List of colleges and universities in the United States by endowment

The investment yields a return that funds a portion of an institution's operational expenses while the principal exists in perpetuity.

The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) maintains information on endowments at U.S. higher education institutions by fiscal year (FY).

Some universities benefit from endowments that are not under their direct control but which are nonetheless dedicated to the welfare of one or several institutions.

Critics note that the tax could threaten financial aid for low-income students, stifle social mobility, and obstruct life-saving research.

Sixteen states do not have institutions included in this list: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Harvard University , with a $51.977 billion endowment as of FY2024 , is the wealthiest university in the world.
The University of Texas System has the largest system-wide endowment of any American public higher education institution.
Princeton Theological Seminary has the largest endowment per student in the United States.