Richest University in the World 2024, List of Top-10 Universities

In the realm of higher education, financial resources play a pivotal role in shaping the academic landscape and driving innovation. As we venture into 2024, it’s time to explore the wealthiest educational institutions globally, highlighting their significant contributions to research, education, and societal impact. Here, we present the top 10 richest universities in the world for the year 2024, showcasing their immense endowments and financial prowess.

Universities of the World

In 2024, universities worldwide remain bastions of knowledge and innovation, driving academic excellence and societal progress. From prestigious institutions like Harvard and Oxford to emerging centers of learning in Asia and Africa, universities continue to shape the future through groundbreaking research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to fostering the next generation of global leaders. With diverse campuses and cutting-edge facilities, universities of the world in 2024 stand at the forefront of intellectual discovery and transformative education.

World’s Richest University 2024

Harvard University, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stands as one of the wealthiest educational institutions globally, boasting an impressive endowment of $40.9 billion. Established in 1636, it initially bore the name Harvard College in honor of benefactor John Harvard, who bequeathed funds and books. Notably, in 2014, alumnus Kenneth C. Griffith, founder of Citadel, made a historic $150 million donation, cementing his status as the college’s most significant donor to date.

Top-10 Richest Universities in the World By March 2024

Harvard University of Cambridge, Massachusetts, boasting an impressive endowment of $40.9 billion, stands as the richest university in the world 2024, followed by Yale University, University of Texas System and Stanford University.

Here is the list of top-10 richest universities in the world by March 2024:

Richest University in the World 2024
Rank	University	Location	Endowment (USD)	Largest Donation (USD)
1.	Harvard University	Cambridge, Massachusetts	40.9 billion	150 million
2.	Yale University	New Haven, Connecticut	31.11 billion	250 million
3.	University of Texas System	Austin, Texas, United States	30.1 billion	120 million
4.	Stanford University	Stanford, California, USA	28.9 billion	30 million
5.	Princeton University	Princeton, New Jersey, USA	26.6 billion	30 million
6.	University of California	Oakland, California, USA	21.1 billion	113 million
7.	King Abdullah University of Science and Technology	Thuwal, Saudi Arabia	20 billion	–
8.	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cambridge, Massachusetts	18.38 billion	20 million
9.	University of Pennyslvania	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	14.88 billion	400 million
10.	Northwestern University	Evanston, Illinois	14 billion	75 million

Richest University in the World – Harvard University

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Endowment: 40.9 billion

Largest Donation: 150 million

Establishment: 1636

Harvard University, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stands as one of the wealthiest educational institutions globally, boasting an impressive endowment of $40.9 billion. Established in 1636, it initially bore the name Harvard College in honor of benefactor John Harvard, who bequeathed funds and books. Notably, in 2014, alumnus Kenneth C. Griffith, founder of Citadel, made a historic $150 million donation, cementing his status as the college’s most significant donor to date.

Second Wealthiest University in the World – Yale University

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Endowment: 31.11 billion

Largest Donation: 250 million

Establishment: 1701

Yale University, situated in New Haven, Connecticut, ranks as the second wealthiest educational institution globally, boasting an endowment of $31.11 billion. Established on October 9, 1701, Yale is renowned for its prestigious law schools, as well as its excellence in arts, medicine, management, and nursing. Regarded as one of America’s top-performing investment portfolios in higher education, Yale has received substantial donations, including a historic $250 million contribution from alumni Charles B. Johnson in 2013 for the construction of two new residential colleges. Additionally, Stephen Adams donated $100 million to enable the Yale School of Music to offer tuition-free education and establish the Adam Center for Musical Arts.

World’s Third Richest University – University of Texas System

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Endowment: 30.1 billion

Largest Donation: 120 million

Establishment: 1883

The University of Texas, located in Austin, Texas, USA, ranks as the third wealthiest educational institution globally, with an endowment of $30.1 billion. Established in 1883, UT Austin has received significant donations over the years, including a substantial contribution of $120 million from Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010 for the construction of a computer science complex and Dell Computer Science Hall, along with $51 million for the Belo Center for New Media. The Moody Foundation also contributed $50 million in 2012 to the College of Communication, while other benefactors such as the Hearst Corporation, Mulva Family Foundation, and Red McCombs, an entrepreneur of the McCombs School of Business, donated $50 million each.