Harvard endowment swells to nearly $57 billion, donations reach a record

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Reuters

12h


BOSTON (Reuters) -The value of Harvard University's endowment, the world's largest among universities, grew by nearly $4 billion to $56.9 billion in fiscal 2025 on the back of strong investment returns even as the Trump administration cut the school's research funding.

Harvard Management Co, the university's investment arm, said on Thursday it earned an 11.9% return in the fiscal year that ended June 30. The return beat the school's long-term target of 8%, according to its annual report. In fiscal 2024, Harvard's endowment earned a 9.6% return to total $53.2 billion.

The school said it also received a record $600 million in unrestricted gifts from alumni and friends as its battles with the Trump administration made news headlines. President Donald Trump accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism on campus amid Israel's war in Gaza, but critics said the charge was a pretext for a broader campaign against what Trump views as anti-conservative bias in academia.

The dispute, now playing out in court, also involves federal efforts to cut research funding and restrict international student enrollment at the university.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/harvard-endowment-swells-to-nearly-57-billion-donations-reach-a-record/ar-AA1OCjhY

[Justice Brandeis]

1. It's hard to defend Harvard when they have a huge endowment that they don't use for anything useful

Like free tuition, room & board and books for all qualified students from families making under $200,000, or raising pay and benefits for adjunct professors and clerical and blue-collar workers on campus.

[DFW]

2. Nothing is ever "free." It's only a question of who else pays if we/you don't.

At about 20,000 students total, and at least $60,000 per year without financial aid, that’s $1.2 billion right there, with no research or other beneficial activities. Also, $200,000 is way too low a threshold for full scholarship. A family earning $200,000, maybe a maximum of $150,000 after all taxes (federal, state, property, etc,) is unlikely to have $60,000+ to spare for just one child’s yearly college expenses. I have no love for Harvard (my Dad, class of 1943, felt differently, obviously), but I can understand them wanting to manage their endowment responsibly in case some anti-education nut case like Trump shows up.

[Justice Brandeis]

3. I'm certainly flexible about what the income threshold should be

An only-child family in North Dakota making $200,000 a year is obviously different than a family with 4 kids in New York making the same salary.

[OnlinePoker]

4. The problem is, it's not just one endowment, it's almost 15,000

Much of this has been designated for specific purposes and can't be used for those you listed. According to their financial report, only 19% of the endowment is designated for scholarship and student support.

https://finance.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum9981/files/2025-10/fy25-financial-report.pdf

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "they don't use for anything useful Like free tuition, room & board and books for all qualified students"

Harvard boosts free-tuition offer, matching other Ivy-Plus schools in ‘affordability arms race,’ expert says (Mar. 18, 2025)

A number of the Ivy Leagues (and related) have done it - e.g., Princeton did it back in 2003 (per the article).