Yale University is a private Ivy League university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in the early 1700s, and originally known as The Collegiate School. But, like many other prominent universities, it was renamed following a hefty investment by Elihu Yale, Governor of the British East India Trading Company.
Now, the historical university is divided into 14 schools, including the undergraduate school, twelve business schools and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Yale is also quite famous for its elusive secret society known as Skull and Bones. Yale’s Skull and Bones has produced such alum as multiple former presidents including both George H.W. and George W. Bush, along with supreme court justices, CIA directors, a former secretary of defense, major publishing house owners and more. There are several theories surrounding the inner workings of the society, which hails from a university whose endowment is nearly $30 billion. They have been the subject of multiple documentaries and films, including the 2000 thriller, The Skulls.
Harvard University: $38.3 Billion
This Ivy League school has one of the most competitive application processes in the United States, with an acceptance rate that’s second only to Stanford University. But as far as wealth is concerned, Harvard leads the charge, with an estimated endowment of over $38 billion.
The school has come a long way since it opened its doors in the 1630s. Originally named New College, it was then renamed after its main benefactor, John Harvard. Harvard had donated just over $1,000, along with a large collection of books to get the ball rolling at the university. The first year saw less than a dozen graduates, and they now have over 35,000 students. Several former US leads have graduated from Harvard over the years, from the 2nd president, John Adams, to 44th president, Barack Obama.
University of Texas: $30 Billion
Although the first two contenders on this list were private Ivy League institutions, this public school is right up there with them. The University of Texas is valued at over $30 billion and has eight schools spread throughout the area. UT has been referred to as a Public Ivy, meaning it has Ivy League-like qualities even though it’s technically a public school.
Within their eight schools are a total of seventeen libraries and seven museums. Notable alumni from UT (also known as Texas Exes,) include Matthew McConaughey and several Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners. They lead the charge in medical research and boast multiple medical and cancer research centers. Coming up: see which other Texas university made the list of wealthiest in the world!
Stanford University: $27.7 Billion
Stanford is a private university in Stanford, California. Its endowment is over $27 billion, and it’s one of the hardest schools to get into in the country, much like the others on this list. The university was named after its founder, Leland Stanford, governor of California around the late 1880’s, and their late son, who passed away from typhoid fever in his teens.
Today, it’s one of the most revered schools in the world. It’s known for being one of the leading research schools, but also for its prime location in the Bay Area of sunny California. They enjoy a research budget of over $1.5 billion, and seven schools, including schools for business, law, and medicine. The average alumni salary of a Stanford graduate is well over $100,000, which makes up for the expensive price tag on their education. PayPal founder Elon Musk is one of the university’s most notable alumni.
Princeton University: $23.8 Billion
This year, Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey, saw a $2.1 billion increase in their endowment, which is now estimated at around $25.9 billion in total. As a private Ivy League research school, one of the best, in fact, they also enjoy an annual research budget of over $300 million.
The prestigious university was founded in the 1740s and originated as the College of New Jersey. It wasn’t until 1896 it was renamed and moved to its current location. As of this year, there have been over 65 Nobel laureates associated with the school’s alumni list, as well as numerous Supreme Court justices and a few former U.S Presidents. The most popular majors at Princeton include Engineering, Biomedical, and Biological Sciences.