<p>In many states, a good percent of the most successful people in the state graduated from the state flagship, yet when looking at the schools with the highest endowments, all but a few are private. Is that because most alumni, even the most financially prosperous ones, think that since their tax dollars go towards these flagships, they therefore don't have to contribute any further, or is it for another reason? If so, any ideas as to why schools like U Washington or University of Florida have such paltry endowments relative to their importance to the state?</p>
<p>If you look at the source of endowments, you will notice that for most universities, alumni don’t contribute as much as corporations. Corporations contribute to private universities more because private universities have greater control over the money and bring greater benefits to its benefactors.</p>