Latest college endowment figures are available

Every year the National Association of College and University Business Officers, NACUBO, releases an endowment study listing the endowment of over 700 colleges throughout the country. The 2007 report on endowments is now out and the biggest news is the amount of growth in the endowments, particularly the largest endowments. The average listed endowment rose 18.4% over last year. Notre Dame went up 34.7% and Duke was up 31.4% for two of the largest percentage increases. Harvard was up 19.8% but given the size of its endowment that meant an increase of almost 6 billion dollars over last year.

There are now 141 colleges with endowments exceeding $500 million and 76 of those have endowments exceeding 1 billion dollars. Given those kinds of numbers, the increasing financial aid packages being announced by some of the wealthiest colleges loses some of its splendor. Hopefully more of the colleges on the high side of this list who have yet to act will also revise their financial aid policies to increase aid to lower and middle income students.