The Richest Universities in North America
It’s no secret that it takes a lot of money to run a successful university. When it comes to world class institutions, those numbers only grow higher. The richest universities have large endowments that allow them to hire top-tier faculty, and support their students through infrastructure, resources, and financial assistance. If you’re shopping for which university to attend, it’s worth taking into account how much wealth it has to its name.
Key Takeaways
- The richest universities in North America have billion-dollar-per-year budgets. The fact that these colleges can afford resources that a school with a budget of less than a million dollars couldn’t indicate that they will be able to provide the students greater value.
- There are many types of college endowments, which are a collection of tax-exempt gifts and investments used to further an institution’s mission. With an endowment of $39,427,896,000, Harvard tops the list of the wealthiest universities in North America.
- The richest universities in North America are mostly Ivy League and the United States’ oldest universities. The average university endowment of these universities is $3 billion.
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US Universities and Their Multi-Billion Dollar Endowments
The cost of attending college continues to escalate, prompting the need for American students to access grants, scholarships, and other types of financial aid to help them finance higher education. Through their endowments, which are invested funds primarily from contributions and used to support the institution’s educational goal, many schools can provide students with financial aid.
A college or university’s endowment is a collection of assets that are invested for the long-term benefit of the institution’s educational and research goals. It serves as a binding agreement between a donor and an organization and unites the generations of the past, present, and future.
Universities can hire great faculty thanks to endowments, albeit some may face competition from other universities. The money can also reduce the gender wage gap, which still exists in even the most famous and forward-thinking organizations.
Additionally, university endowments improve academic quality by enabling the institution to create cutting-edge teaching methods, support faculty and student research, and support new fields of study.
These institutional successes assist schools and universities in luring new students, faculty, and donors in addition to serving their stated functions. Students will be provided with more substantial financial aid alternatives as the university draws in more contributors.
Why Universities with Large Endowments Still Charge and Raise Tuition
It’s often a shock why universities that receive multi-billion dollar endowments still charge or raise tuition fees. This is one of those sensitive topics that critics of the country’s higher education system discuss.
Endowments are not often set up to support financial aid for students. These funds are designated for certain areas only. Remember that donors get to decide how universities should use the endowments.
When a donor donates money to cover the cost of establishing a facility but not enough to maintain it, some endowments may actually end up costing the school money in the long term. This will often cause a rise in tuition fees.
The truth is that American universities view tuition as a source of income that helps them grow or just maintain themselves. Even if a university used most of its endowments to reduce tuition, the rising costs of operating a higher education institution would eventually exhaust the endowment since operating expenses would surpass investment income.
Just a little FYI, plenty of wealthy universities have already reduced tuition costs. Particularly for kids from the poorest backgrounds, the richest universities are already doing a fairly excellent job of ensuring that these students don’t experience massive burdens in tuition fees.
The poorest students with the most talent probably won’t have to pay anything to attend several Ivy League institutions.
For instance, no tuition is required at Harvard for any household making less than $65,000. Additionally, people who earn between $65,000 and $150,000 will only be required to pay 10% of their income.
Even if a college doesn’t make such a lofty pledge, many offer scholarships and grants, which significantly reduce the net price that families pay compared to the sticker price.
This list profiles the 100 richest universities in North America, based on annual endowment figures published by the NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments. It’s important to note that there are some very wealthy universities in other parts of the world, such as the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Oxford University, and Cambridge University, but they are outside the scope of this survey. Additionally, this list shows the annual cost of undergraduate tuition for each school (from the National Center for Education Statistics), the average full professor salary (from the Chronicle of Higher Education), and annual research expenditures (from the National Science Foundation). Finally, this list includes several Canadian institutions, for which only endowment data could be obtained.
See also: The Most Influential Universities Today
Back to TopThe Richest Universities in North America Today: Schools 1-10
1. Harvard University
$39.4 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $51,925
Average Full Professor Salary: $235,604
Annual Research Expenditures: $1,123,160,000
Endowment: $39,427,896,000
Perhaps it is fitting that the oldest university in the U.S. is also the richest university in the world. In fact, Harvard’s wealth is more than that of many countries. Established in 1636, the university is named for its initial benefactor, John Harvard. It is a foundational institution of the country, the epitome of Ivy League universities, a cultural touchpoint in American society, and boasts an alumni list that includes eight U.S. presidents, 30 foreign heads of state, and 160 Nobel laureates. The private university, though founded and initially run by clergymen, is now secular. Harvard is recognized among the world’s best universities, with a degree (in any field, but especially in law) from Harvard serving as a gold seal on the resumes of its alumni. Considering that its alumni also includes over 180 living billionaires (Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg among them), it should be no surprise that a significant portion of its wealth comes from alumni donations. Harvard’s largest donation ever came from John A. Paulson in 2015, a sum of $400 million.
Harvard ranks #8 among highest annual research expenditures.
2. The University of Texas System
$30.9 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $38,326
Average Full Professor Salary: $168,499
Annual Research Expenditures: $652,187,000
Endowment: $30,958,239,000
Consisting of 14 institutions, the public University of Texas System is a huge educational system that serves all corners of Texas with well-regarded universities and programs. Its flagship university, UT Austin, was established in 1883, and has one of the largest student enrollments in the country, topping 50,000. Its alumni list includes 12 Nobel prize winners. A significant source of the UT system’s wealth comes from land ownership and investment, as is the case with most colleges. In this case, however, it means hundreds of thousands of acres of Texas land that is leased for oil, gas, and surface rights, as one might expect in Texas. Additionally, the University of Texas has received some impressive donations through the years, including from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Hearst Corporation, and the Moody Foundation. As UT Austin is a major athletics school, it has also reaped significant benefits from its “Longhorn Network,” developed in collaboration with ESPN.
3. Yale University
$30.3 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $55,500
Average Full Professor Salary: $236,442
Annual Research Expenditures: $951,084,000
Endowment: $30,314,800,000
The third-oldest university in the country, and another Ivy League institution, Yale University was founded in 1701, one of nine U.S. universities to predate the American Revolution. Like its Ivy League brethren, Yale is highly regarded in a wide range of fields, especially for its Law School and School of Medicine, and its alumni often go on to be successful and high-earners, if not also famous and influential. Yale’s alumni list includes five U.S. presidents, 19 supreme court justices, 31 living billionaires, and 62 Nobel laureates. Initially known as The Collegiate School, the university owes its current name to Elihu Yale, a head of the British East India Trade Company, who gave the university a sizable gift in 1716. Generations of benefactors have since followed suit, and Yale amassed great wealth through large donations, with its largest ever being $250 million in 2013 from alumnus Charles B. Johnson.
Yale University ranks #14 among highest annual research expenditures.
4. Stanford University
$27.69 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $53,529
Average Full Professor Salary: $254,232
Annual Research Expenditures: $1,109,708,000
Endowment: $27,699,834,000
Established in 1885, Stanford University is a private, secular university that has become one of the world’s richest in its (relatively) short history. Though not an Ivy League university, Stanford goes toe-to-toe with the best of them, boasting a massive endowment fund, along with an alumni list that includes a U.S. president (Herbert Hoover), 30 living billionaires, 83 Nobel Laureates, 28 Turing Award Laureates, and loads of members of congress (not to mention 270 olympic gold medals among its athletic alumni). Stanford traces its name to Leland and Jane Stanford, and is well regarded for its School of Engineering, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, and Graduate School of Business. Its endowment includes massive boosts from alumni donations, such as a $400 million gift in 2016 from Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike and graduate of the Stanford Business School.
Stanford University ranks #9 among highest annual research expenditures.
5. Princeton University
$26.1 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $52,800
Average Full Professor Salary: $248,252
Annual Research Expenditures: $326,207,000
Endowment: $26,116,022,000
The fourth-oldest university in the U.S., Princeton University is one of the original nine colonial colleges, dating back to 1746. Unlike some of the other, older institutions on this list, Princeton has relocated; twice, in fact, taking its current name in 1896, 150 years after its founding. As an Ivy League institution, Princeton is regarded among the best in the world, for its School of Engineering and Applied Science and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in particular. The alumni list at Princeton includes two U.S. presidents (and Michelle Obama), 12 U.S. Supreme Court justices, numerous members of congress, and 68 Nobel laureates. Princeton also boasts a high rate of donations from its wealthy and notable alumni; however, its largest donation ever came in the form of rare books (worth $300 million) from the estate of William H. Scheide.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
$17.5 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $53,790
Average Full Professor Salary: $232,216
Annual Research Expenditures: $952,017,000
Endowment: $17,569,328,000
Commonly known as MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university best known for its School of Engineering and School of Management, as well as its scientific research. In fact, MIT is often considered the best university in the world for engineering across the board. The university traces its 1861 founding to the industrial revolution in the U.S., and is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution. Its alumni and faculty list includes 96 Nobel laureates and 26 Turing Award winners. MIT is famous for research, in particular its work in defense with the U.S. military; this activity, however, has not been without controversy, especially among MIT faculty and students. Like others on this list, MIT has benefited from consistent and sizable donations through the years, including its largest gift ever in 2018 from Stephen A. Schwarzman, a sum of $350 million.
MIT ranks #13 among highest annual research expenditures.
7. University of Pennsylvania
$14.64 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,770
Average Full Professor Salary: $223,693
Annual Research Expenditures: $1,374,293,000
Endowment: $14,649,762,000
Established in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania represents another Ivy League entry on the list, as well as one of the nine colonial colleges. UPenn has been the home to many influential figures, as students and faculty. Its alumni list includes 14 heads of state, 46 U.S. governors, 3 supreme court justices, and 8 signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. In fact, the university was founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin, who was also its first president (and who is also the inspiration for the school’s athletic teams name, the Penn Quakers). Notable, living alumni include Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, and John Huntsman Jr. Academically, UPenn is best known for its Wharton School of Business, the School of Education, the Law School, the School of Medicine, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The university is also not short of generous benefactors; in 2019 it raised over $626 million in donations, more than every other university in Philadelphia combined.
The University of Pennsylvania ranks #4 among highest annual research expenditures.
8. The Texas A&M University System
$13.51 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $38,602
Average Full Professor Salary: $147,703
Annual Research Expenditures: $905,474,000
Endowment: $13,514,528,000
The Texas A&M University System is a public, state university system that encompasses 11 universities. Its flagship institution, located in College Station, boasts one of the largest student enrollments in the country, nearing 60,000. The flagship Texas A&M University was established in 1876 and is the founding member of the System, becoming the flagship in 1948. Texas A&M University is the only university in the state to hold space-grant, land-grant, and sea-grant designations, and is strongly associated with research for organizations including NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science foundation. Accordingly, the university is highly regarded for its Dwight Look College of Engineering. Its alumni list includes notables such as foreign heads of state, presidential cabinet members, NASA astronauts, and NFL athletes. It is also home to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. Year after year, the system pulls in hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to boost its endowment.
Texas A&M University - Austin ranks #18 among highest annual research expenditures.
9. University of Michigan
$12.44 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $51,200
Average Full Professor Salary: $174,125
Annual Research Expenditures: $1,530,139,000
Endowment: $12,448,817,000
The public University of Michigan is a research university established in 1817. Its founding precedes the statehood of Michigan by 20 years. The University of Michigan is as famous for its research as it is for its academics; in fact, it sits near the top of the list when it comes to highest annual research expenditures. Among its alumni and faculty, the university counts 25 Nobel Prize laureates, six Turing Award winners, and a Fields Medalist. It is well known for its College of Engineering, Law School, College of Engineering, and Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Beyond academics, UMichigan is famous for its Wolverines athletic teams, especially in football. Notable alumni include U.S. President Gerald Ford, over 250 legislators and congresspeople, and several foreign heads of state. Other alumni include writers and essayists such as Arthur Miller and Susan Orlean, as well as a cadre of professional athletes. UM’s endowment has grown steadily in recent years, due in no small part to sizable alumni donations in the last decade, with at least 10 topping $50 million each.
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor ranks #2 among highest annual research expenditures.
10. University of California System
$11.79 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: N/A
Average Full Professor Salary: N/A
Annual Research Expenditures: N/A
Endowment: $11,797,543,000
The University of California System is a public college system composed of 10 distinct institutions. Unlike other university systems on this list, the system includes a central administration (in Oakland) separate of its flagship institution (Berkeley, #52 on this list). Accordingly, the system has an endowment separate from the endowments of its individual institutions. The University of California was established in 1868 in Oakland before moving to Berkely; the system underwent a reorganization in 1951, separating the system from the Berkely campus. Seven of the system’s ten campuses are members of the Association of American Universities, and the system boasts faculty and alumni that include nearly 400 members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and 61 Nobel Laureates. Other UC institutions on this list include the University of California Los Angeles (#37), and the University of California San Francisco (#59).
The Richest Universities in North America Today: Schools 11-20
11. University of Notre Dame
$11.68 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $55,553
Average Full Professor Salary: $185,719
Annual Research Expenditures: $212,823,000
Endowment: $11,268,365,000
The University of Notre Dame is a private, Catholic research university, established in 1842. Like so many others on this list, Notre Dame owes much of its wealth to generous donations, going all the way back to its founding. The land on which Notre Dame is built was donated by none other than the Bishop of Vincennes, Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière, to Edward Sorin, its founder. Since then, the university has gone on to excel in academics, and is well known for its Business School, Law School, and School of Architecture. The university claims notable alumni such as Condoleeza Rice, Regis Philbin, and numerous NFL stars, Joe Montana chief among them. On that note, Notre Dame is well known for its Division I athletics teams (especially in football), collectively named the “Fighting Irish.” Such alumni have certainly been beneficial to the university; in 2017 it received its largest donation ever, a sum of $100 million from Kenneth Ricci.
12. Northwestern University
$11. 09 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $56,691
Average Full Professor Salary: $214,273
Annual Research Expenditures: $751,809,000
Endowment: $11,091,516,000
Northwestern University is a private, nonsectarian university established in 1851. It draws its name from what had previously been known as the Northwest Territory, which the university was intended to serve; rather than trace its namesake and founding to a specific, enterprising individual, the university’s origins find root in a cadre of nine prominent Illinois residents. Since then, the university has gone on to feature notable faculty and alumni including 19 Nobel Laureates, 10 living billionaires, 84 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and two U.S. Supreme Court Justices. The university features 12 schools, the Kellogg School of Management, the Feinberg School of Medicine, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of Law well-recognized among them. The university has benefited from many generous alumni donations, including $100 million in 2015 from Roberta Buffett Elliott.
Northwestern University ranks #27 among highest annual research expenditures.
13. Columbia University
$10.95 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $61,788
Average Full Professor Salary: $223,716
Annual Research Expenditures: $893,062,000
Endowment: $10,950,738,000
More commonly known simply as “Columbia,” Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League research university, and one of the nine colonial colleges. Unlike others on this list (which were founded by Americans), Columbia was actually founded in 1754 by King George II of Great Britain as a response to the founding of Princeton College. The university’s original name was King’s College; the name was changed in 1784 following the revolution. Columbia claims a long list of notable, influential, and famous alumni and faculty, including five founding fathers, three U.S. presidents, 29 foreign heads of state, 10 supreme court justices, and 96 Nobel Laureates. The university is well known for excelling in a range of fields, from public health and medicine, to nuclear physics and artificial intelligence, to drama and journalism (125 Pulitzer Prize winners are associated with Columbia). In fact, Columbia University is the origin site for much of the research that went into the Manhattan Project. The university regularly receives a great deal of donation money, including $400 million in 2007 from John W. Kluge, for student aid.
Columbia University ranks #19 among the highest annual research expenditures.
14. Duke University
$8.6 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $58,031
Average Full Professor Salary: $201,860
Annual Research Expenditures: $1,126,924,000
Endowment: $8,609,004,000
Duke University is a private research university established in 1838. Initially founded by Methodists and Quakers, the university is now nonsectarian (and is still recognized as having a high-quality divinity program). Though it has humble beginnings as Brown’s Schoolhouse, what is now known as Duke University benefited immensely from donations. The university was originally located in what is now Trinity, North Carolina. It moved to Durham in 1892 after a land donation from Julian S. Carr and Washington Duke, the latter of whom the university was renamed to honor after his son James B. Duke established the Duke Endowment in 1924 with a $40 million trust fund. Today, Duke is known for its Fuqua School of Business, School of Law, and Pratt School of Engineering, as well as its highly successful men’s basketball team. Among its alumni and faculty, Duke counts notable figures including 15 Nobel Laureates, 50 Rhodes Scholars,14 living billionaires, and U.S. President Richard Nixon. Every year, Duke receives large amounts of money by way of donations, tallying $516 million in 2018.
Duke University ranks #7 among highest annual research expenditures.
15. The University of Chicago
$8.26 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $60,552
Average Full Professor Salary: $247,117
Annual Research Expenditures: $433,328,000
Endowment: $8,263,868,000
Established in 1890, the University of Chicago is a private research university. UChicago traces its origins to sizable donations from the American Baptist Education Society, and the famed philanthropist John D. Rockefeller., as well as several wealthy Chicagoans. The university counts among its faculty and alumni 100 Nobel Laureates, 25 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 54 Rhodes Scholars. Academically, the university is known for its Booth School of Business, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, Law School, and Pritzker School of Medicine. The university is also associated with groundbreaking work in areas including literary criticism, legal theory, nuclear science, and carbon dating. It is home to the largest university press in the country, the University of Chicago Press. UChicago has benefitted from generous donations from the start, and continues to do so, with recent donations including $100 million to the School of Medicine in 2017, and $125 million from Ken Griffin in 2018 to the Economics department.
16. Washington University in St. Louis
$7.95 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $55,292
Average Full Professor Salary: $201,104
Annual Research Expenditures: $754,462,000
Endowment: $7,953,986,000
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university established in 1853. Initially named the Eliot Seminary, the institution changed its name in 1854 to honor former president George Washington (and because William Greenleaf Eliot, its original namesake, was uncomfortable having a college named after him). Among its alumni and faculty, the university counts 24 Nobel Laureates, as well as notable names including Clyde Cowan (co-discoverer of the neutrino), J.C.R. Licklider (pioneer of artificial intelligence), and Peter Mutharika (the President of Malawi). Academically, the university is recognized for its George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Olin Business School, and Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The university has benefited greatly from donor gifts, and tallied $3.378 billion from 2012-2018 through its Leading Togethercampaign.
Washington University in St. Louis ranks #26 among the highest annual research expenditures.
17. Emory University
$7.87 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $53,804
Average Full Professor Salary: $179,478
Annual Research Expenditures: $664,888,000
Endowment: $7,872,381,000
Emory is a private research university associated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1836 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named to honor John Emory, a Methodist Bishop. Its founding date puts it among the oldest private universities in the country. Originally established in Oxford, Georgia, Emory closed in 1861 during the American Civil War, and had significant financial troubles during the Reconstruction period. The university relocated in 1915, owing its current location to a land donation from Asa Griggs Candler, founder of The Coca-Cola Company. The university encompasses nine schools, and is well known for its Goizueta Business School, School of Law, and School of Medicine. Among its alumni, Emory University claims two prime ministers, members of the U.S. congress, two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, and a handful of foreign heads of state. Emory’s distinguished faculty list includes figures such as author Salman Rushdie, poet Natasha Tretheway, President Jimmy Carter, President Desmond Tutu, and the 14th Dalai Lama. In its past and today, Emory has benefited greatly from donations; of particular note is a massive $400 million in 2018 from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation for Medical Research.
Emory University is number #30 among highest annual research expenditures.
18. Cornell University
$7.32 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,222
Average Full Professor Salary: $179,893
Annual Research Expenditures: $984,478,000
Endowment: $7,328,241,000
Established in 1865, Cornell University is a private Ivy League Institution. The university traces its name directly to its founder, Ezra Cornell, who donated $500,000 to start the endowment fund. Among its faculty and alumni, Cornell counts 59 Nobel Laureates, four Turing Award winners, 55 Olympic medalists, and 35 billionaires. Notable faculty include Norman Borlagh, John Cleese, and Carl Sagan. The university is well recognized for research in science and engineering, especially aeronautics, computer science, space research, and nuclear physics. Cornell consists of seven undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions, of which the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, the College of Engineering, and the Weill Cornell Medical College are particularly well regarded. Cornell does quite well on donations every year, and received $743 million from donors in 2017.
Cornell University ranks #12 among highest annual research expenditures.
19. University of Virginia
$7.05 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $50,900
Average Full Professor Salary: $174,539
Annual Research Expenditures: $469,682,000
Endowment: $7,058,235,000
The University of Virginia is a public research university established in 1819. The university owes its founding to none other than Thomas Jefferson, and even included James Madison and James Monroe on its original governing Board of Visitors. Groundbreaking in its time, UVA allowed students to study in a liberal approach, with eight separate schools, rather than just confining students to law, medicine, or divinity. Today, UVA is recognized for its Darden Graduate School of Business, Curry School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law, and School of Medicine. Notable alumni include President Woodrow WIlson, numerous NASA astronauts, FBI Director Robert Mueller, U.S. governors, and Edgar Allen Poe. In 2019 UVA received its largest donation ever of $120 million from investor Jaffray Woodriff.
20. Rice University
$6.48 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $49,112
Average Full Professor Salary: $195,897
Annual Research Expenditures: $167,277,000
Endowment: $6,481,102,000
Rice University, named after industrialist and real estate mogul William Marsh Rice, is a private research university established in 1912. The university is the result of Rice’s will, in which he requested his estate ($4.6 million) to be used toward founding a university of the highest quality. Incidentally, Rice was murdered in an attempt to steal away his fortune through a false will conspiracy. Today, true to Rice’s last wishes, the university is highly regarded the world over, particularly for its applied science programs, and research in areas including nanotechnology and space science. Rice’s JSchool of Business and School of Engineering are consistently highly ranked. Per Rice’s original charter, the university was tuition-free until 1964 (though it was also strictly segregated). Since the U.S. set its sights on space, Rice University has been closely associated with NASA; in fact, its alumni list includes 14 astronauts. The largest donation made to Rice University came in 2015 by way of venture capitalist John Doerr, a sum of $50 million.
The Richest Universities in North America Today: Schools 21-30
21. Johns Hopkins University
$6.27 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $55,350
Average Full Professor Salary: $169,266
Annual Research Expenditures: $2,562,307,000
Endowment: $6,275,939,000
Johns Hopkins University is a private research university established in 1876. It owes its name to abolitionist and philanthropist Johns Hopkins, who offered up $7 million of his own wealth to establish the university, as well as the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital. The university was modeled after Heidelberg University (in Germany) and is considered the first research university in the U.S., integrating research and teaching instead of just offering higher education. Today, the university is still highly regarded for its commitment to research, especially in the medical sciences, but also in space sciences. It is also well known for programs in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Education, the Whiting School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine. The university is affiliated with 39 Nobel Laureates, and its notable alumni include President Woodrow Wilson. Johns Hopkins University has benefited immensely from the generosity of donors. In 2018, the university received the largest individual donation ever made to a single university in the U.S. from former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, a whopping $1.8 billion.
Johns Hopkins University ranks #1 among highest annual research expenditures.
22. Vanderbilt University
$6.27 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $52,070
Average Full Professor Salary: $193,619
Annual Research Expenditures: $640,842,000
Endowment: $6,270,877,000
Established in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a private research university. It was initially founded as Central University, with the intent of training ministers. It adopted its current name in tribute to its early benefactor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, who gave the then-struggling school a $500,000 endowment in 1878; it also later split with the Methodist Church, and remains secular today. Vanderbilt is often recognized among the top research institutions in the U.S. in areas including health sciences, space science, defense, and computer and electrical engineering. The university is also well known for its Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine, and School of Nursing. Notable alumni include foreign heads of state, two U.S. Vice Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and presidential cabinet members. Vanderbilt University received its single largest ever donation, $340 million, in 1998.
23. University of Southern California
$5.73 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $58,195
Average Full Professor Salary: $184,286
Annual Research Expenditures: $764,322,000
Endowment: $5,732,101,000
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in the state. USC is famous for its research and as the origin place of many useful technologies, including ARPANET and the Domain Name System (which lead to the development of the internet itself). Academically USC is well-regarded for its School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Law, School of Medicine, and School of Social Work. The university counts nine Nobel Laureates and six MacArthur Fellows among its alumni and faculty, and notable USC grads include George Lucas, WIll Ferrell, Neil Armstrong, and John Wayne. In 2018, USC received $260 million from the Lord Foundation of California, the largest in school history.
The University of Southern California ranks #25 for highest annual research expenditures.
24. Dartmouth College
$5.73 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,638
Average Full Professor Salary: $191,230
Annual Research Expenditures: $308,445,000
Endowment: $5,731,322,000
Dartmouth College, a private Ivy League research university, was established in 1769, and is one of the nine original colonial colleges to predate the Revolution. Dartmouth is often cited as one of the best universities in the country, especially for its Tuck School of Business, Thayer School of Engineering, and Geisel School of Medicine. Though it produces high-level research in many areas, Dartmouth is perhaps best known for advances in economics and political science. Among its alumni, Dartmouth counts 120 members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, two U.S. Supreme Court Justices, three Nobel Prize Laureates, and 10 billionaires. Notable alumni names include Robert Frost, “Dr.” Theodor Seuss Geisel (yes, that one), Mindy Kaling, and Daniel Webster. In 2014 Dartmouth College received its largest donation ever, $100 million from an anonymous donor.
25. Ohio State University
$5.25 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $32,061
Average Full Professor Salary: $143,306
Annual Research Expenditures:$864,327,000
Endowment: $5,256,759,000
With nearly 70,000 students, Ohio State University routinely sits at the top of the list when it comes to largest student enrollments. Established in 1870 from a land-grant, OSU is a public research university. Originally founded as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, OSU has since significantly expanded its focus, and is especially well known for its research in medical science, environmental science, and astronomy. Among its alumni, OSU counts Nobel Prize Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as notables including golfer Jack Nicklaus, author R.L. Stine, George Steinbrenner, and Larry Sanger (a co-founder of Wikipedia). OSU regularly benefits from donor generosity, and had a record year of fundraising in 2018 with a total of $601 million.
26. Pennsylvania State University
$4.54 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $35,514
Average Full Professor Salary: $149,472
Annual Research Expenditures:$825,561,000
Endowment: $4,546,105,000
Pennsylvania State University is a public research university established in 1855. Originally founded as the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania, the institution initially focused squarely on agricultural studies, and gradually expanded its offerings over time, with some expansion (of campus and programs) made possible by the Morrill Land-Grand Acts of 1862. Penn State is known for research in areas including psychology, earth and mineral science, applied sciences, and projects with the Department of Defense. Academically, Penn State is well known for its College of Education and College of Engineering. Penn State also operates Penn State World Campus, a huge, fully online college with degree programs at all levels. Notable alumni include Keegan Michael Key, Adam McKay, Mark Parker, and Bruce Banner (in the Marvel Multiverse). Every year, Pennsylvania State University benefits from generous donations, and had a record year in 2017-18, pulling in $362.9 million.
Pennsylvania State University ranks #21 among highest annual research expenditures.
27. New York University
$4.34 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $53,308
Average Full Professor Salary: $205,079
Annual Research Expenditures:$917,744,000
Endowment: $4,345,608,000
New York University is a private research university established in 1831 in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The university was founded by Albert Gallatin, who was previously the Secretary of Treasury under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The university is best known for its Stern School of Business, School of Law, School of Medicine, and Silver School of Social Work. Not content to serve New York alone, NYU also operates campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, and academic centers in a handful of major global cities. Alumni of NYU include foreign heads of state, U.S. governors, 17 billionaires, 37 Nobel Laureates, and notable names such as Alan Greenspan, Jack Dorsey, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and Oliver Stone. New York University regularly draws large amounts in fundraising, clocking in at $506.4 million in 2015, and $648 million in 2016.
New York University ranks #17 among highest annual research expenditures.
28. University of Pittsburgh
$4.31 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $33,746
Average Full Professor Salary: $151,956
Annual Research Expenditures:$939,706,000
Endowment: $4,311,387,000
The University of Pittsburgh is a public research university established in 1787. The institution began as the Pittsburgh Academy, and was private until 1966. It adopted its current name in 1908 after purchasing a new campus and consolidating its many departments, which had become spread out through the city over time. UPitt is well recognized for research contributions in the biomedical sciences, especially through the University of PIttsburgh Cancer Institute, but also in areas such as cognition, and supercomputing. Academically, UPitt is known for high quality programs in its School of Medicine, School of Education,and Swanson School of Engineering. Beyond academics, the Pittsburgh Panthers athletic teams bring the school fame, especially in basketball and football. UPitt’s alumni list includes Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and american politicians, as well as sports greats like Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, and Tony Dorsett. In 2011, UPitt received its largest donation ever from alum William S. Dietrich II, a sum of $125 million.
The University of Pittsburgh ranks #15 among highest annual research expenditures.
29. Brown University
$3.97 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $58,404
Average Full Professor Salary: $185,331
Annual Research Expenditures:$212,290,000
Endowment: $3,976,694,000
Established in 1764, Brown University is a private research university, and one of the nine original colonial colleges that predate the American Revolution. Historically, Brown is notable as the first institution to accept students regardless of religious affiliation. The university owes its name to the Brown family, who were responsible for moving it from Warren to Providence, and for establishing its endowment. Brown University’s faculty and alumni list includes eight Nobel Laureates, 10 National Medal of Science Laureates, eight billionaires, a Supreme Court Justice, and numerous members of the U.S. Congress. Academically, the university is well known for its liberal arts programs, especially in literature and creative writing, as well as for computer science. Notable alumni of Brown include Daveed Diggs, Tracee Ellis Ross, Emma Watson, and John Krasinski.
30. University of Minnesota
$3.91 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $33,325
Average Full Professor Salary: $142,413
Annual Research Expenditures:$921,681,000
Endowment: $3,951,464,000
The University of Minnesota is a public research university that encompasses a five campus system; its flagship campus is in the Twin Cities. UMinn was established in 1851 as a preparatory school, and was able to expand thanks to a federal land grant and a large cash donation from John Pillsbury (of Pillsbury biscuits fame). Today, the flagship campus consists of 19 colleges and schools, and is well-recognized for quality programs in its Carlson School of Management, College of Education and Human Development, and Law School. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, and lists among its alumni and faculty 26 Nobel Laureates and three Pulitzer Prize winners. Notable UMinn alumni include Walter Mondale and Bob Dylan. In 2017 the university reported a record fundraising year, totaling $337 million.
The University of Minnesota ranks # 16 among highest annual research expenditures.
The Richest Universities in North America Today: Schools 31-40
31. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
$3.67 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $36,159
Average Full Professor Salary: $160,643
Annual Research Expenditures:$1,102,063,000
Endowment: $3,671,351,000
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, flagship of the University of North Carolina System, is a public research university established in 1789. UNC ranks among the oldest universities in the country, and is considered a “Public Ivy.” UNC counts among its faculty and alumni nine Nobel Laureates, 23 Pulitzer Prize winners, numerous members of the U.S. Congress, and U.S. President James K. Polk. UNC is well known for its Tar Heels athletic teams, particularly its men’s basketball program, which once featured none other than Michael Jordan himself. If that isn’t enough for athletic royalty, look at the old rosters for the university’s women’s soccer team, which once counted Mia Hamm among its ranks. Of course, UNC would not be much of a university without academics, and it consistently ranks high for programs at its Kenan-Flagler Business School, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, and Gillings School of Global Public Health. In 2014, UNC received its largest donation ever, a sum of $100 million from Fred Eshelman.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks #10 for highest annual research expenditures.
32. University of Wisconsin
$3.15 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $37,785
Average Full Professor Salary: $132,916
Annual Research Expenditures:$1,193,413,000
Endowment: $3,152,578,000
The University of Wisconsin is a public research university established in 1848 with the statehood of Wisconsin. The Madison campus is the flagship institution of the University of Wisconsin System, and benefited from land- and sea-grants over time. The university today still builds on “The Wisconsin Idea” proposed by university President Charles Van Hise in 1904, that the university’s activities, whether research, education, or outreach, should be focused on bettering the lives of the state’s residents. The university is recognized for its high-quality programs from schools including the School of Education, the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, the College of Engineering, and the School of Business. UW is a founding member of the Association of American Universities, and continues to produce top-level research, especially in engineering, molecular biology, and medical sciences. UW is considered a “Public Ivy,” and its alumni and faculty list include 25 Nobel Laureates as well as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Notable alumni include John Muir, Joan Cusack, and Dick Cheney. Additionally, the university is well recognized for its Badgers athletic teams, especially in men’s basketball. In its history, the largest donation the University of Wisconsin has received has been $100 million in 2014, by way of alums John and Tashia Morgridge.
The University of Wisconsin ranks # 6 among highest annual research expenditures.
33. Michigan State University
$3.03 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $39,766
Average Full Professor Salary: $153,973
Annual Research Expenditures:$694,917,000
Endowment: $3,033,279,000
Established in 1855, Michigan State University is a public research university. MSU began as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan with a particular focus on agricultural science. However, the original curriculum was notably rigorous, with thorough scientific and liberal arts components, as well as three hours of required manual labor daily. Though still rigorous, the modern curriculum does not include manual labor requirements. Academically, MSU is most notable for its College of Education and its Broad College of Business. Dating back to its agricultural origins, MSU is known for research in areas including hybrid corn and the homogenization of milk, as well as for research in areas such as cancer drugs, particle accelerators, and galaxy formation. MSU is also home to the Spartans athletic teams. Notable MSU alumni include American politicians, foreign heads of state, and Magic Johnson. In 2018, MSU received its largest single donation ever of $30 million from alum Edward J. Minskoff.
Michigan State University ranks #28 among highest annual research expenditures.
34. California Institute of Technology
$2.97 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $54,600
Average Full Professor Salary: $207,794
Annual Research Expenditures:$400,312,000
Endowment: $2,975,376,000
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university established in 1891. Initially founded as Throop University, the institution began as a vocational school, before attracting research scientists, expanding over time, and adopting its current name and model in 1920. CalTech focuses on science and engineering, and is recognized for graduate programs in engineering, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, and biology; accordingly, the university is well-regarded for research in STEM fields, and has worked with organizations including NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. Among its alumni and faculty, CalTech counts 37 Nobel Laureates and six Turing Award winners. Notable CalTech figures include William Shockley (the inventor of the solid-state transistor), Gordon Moore (co-founder of Intel), and Benoit Mandelbrot (father of fractal geometry). In 2019, CalTech received a jaw-dropping donation of $750 Million for climate research from alum Gordon Moore and wife Betty moore.
35. University of Washington
$2.93 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $38,166
Average Full Professor Salary: $149,268
Annual Research Expenditures:$1,348,220,000
Endowment: $2,935,220,000
Established in 1861, the University of Washington is a public research university with its main campus in Seattle. UW is a member of the Association of American Universities, and is recognized by the Carnegie Classification as an R1 Doctoral Research University. The university’s founding precedes Washington’s statehood by nearly 30 years, and it owes its original location (downtown Seattle) to land donations from Washington pioneers. Today, UW is considered a “Public Ivy”, and is known for producing lots of top-level research, as well as high-ranking academic programs from its School of Medicine, College of Engineering, and Foster School of Business. UW is also home to the Washington Huskies athletic teams, who have been especially successful in football. Among its faculty and alumni, UW counts seven Nobel Laureates, and 67 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; notable names include Bruce Lee, Kenny G, and Joel McHale. The university’s proximity to Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing headquarters is fortunate for students seeking lucrative careers, as well as for donations. In 2016, for example, UW received $210 million from the Gates Foundation, the largest gift in school history.
The University of Washington ranks #5 among highest annual research expenditures.
36. Williams College
$2.88 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,280
Average Full Professor Salary: $147,644
Annual Research Expenditures:$5,227,000
Endowment: $2,888,962,000
William College is a private liberal arts school established in 1793. The college takes its name from Ephraim Williams, whose estate provided funding for the school’s establishment. Though initially opened as a free college (per the wishes of Ephraim Williams), it soon petitioned to charge tuition. It remains a relatively small school, with only around 2,000 students enrolled in a year, and is recognized for high-quality liberal arts programs, especially in humanities and social sciences. Among its alumni, William College counts a Nobel Laureate, nine Pulitzer Prize winners, 10 billionaires, a U.S. president (James Garfield), and a whole slew of high-ranking U.S. politicians. The largest single gift in the college’s history came from alum Herbert Allen in 1998, at $20 million.
37. University of California Los Angeles
$2.74 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $42,994
Average Full Professor Salary: $216,977
Annual Research Expenditures:$1,076,917,000
Endowment: $2,746,930,000
The University of California Los Angeles is a public research university and a member of the University of California System. UCLA was established in 1882 and is now considered a “Public Ivy.” UCLA is recognized for research in areas including architecture, applied science, engineering, medicine, and public health, and has highly-ranked programs in areas including medicine, engineering, business, and film. Among its alumni and faculty, UCLA boasts 24 Nobel Laureates, three field medalists, five Turing Award winners, and 55 members of the National Academy of Science. Notable alumni include Jacki Robinson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Francis Ford Coppola, James Dean, and Carol Burnett. The university is also home to the Bruins athletic teams, of whom the men’s basketball team is considered nothing short of a dynasty. UCLA regularly benefits from generous donors; in 2017 it raised over $650 million.
The University of California Los Angeles ranks #11 among highest annual research expenditures.
38. Purdue University
$2.62 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $28,794
Average Full Professor Salary: $143,781
Annual Research Expenditures:$622,814,000
Endowment: $2,625,278,000
Purdue University is a public research university established in 1869. The West Lafayette campus is the flagship institution of the Purdue University System. The university takes its name from its early benefactor, John Purdue, who offered up $150,000 as part of the funds necessary to start the university. Today, the university is a member of the Association of American Universities, and is recognized for very high research activity in areas including economics, veterinary medicine, and technology. Purdue is also known for quality academic programs from its College of Engineering, Krannert School of Management, College of Education, and College of Pharmacy. Among its faculty and alumni, Purdue counts 13 Nobel Prize Laureates, and 25 astronauts; notable names include Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, and Drew Brees. Purdue University consistently receives significant amounts of donation money through its fundraising campaigns, pulling in a record $451 million in 2018.
39. Carnegie Mellon University
$2.54 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,119
Average Full Professor Salary: $166,297
Annual Research Expenditures:$328,100,000
Endowment: $2,542,650,000
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university established in 1900 by famed industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Initially known solely as the Carnegie Institute of Technology, the university took its current form after a merger with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in 1912. The University boasts an impressive resume of faculty and alumni, which include 20 Nobel Prize Laureates, 13 Turing Award winners, and 10 Academy Award winners, and notable names such as James Gosling (the inventor of the Java coding language) and Andy Warhol. Carnegie Mellon features well-regarded programs in humanities and social sciences, as well as programs from the Tepper School of Business, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the School of Computer Science. The university is currently in the middle of a massive $2 billion fundraising campaign.
40. Boston College
$2.52 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $57,910
Average Full Professor Salary: $188,459
Annual Research Expenditures:$58,088,000
Endowment: $2,523,300,000
Established in 1863, Boston College is a private, Jesuit research university. The university’s origins actually date back to 1827 with a private school opened by the Jesuit Bishop of Boston Benedict Joseph Fenwick in the basement of his cathedral; due to clashes with the city’s Protestant elite, it took several decades for Fenwick to secure a charter for the college. Today the college is recognized for quality programs in its Lynch School of Education, Boston College Law School, and Carroll School of Management. Notable alumni of Boston College include John Kerry, Ed McMahon, and Amy Poehler. In 2016, Boston College completed a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign.
The Richest Universities in North America Today: Schools 41-50
41. University of Richmond
$2.51 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $54,690
Average Full Professor Salary: $160,994
Annual Research Expenditures:$3,106,000
Endowment: $2,517,969,000
Established in 1830, the University of Richmond is a private liberal arts university. It was initially founded by Baptists as a school of ministry, a focus which it has since dropped. The college was heavily involved in the American Civil War as part of the Confederacy, to the point that all of its students left to form a regiment of the confederate army, school buildings were used as barracks, and all of the college’s funds were invested in confederate war bonds, resulting in bankruptcy. After the war, the university was revived through generous donations. Today, the university consists of five schools, and is especially known for its School of Law. The largest gift in the university’s history came in 1969, in the form of $50 million from Claiborne Robins, which was the largest ever given by a living benefactor to an American university at the time.
42. Indiana University
$2.48 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $36,512
Average Full Professor Salary: $127,591
Annual Research Expenditures:$540,421,000
Endowment: $2,486,037,000
The flagship of the public Indiana University System is Indiana University Bloomington, established in 1820. IU Bloomginton is a member of the Association of American Universities, and is considered a “Public Ivy.” It is known for high-quality academic programs and top-level research, and especially for the (sometimes controversial) Kinsey Institute, as well as computing and artificial intelligence. The Kelley School of Business, School of Education, and Maurer School of Law all offer well-ranked programs for graduate and undergraduate students. Among its faculty and alumni, IU Bloomington counts nine Nobel Laureates and 17 Rhodes Scholars, as well as 20 Pulitzer Prizes, six Academy Awards, 49 Grammys, and 104 Olympic Medals. Beyond academics, IU is famous for its Hoosiers athletic teams. Notable alumni include Mark Cuban, John Mellencamp, Laverne Cox, and James Watson (of Watson and Crick fame). In 2019, Indiana University received a $60 million gift from alum Fred Luddy to be used toward artificial intelligence research.
43. Amherst College
$2.47 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $58,640
Average Full Professor Salary: $156,627
Annual Research Expenditures:$4,070,000
Endowment: $2,473,283,000
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college established in 1821. The institution originated out of a push for an alternative to Williams College (#36 on this list), which was struggling at the time. Often ranked as the best private liberal arts college in the country, Amherst utilizes a unique open curriculum, in which students do not complete a designated core curriculum, but instead choose from courses across around 40 fields of study. This does not mean, however, that Amherst is not known for being rigorous. It is also part of the Five Colleges Consortium, which includes Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This arrangement allows Amherst students to take courses at the other institutions in the consortium, thus expanding their options. Notable Amherst College Alumni include David Foster Wallace, Emily Dickinson, Calvin Coolidge, and numerous foreign heads of state. In 2018, Amherst College received $100 million from an anonymous donor.
44. University of Illinois
$2.35 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $32,264
Average Full Professor Salary: $151,589
Annual Research Expenditures:$642,084,000
Endowment: $2,353,821,000
The University of Illinois is a public research university established in 1867. The Urbana-Champaign campus (so named after the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign) is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois System. It is a land-grant university that was initially founded as Illinois Industrial University (keeping to an industrial and agricultural focus); it adopted its current name in 1885 to reflect its expanded liberal arts curriculum. The university maintains high research status through its Research Park, especially in supercomputing; in fact, UofI was a 2nd-generation ARPAnet site (the technology that led to the development of the internet as we know it today). The University of Illinois is well known for quality academic programs in its School of Information Sciences, College of Engineering, and Department of Psychology. The university counts 25 Pulitzer Prize winners and 30 Nobel Laureates among its faculty and staff, and notable names include Jack Kilby (creator of the integrated circuit), John Bardeen (creator of the transistor), and actor Nick Offerman. The university’s largest gift ever came by way of Larry and Beth Gies, $150 million in 2017.
45. Pomona College
$2.32 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $54,762
Average Full Professor Salary: $159,303
Annual Research Expenditures:$3,205,000
Endowment: $2,324,594,000
Pomona College is a private liberal arts college established in 1887 by Congregationalists. The college was created with the intent of bringing a New England-style liberal arts school to southern California. It is a founding member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium, which, like other college consortiums, allows students to easily take courses at other member institutions. Pomona College is known for being very, very exclusive; accordingly, it always maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio. Notable names among Pomona’s alumni include composer John Cage, conductor Robert Shaw, and musician Kris Kristofferson; additionally, Pomona once counted writer David Foster Wallace among its faculty. Pomona College has benefited significantly from generous donations, including $25 million in 2015, and $10 million in 2018.
46. Boston University
$2.3 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $55,892
Average Full Professor Salary: $188,274
Annual Research Expenditures:$421,360,000
Endowment: $2,304,235,000
Established in 1839, Boston University is a private research university. Originally associated with Methodists and called the Newbury Biblical Institute (and located in Vermont), the university has since become nonsectarian. BU is especially well known for its School of Medicine, as well as its School of Law, School of Management, and College of Engineering. Among its alumni and faculty, Boston University counts eight Nobel Laureates, 23 Pulitzer Prize winners, and nine Academy Award winners. The university boasts an impressive list of notable faculty and alumni through its years, including Alexander Graham Bell (as a researcher), Martin Luther King Jr. (who earned his doctorate there in 1955), Robert Lowell (faculty and U.S. Poet Laureate), Elie Wiesel (faculty), William Howard Taft (as a lecturer), and Julianne Moore. In 2019 BU wrapped up a seven-year fundraising campaign that drew $1.85 billion.
47. The Rockefeller University
$2.29 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: N/A
Average Full Professor Salary: N/A
Annual Research Expenditures:$319,037,000
Endowment: $2,293,239,000
The Rockefeller University is a private graduate university established in 1901. The University owes its name to American business magnate John D. Rockefeller, who founded it as The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (Rockefeller is also the founder of the University of Chicago, #15 on this list). It was the first biomedical institute in the U.S., and its campus includes the Rockefeller University Hospital. It is associated with important advances in the biomedical sciences, including discoveries in syphilis, AIDS, and the influenza virus. The university is highly specialized, only offering a few doctoral programs, and students are fully funded and supported, paying nothing for tuition or lodging. The Rockefeller University claims 27 Nobel Laureates among its faculty and alumni.
48. University of Rochester
$2.23 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $56,030
Average Full Professor Salary: $164,398
Annual Research Expenditures:$353,003,000
Endowment: $2,239,720,000
The University of Rochester is a private research university established in 1850. The university was founded by The First Baptist Church of Hamilton to train clergy, and traces the start of its endowment to a $10,000 donation. Rochester owes much of its growth to donations in the first quarter of the 20th century from John D. Rockefeller and George Eastman especially, who donated plenty in life and also left his entire estate (around $100 million) to the university upon his death. In fact, for a time in the middle of the 20th century, the University of Rochester ranked third among the world’s largest endowments, but by the 1980s, a great deal of the wealth was lost due to too much money being concentrated in bad investments. Thanks to successful fundraising campaigns in the last two decades, the university has climbed its way back up in the ranks, but is certainly not at its former glory. In 2016, the university wrapped up its largest fundraising campaign ever, pulling in $1.368 billion. Rochester is known for top-tier research in engineering and the medical sciences, and offers well-ranked programs through its William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Medical Center.
49. Wellesley College
$2.17 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $56,052
Average Full Professor Salary: $160,340
Annual Research Expenditures:$10,326,000
Endowment: $2,173,415,000
Wellesley College is a private women’s college, and an original member of the Seven Sisters Colleges. It is often considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country, and even supports non-traditional students through its Elisabeth Kaiser Davis Degree Program. Notably, Wellesley College offers a cross-registration program with MIT (#6 on this list) that allows students to take MIT courses and expand their education options. The college boasts an impressive alumni list, with names including Hilary Clinton, Diane Sawyer, Madeleine Albright, and Cokie Roberts. In 2015, the university received the largest single gift in its history, $50 million from two Wellesly alumni.
50. Georgia Institute of Technology
$2.16 Billion
Annual Undergraduate Tuition: $33,794
Average Full Professor Salary: $150,740
Annual Research Expenditures:$804,301,000
Endowment: $2,169,005,000
The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly Georgia Tech) is a public research university established in 1885. It began as a trade school, founded during the Reconstruction period in an effort to get Georgia back on its feet; over time, the institution expanded its academic focus to that of a full university, but remains best known for its engineering programs. Toward that end, Georgia Tech is also known for very high research activity, with a significant portion of its research (and funding) going toward government-related work, but also bioengineering, nanotechnology, and sustainability. Among its alumni, notable names include President Jimmy Carter, Jeff Foxworthy, and Chris Bosh. In 2012, Georgia Tech received its largest single donation of $50 million from alum Ernest Scheller Jr.
The Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #22 among highest annual research expenditures.
