The Richest Universities In The World
Picking the right university entails a myriad of different things from reputation to its location and job prospects. However, while prestige plays an important role, one factor that we often overlook when choosing a university is its wealth.
The wealth of a university determines the quality of its facilities and research capabilities and guarantees top-notch academia. Moreover, universities with large endowments have access to a world-class faculty and provide financial aid to their students. We take a look at the top 20 richest universities in the world that are considered to be some of the best and most exclusive educational institutions a student can attend. Continue reading to learn more!
Harvard University: $49.4 Billion
Harvard University is without a doubt one of the finest educational institutions in the nation if not the world. This esteemed college has an estimated endowment of $49 billion.
Harvard University, founded by John Harvard, was established in 1638. An institution that saw 9 graduates in its first year, now boasts over 21,000 students. It also houses one of the biggest libraries and museums in the world with 28 million artifacts. Given its large endowment and world-class faculty, Harvard University continues to remain one of the top universities in the world.
University of Texas: $42.6 Billion
While the first two positions on this list were claimed by private institutions, the third title goes to the University of Texas. This public school system consists of nine universities and five healthcare facilities. The total endowment for this university system stands at $42.9 billion.
The University of Texas has a student body of over 240,000 and grants one-third of all the undergraduate degrees and two-thirds of graduate degrees in the state of Texas. In addition to this, they are also a leader in cancer research with three research institutions on its campus.
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Yale University: $41.3 Billion
Set in the picturesque backdrop of New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University, is the second richest university in the world. This university has a collective endowment of $41.3 billion. Yale University is one of the oldest educational institutions in the United States.
Originally named the Collegiate School, it was renamed Yale University after a generous donation by Elihu Yale, who was considered to be one of the richest men in the world during his time. Today, this university has a well-known art program and is known for its medical, law, and management schools.
Stanford University: $36.3 Billion
Although this university is not a member of the Ivy League, the school's esteemed reputation stretches far and wide. A stunning university campus that sits in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University is one among the top richest universities in the world. It has an endowment of $36.3 billion.
The university was founded by the former governor of California, Leland Stanford on an agricultural farm. Today, this university is considered prime real estate in Silicon Valley. Stanford is known for its well-reputed engineering, law and medical schools and a leader in artificial intelligence research. The total enrollment at this world-class institution is over 17,000 students.
Princeton University: $35.7 Billion
Princeton University is a prestigious school located in New Jersey and a member of the Ivy League. Being one of the oldest universities in the nation, this university has a large endowment that currently sits at $35.7 billion.
Princeton University is not only one of the richest schools in the world but its campus also holds a lot of historical value. The esteemed Nassau Hall was once the meeting place for the Continental Congress and has a highly acclaimed art museum that hosts over 10,000 artworks by artists such as Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol. Princeton's research labs also included Albert Einstein as a staff member.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: $24.7 Billion
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly known as MIT, was started with the aim to accelerate the industrial revolution. It's total endowment to-date amounts to $24.7 billion. The university is the beneficiary of anonymous donations, the first being from George Eastman.
The name MIT is synonymous with science and technology and has world-renowned programs in these fields. This prestigious school has a current student population of over 11,800 students and touts 90 Noble Laureates and 59 National Medal of Science recipients as members of its alumni.
University of Pennsylvania: $20.7 Billion
The first President of the University of Pennsylvania was Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. The university was created to provide a world-class education for both the upper and middle-class children in the fields of business and public service.
Today, the University of Pennsylvania has a total endowment of $20.7 billion. The university has achieved far beyond what it set out to and remains the top business school in the nation, if not the world. The university has a total student-body population of over 23,000.
Texas A&M University: $18.2 Billion
Texas A&M University is a public school system that has 11 universities located in different parts of Texas and seven research institutions. The school has received funding since 1862, bringing its endowment to a grand total of $18.2 billion today.
Texas A&M is one of the premier research universities in the nation and has been a part of numerous projects that were funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense.
University of Michigan: $17.3 Billion
What started out a single building in Detroit, the University of Michigan is now a world-class university that is one among the best colleges in the nation. The school became a university in 1835, which was around the same time Michigan joined the nation as a state.
The University of Michigan is home to the first chemistry lab and college of dentistry in the country with three campuses across the state. The university's current endowment sits at $17.3 billion with the Ford Motor Company being one of its first donors. Funding has helped accelerate the universities research facilities earning its title as the top public research university in America.
University of Notre Dame: $16.7 Billion
A charming campus located in South Bend, Indiana, University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic institution that was founded in 1842. This university has a current endowment of $16.7 billion and prides itself as being one of the top schools in the nation for business and architecture.
The university values public service and uses it as a focal point for all its teachings and nearly half its students spend a semester studying abroad. The current student enrollment is at over 12,800 students.
University of California: $15.4 Billion
The University of California is one of the largest public school systems in California with ten campuses across the state. The first campus was set up in Berkley, California and had a graduating class of 38 students. Since then the campus has grown to accommodate over 294,000 students.
The school has a total endowment of $15.4 billion. Five out of the ten University of California campuses rank among the top 50 schools in the country and many of the university's alumni noted for their work in computer science and biotechnology.
Northwestern University: $14.1 Billion
This gorgeous campus of Northwestern University is located on the shores of Lake Michigan near Illinois. The university has a total of three campuses, two in Illinois and one in Doha, Qatar that was established after a generous donation by the founder's widow. Today, the university's endowment is at nearly $14.1 billion.
With over 23,000 students across all its campuses, Northwestern University prides itself as being one of the best schools in the nation for business and law.
Columbia University: $13.2 Billion
Located in the heart of New York City, Columbia University is a member of the prestigious Ivy League institutions. The university was once called Kings College and was renamed Columbia University in 1784. It is the fifth oldest college in the country and one of the richest in the world with an endowment of $13.2 billion.
The university boasts some of the top business, journalism and medical schools in the nation and has a world-class faculty that includes 84 Noble Prize winners.
Washington University: $12.2 Billion
Washington University was established with the goal of educating immigrants in basic industrial jobs in the mid-1800s. It soon grew to become a full-fledged university with course offerings that included science and liberal arts.
Today, the university is spread across two campuses and has an enrollment of over 16,000 students. Its total endowments sit at $12.2 billion and are used to fund the university's top-tier research program. Washington University is noted for its medical and agricultural courses and is one of the best schools in the nation for entrepreneurs. In addition to its renowned academia, the school has a world-class art collection with pieces by Jackson Pollock and Picasso.
Duke University: $12.1 Billion
Duke University located in North Carolina was first established in 1838 by the Quaker communities. It earned its name after a generous donation by the Duke family who amassed their massive fortune in the tobacco and electrical industries. The donation was made with the agreement that women and men would be admitted to the institution.
The university's total endowment is at $12.1 billion. Some of Duke University's top programs include business, medicine, and law among others.
University Of Chicago: $10.3 Billion
The University of Chicago has an endowment of $10.3 billion. Founded in 1890, the school's main 217-acre campus in located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.
The school features a culturally-rich environment with plenty of top-notch programs to choose from in the areas of Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology/Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Political Science and Government, and more.
Vanderbilt University: $10.2 Billion
Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873. The private research university is located in Nashville, Tennessee and is named after New York shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. The school's $10.2 billion endowment has come a long way since Vanderbilt's $1 million initial donation helped found the private institution.
Vanderbilt currently features an enrollment of over 13,000 students, many of whom attend the university's programs in education, psychology, and music. The university also features top-ranked programs in biology, engineering, business, and more.
Emory University: $9.9 Billion
Emory University's history dates back to the Civil War when the school suffered from numerous damages to its infrastructure. A generous contribution of $130,000 was made by George I. Seney for its restoration costs. Since then, Emory University has excelled academically in the fields of engineering and business.
The university is largely influenced by Coca-Cola who relocated the university to Atlanta in 1915 and also donated money to Emory's nursing school that was named after the founder's wife. In recent years, the university's endowment has grown rapidly and its endowment is just over $9.9 billion.
University Of Virginia: $9.8 Billion
With an endowment of $9.8 billion, the University of Virginia supports an enrollment of over 25,900 students. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the school has a storied history that includes various secret societies and historic foundations.
The university's top majors include economics, biology, business and commerce, international relations and affairs, and psychology. The student also boasts a 97% student satisfaction rate.
Cornell University: $9.8 Billion
The prestigious Cornell University, founded in 1865, has a stunning campus located in Upstate New York. The university was built with a generous donation of $500,000 by the former senator, Ezra Cornell. Today, Cornell University is one of the most well-regarded universities in the world and is known for its architecture and hotel administration programs among others.
The university's current endowment stands at $9.8 billion, and most of its wealth is generated from its land and building assets. Sizable donations have been made by individuals like Samuel Curtis Johnson and Charles H. Dyson.
Johns Hopkins University - $8.2 Billion
With its main campus in Baltimore, Maryland, the prestigious Johns Hopkins University has an undergraduate enrollment of over 5,000 students. The private research university has an endowment of $8.2 billion.
The school was named for its first benefactor, the American abolitionist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Johns Hopkins, whose $7 million gift was the largest philanthropic gift in U.S. history at that time. In today's dollars, that $7 million would be roughly $144.5 million!
Dartmouth: $8 Billion
Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth is a private university with an enrollment of over 6,000 and an impressive endowment that has reached $8 billion. The university was founded in 1797 and is home to the Geisel School of Medicine, one of the top-ranked medical schools in the country.
The university has an excellent track record for graduating successful students including 24 U.S. governors, 10 billionaires, three Nobel prize laureates, 79 Rhodes Scholars, two U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and a U.S. Vice President.
Rice University: $7.8 Billion
Located in Houston, Texas, Rice University, founded in 1912, is a private research university with an endowment of $7.8 billion.
Located on 300-acres, the University is known for its majors that focus on research and development, specifically Computer and Information Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and Mechanical Engineering.
University Of Southern California: $7.3 Billion
Founded in 1880 the University of Southern California (USC) now provides top-notch education to over 49,000 students across various campuses, including the university's main campus located in Los Angeles, California. The university's endowment stands at $7.3 billion.
With programs that include business, law, engineering, social work, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and medicine, USC lays claim to 11 Rhodes Scholars and nine Nobel laureates. Six MacArthur fellows and one Turing Award winner are also associated with the university.
The Ohio State University - $6.9 Billion
Founded in 1870, The Ohio State University currently features an undergraduate enrollment rate of over 45,000 students who are supported by a massive endowment of $6.9 billion. The university is located in Columbus, Ohio.
Started as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, the university is now best known for its innovation and business programs.
Brown University - $6.1 Billion
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, the prestigious Brown University is one of the oldest institues of learning, and is one of only nine colonial colleges that were chartered before the American Revolution.
Notable alumni and associated individuals include eight billionaires, a U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, 56 Rhodes Scholars, various royals and nobles, and quite a few celebrities.
University Of Pittsburgh - $5.5 Billion
In 1787, The University of Pittsburgh was founded on the edge of the American frontier. It was initially called the Pittsburgh Academy. The institution has endured two devastating fires and multiple relocations over the years, with its primary campus located in urban Pittsburgh today.
"Pitt," as it's affectionately known, has an endowment of $5.5 billion. The school had an undergraduate enrollment of over 29,000 students.
The University Of Minnesota - $5.3 Billion
This public research university consists of two campuses, located about three miles apart from each other. One of them is in Minneapolis and the other is in Saint Paul.
The University of Minnesota and its various foundations have an endowment of $5.3 billion. Notable University of Minnesota alumni include two U.S. vice presidents and musician Bob Dylan.
New York University - $5.1 Billion
New York University has an endowment of $5.1 billion. With its main campus located in the heart of New York City, New York, the school has an enrollment of over 51,000 students.
The private research university has academic centers throughout the world, in cities such as Madrid, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, Accra, Berlin, London, Prague, Florence, Los Angeles, Paris, Prague, Sydney, and Washington, D.C.
University Of Washington - $4.6 Billion
Best known for its excellent medical school, the University of Washington was founded in 1861 as the Territorial University of Washington. The University of Washington consists of campuses across the entire state.
Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, is a frequent donor to the school and donated $10 million to partly fund the Allen Library in 1989.
Pennsylvania State University - $4.6 Billion
Also referred to as Penn State or PSU, Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. It currently boasts an undergraduate enrollment of over 74,000.
Penn State is the home of the world's largest student-run philanthropy, the annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
Oxford University: $4.3 Billion
Oxford University is one of the oldest educational institutions in the world but its exact founding date is virtually unknown. A majority of the students at the university are part of the graduate program that includes fields such as arts, humanities, and physical sciences. Oxford University is made up of a central university and 38 colleges.
The university has a notable alumni network that includes 26 Noble Prize Winners, 120 Olympic medalists and 30 world leaders including Bill Clinton and Indira Gandhi. The university prides itself on its world-class research facilities especially in the sciences. Oxford University's endowment is $4.3 billion.
Cambridge University: $4.2 Billion
Cambridge University is one of the top educational institutions in the world and has six academic programs including humanities, sciences, and technology. The university was founded in the year 1209, making it one of the oldest in the world. In addition to the world-class academics, the university also houses 100 libraries and nine museums.
Cambridge University ranks as one of the top schools in the world and has produced 98 Noble Laureates and numerous politicians, mathematicians, writers, and actors. It is also known for its research programs and international outlook reports.
Michigan State University - $3.8 Billion
Founded in 1855, Michigan State University was the nation's first land-grant institution. MSU offers more than 200 academic programs.
It also has some of the top-rated graduate programs in the country, including its schools of elementary teacher's education, secondary teacher's education, industrial and organizational psychology, rehabilitation counseling, African history, and more.
Carnegie Mellon University - $3.8 Billion
Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University was originally founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie and later merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research. The university consists of seven colleges and is known for its emphasis on technology, science, and the arts.
Carnegie Mellon has a population of over 16,000 students. It has an impressive endowment of $3.8 billion.
Purdue University - $3.6 Billion
Purdue University's flagship campus is located in West Lafayette, Louisiana. The public research institute was founded in 1869 and now offers over 200 majors for undergraduates. Its alumni include 25 American astronauts and 13 Nobel Prize-winners.
Purdue University's current endowment is an impressive $3.6 billion.
California Institute Of Technology - $3.6 Billion
Located in Pasadena, the California Institute of Technology was founded as Throop University, a vocational school, in 1891. Caltech is known for having some of the best engineering and science programs in the world.
Notable alumni and professors include 73 Nobel Laureates, four Fields Medalists, six Turing Award winners, and four Chief Scientists of the U.S. Air Force.
