<p>Bloomberg wrote an article on USC's Village and in the article it was relieved that USC's endowment is currently at $4.5 Billion. That's some great news for the Trojan Family! I predict in 3 years that the endowment would be anywhere from $6 to $7 billion. Just to put the $4.5B in perspective, UCLA's endowment is at $2.8B (2013) and Berkeley's is at $3.33B (2013). However UCLA has started a $4 billion campaign (but I have not heard word of any large donations since the official announcement) and Berkeley concluded their $3 billion campaign last year. Also, the current endowment for the entire UC system is just north of $7 billion. Just imagine what USC could do if it had the same endowment as the entire UC system. One thing is for sure, good things are to come. </p>
<p>Also, the article mentioned an anonymous donation of $220 million.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/usc-passes-halfway-mark-in-6-billion-fundraising-drive.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/usc-passes-halfway-mark-in-6-billion-fundraising-drive.html</a></p>
<p>ModernMan,
Keep in mind when comparing private university endowments to a public university that public universities receive a portion of their annual operating income from the state. </p>
<p>For example, Berkeley is provided about 14% of its $2.35B budgeted revenue from the State of California - or $329 million.
<a href=“http://cfo.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/2013-14%20UC%20Berkeley%20Budget%20Plan%20-%20Final%20(9-5-13).pdf”>http://cfo.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/2013-14%20UC%20Berkeley%20Budget%20Plan%20-%20Final%20(9-5-13).pdf</a>
In order to generate $329 million annually at a 10% return, the endowment would need to be $3.29B on top of the existing $3.3B for a total equivalent endowment of $6.59B, if Berkeley were private.</p>
<p>(Berkeley also does not support a medical school out of that endowment - a very large cost. UCSF has its own endowment and revenue).</p>
<p>The $220 million gift is included in the current total of $3.65 billion now raised by USC in the current campaign. I heard it was from a trust. As mentioned before that was given anonymously.</p>
<p>Here is the latest update on SC’s endowment. This information was released by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. The sum indicated is from the end of the 2013 fiscal year. At that time the SC endowment was listed as $3.836 + billion. The university has moved up to 21st. One of those with more endowment is the ENTIRE University of Texas system, all colleges included.</p>
<p>SC at 21 has a total above Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Amherst, NYU, Brown, Williams and Cal Tech. The university still must add more due to the amount of endowment per student.</p>
<p>Since some time has passed since the end of fiscal 2013 alumni hope the total has increased even more.</p>
<p>I do not know where Bloomberg found the $4.5 billion number unless the sum has increased that much since the end of fiscal 2013.</p>
<p>GG, your data is a year old (June 2013). The article sates that the endowment grew 650 million from last year. 4.5 -.650 = 3.85. </p>
<p>Per this 1994 article, USC’s endowment grew the most among 105 universities between 1962 and 1987 (25 years):</p>
<p><a href=“USC FIRST AMONG 105 UNIVERSITIES IN ENDOWMENT GROWTH - USC News”>http://news.usc.edu/7470/USC-FIRST-AMONG-105-UNIVERSITIES-IN-ENDOWMENT-GROWTH/</a></p>
<p>Compared to our little and more prestigious sister in Palo Alto, here’s a better perspective:</p>
<p>USC rate of return (1962 to present):</p>
<p>$17.9 mil to $4.5 bil = 25,040% increase</p>
<p>Stanford rate of return (1962 to present):</p>
<p>$160.3 mil to $18.7 bil = 11,559% increase</p>
<p>As an alumna it was good news to read the endowment has grown to that degree in the past year. The 2013 number was the latest I found from the NACUBO. Raising the endowment is important for the future of the university.</p>
<p>Thank you for posting the link.</p>