas Tech University System — $1.293 Billion Lubbock, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,306,551,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $19,040 per year (Lubbock)

Average Full Professor Salary: $121,923 (Lubbock)

Annual Research Expenditures: $191,482,000 (Lubbock)



: $1,306,551,000: $19,040 per year (Lubbock): $121,923 (Lubbock): $191,482,000 (Lubbock) Texas Tech University shares its main campus in Lubbock with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, making it the only campus in Texas with an undergraduate university, a law school, and a medical school at the same location. Texas Tech is not only big, it’s beautiful. As author James Michener describes it, the Spanish Renaissance–themed school is the “most beautiful west of the Mississippi.” The campus has been repeatedly recognized for its excellent grounds–keeping, while its public art collection has been included among the best in the world. Texas Tech is just as smart as it is beautiful: the Carnegie Foundation classifies it as a “high research” university. It is especially noted for its research in atmospheric sciences and wind energy, as evidenced by the more than $54 million donated by Bayer Crop Science. Texas Tech has a current endowment of $1.306 billion. Check out some of Texas Tech University System’s other rankings: Ranked the #25 among the Best Online Colleges in the World! GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

86. The University of Tennessee — $1.292 Billion Knoxville, Tennessee







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,298,212,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $31,426 per year (Knoxville)

Average Full Professor Salary: $139,922 (Knoxville)

Annual Research Expenditures: $203,800,000 (Knoxville)



: $1,298,212,000: $31,426 per year (Knoxville): $139,922 (Knoxville): $203,800,000 (Knoxville) The largest Tennessee’s many universities, University of Tennessee consists of three primary campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Martin; a health sciences center in Memphis; a research institute in Tullahoma; and various extension campuses throughout the state. Among the university’s most valuable assets is the John C. Hodges Library. Nearly, three million books are housed there, including a 60,000–item rare book collection that includes manuscripts from as far back as 1481. It also houses the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, better known as the “Body Farm,” which conducts research specifically relating to the decomposition of the human body and is one of the leading centers for such research in the world. University of Tennessee’s current endowment is over $1.298 billion.

87. University of Maryland System — $1.274 Billion College Park, Maryland







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,297,783,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $35,216 per year (College Park)

Average Full Professor Salary: $155,840 (College Park)

Annual Research Expenditures: $548,885,000 (College Park)



: $1,297,783,000: $35,216 per year (College Park): $155,840 (College Park): $548,885,000 (College Park) The University of Maryland System features several campuses in the state, as well as a University College that enrolls students in a full array of totally online degree programs. The flagship campus in College Park is considered a “Public Ivy”, and is a member of the Association of American Universities. Though it experienced numerous setbacks, including bankruptcy after the civil war, and a major fire in 1912, the College Park campus, and the university system, has achieved recovery and significant growth in years since. The University of Maryland engages in contemporary research through a variety of institutes on its multiple campuses, as well as partnerships with government agencies. Check out some of University of Maryland System’s other rankings: Ranked the #44 University in the World GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

88. North Carolina State University — $1.272 Billion Raleigh, North Carolina







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,293,743,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $28,444 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $126,602

Annual Research Expenditures: $500,445,000



: $1,293,743,000: $28,444 per year: $126,602: $500,445,000 A land–grant, sea–grant, space–grant institution, North Carolina State University was established in 1887 by the North Carolina General Assembly. Through its history the university has seen significant growth and development while maintaining a core commitment to offering comprehensive education programs. Currently, North Carolina State University houses 11 colleges, including the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The university also participates in significant contemporary research, through on–campus institutes, as well as the N.C. Research Campus. GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE

89. Trinity University — $1.222 Billion San Antonio, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,292,095,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $42,976 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $122,252

Annual Research Expenditures: $3,274,000



: $1,292,095,000: $42,976 per year: $122,252: $3,274,000 With an endowment of $1.292 billion, Trinity University is able to provide resources and facilities most typically associated with much larger institutions. Trinity’s dedication to its endowment fund began in 1952, before which a declining enrollment meant using the endowment for daily needs. Today, Trinity is a member institution of the Annapolis Group, a network of leading colleges which all share a commitment to liberal arts values and education, and it ranks as #2 on the U.S. News & World Report list of universities in the Western U.S.

90. University of Georgia — $1.199 Billion Athens, Georgia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,274,343,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $30,404 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $127,314

Annual Research Expenditures: $455,432,000



: $1,274,343,000: $30,404 per year: $127,314: $455,432,000 Situated in the popular college town of Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia is a public research university that boasts the distinction of being one of the oldest in the country, with a founding dating back to 1785. Like many universities in the south, the university closed during part of the American Civil War, reopening later with a severely reduced student population. Its 17 schools and colleges, including the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Terry College of Business, and College of Public Health provide students with a full array of study options. Boasting the highest Carnegie research ranking, R–1, the university actively participates in groundbreaking research through numerous labs and centers, including the Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Institute for Bioinformatics.

91. Baylor College of Medicine — $1.192 Billion Houston, Texas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,272,276,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $21,558 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $186,083

Annual Research Expenditures: $604,952,000



: $1,272,276,000: $21,558 per year: $186,083: $604,952,000 Not to be confused with Baylor University, the Baylor College of Medicine is a well–regarded and wealthy medical school in Houston, Texas. Initially, founded in 1900 by Baylor University alumni, later affiliated with Baylor University, and finally separated from Baylor University in 1969 (though retaining the namesake), Baylor College of Medicine is housed within the middle of the Texas Medical Center. Thanks to sizable donations in recent years, including $16 million by Sue and Lester Smith in 2012, and another $10 million in 2016, the Baylor College of Medicine endowment currently sits at a little over $1.272 billion.

92. McGill University — $1.186 Billion Montreal, Quebec







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,256,358,000 (USD)

Undergraduate Tuition: N/A

Average Full Professor Salary: N/A

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,256,358,000 (USD): N/A: N/A: N/A McGill University is one of Canada’s foremost research universities. With most of the campus situated beneath Mount Royal in downtown Montreal, and another campus in the fields and forests of Saint–Anne–de–Bellevue on nearby Montreal Island, McGill is located on prime Québécois land. The university was founded in 1813 with a large bequest from prominent merchant James McGill. Since then, it has graduated twelve Nobel laureates, 138 Rhodes Scholars, three astronauts, two Canadian Prime Ministers, 13 justices of the Canadian Supreme Court, four foreign leaders, 28 foreign ambassadors, nine Academy Award–winners, three Pulitzer Prize–winners, and 28 Olympic medalists. With statistics like that, it’s no wonder McGill is able to maintain one of the largest per–student endowments among Canadian universities. National Bank (Canada) recently donated $1 million to increase the competition of business ideas, while the Canadian Credit Management Foundation gifted McGill with $22 million in 2013, and Aldo Bensadoun donated $25 million in 2017. Check out some of McGill University’s other rankings: Ranked the #97 University in the World

93. Saint Louis University — $1.146 Billion Saint Louis, Missouri







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,222,688,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $43,884 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $119,877

Annual Research Expenditures: $56,402,000



: $1,222,688,000: $43,884 per year: $119,877: $56,402,000 With a current endowment of just over $1.222 billion, Saint Louis University is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River and the second–oldest Jesuit university in the United States. For this reason, the Knights of Columbus and several Catholic organizations are among the many individuals and organizations that donate to Saint Louis. Besides its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, the school operates a campus in Madrid, Spain. This campus was the very first freestanding institution in Europe to be operated by an American university, a trend that was followed by several other colleges and universities on this list. Saint Louis University recently completed a 10–story research center to complement its Medical Campus Building, the result of a $67 million donor campaign.

94. University of Arkansas — $1.124 Billion Fayetteville, Arkansas







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,199,303,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $25,168 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $124,776

Annual Research Expenditures: $157,791,000



: $1,199,303,000: $25,168 per year: $124,776: $157,791,000 The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the flagship of the University of Arkansas System, is a public land–grant research university established in 1871. Though it offers a full selection of programs of study, UArk is best known for its College of Engineering, School of Law, and Sam M. Walton College of Business (named after the Walmart founder). Beyond its wealth, the university is best known for its NCAA Division I athletic teams, competing under the name of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

95. Berea College — $1.119 Billion Berea, Kentucky







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,192,078,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $39,990 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $91,460

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,192,078,000: $39,990 per year: $91,460: N/A Berea College, a private, non–profit, liberal arts college in Berea Kentucky is unique for three very good reasons. First, it was the first college in the southern United States to be fully racially integrated; its abolitionist founder John Gregg Fee made sure that it admitted and equally served black and white students since its 1855 establishment. Secondly, Berea College only admits students who need financial assistance (as determined by FAFSA). Thirdly, all students admitted to Berea College receive a fully–funded four–year education through participation in its work–study program. What this means is that the college uses its significant funds to guarantee affordable, quality education for those who could not otherwise attain it.

96. University of Utah — $1.093 Billion Salt Lake City, Utah







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,186,952,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $29,215 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $133,298

Annual Research Expenditures: $380,295,000



: $1,186,952,000: $29,215 per year: $133,298: $380,295,000 Known for the research and academic contributions of its medical school, including the first permanent artificial heart transplant in 1982, the University of Utah, located in Salt Lake City was founded in 1850, making it the oldest in Utah. The University of Utah ranks as #71 among the best universities in the world, and boasts a sizable endowment of just over $1.186 billion. Check out some of University of Utah’s other rankings: Ranked the #71 University in the World

97. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — $1.093 Billion Blacksburg, Virginia







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,146,055,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $31,908 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $137,265

Annual Research Expenditures: $522,425,000



: $1,146,055,000: $31,908 per year: $137,265: $522,425,000 Better known as Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public, land–grant, research university established in 1872. Initially founded as a military institute, Virginia Tech still maintains the designation as one of six senior military colleges in the country, though it offers a full array of academic programs, including those in its well–regarded College of Engineering.

98. Middlebury College — $1.093 Billion Middlebury, Vermont







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,124,144,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $54,450 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $123,081

Annual Research Expenditures: $2,043,000



: $1,124,144,000: $54,450 per year: $123,081: $2,043,000 Middlebury College, a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, traces its history all the way back to 1800. Initially, established as the Addison County Grammar School, the college has since grown significantly, now offering full degree programs in over 40 subjects. The college holds the distinction of being the first American college to award an African–American student a bachelor’s degree.

99. Princeton Theological Seminary — $1.093 Billion Princeton, New Jersey







Copy link to this entry… Endowment: $1,119,689,000

Undergraduate Tuition: $17,000 per year

Average Full Professor Salary: $98,328

Annual Research Expenditures: N/A



: $1,119,689,000: $17,000 per year: $98,328: N/A Dating back to 1812, Princeton Theological Seminary, founded by the Presbyterian Church, is the second oldest seminary in the U.S. Maintaining a close–knit student population of around 500 students, the seminary exclusively offers graduate and professional degrees in theology and divinity. The seminary also advances theological studies through several research centers, including the Center for Barth Studies and the Center for Theological Inquiry, and publishes journals, including Theology Today and Princeton Theological Review.