University of Arkansas Breaks Top Twenty in Ranking of Public Institutions With Endowment Holdings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas ranks 16th among public institutions nationally in a study of institutional endowments conducted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) for 2004. The University of Arkansas Foundation is also named with the university in the ranking.

Rankings for the study are determined by the market value of endowment assets per full-time enrolled (FTE) student for fiscal year 2004. The university’s endowment for FY04 was more that $626 million. The total number of FTE students is 13, 855, giving the U of A an average endowment asset of $45,214 per FTE student.

 “We are pleased with how we rank among other public institutions,” said G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement. “Chancellor White has set an endowment goal of $1 billion by 2010. The growth of the endowment is critical to moving the institution forward because endowments represent an important source of funds for student scholarships, fellowships and endowed faculty positions and programs.

“We can attribute much of our endowment’s growth to the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century but also to the excellent management of our endowment assets by the University of Arkansas Foundation staff and board of directors,” Gearhart added. “We are grateful for the continued support of all our donors and volunteers who have helped us to see increases over the past seven years.”

  The UA Foundation is a charitable corporation dedicated to the advancement of higher education and support of the academic activities by the university. The Foundation, which is governed by a 22 member board of directors, manages the university endowment.

 “The UA Foundation has experienced a great deal of success since its establishment in 1954 and remains dedicated to the pursuit of excellence at the University of Arkansas,” said Jerry Moore, executive director of the UA Foundation. “To be included among this list of colleges and universities is a testament to the hard work of so many individuals who share the vision of the university thriving as an institution.”

The Virginia Military Institute Foundation Inc. tops the list of public institutions with an average endowment asset per student of $199,625. The University of Virginia ranks 2nd at $133,195.

  Regionally, the University of Texas System ranks 6th with an average endowment asset of $77,697 per FTE student, and the Texas A&M University System and Foundation ranks 11th with an average endowment asset of $54,413 per FTE student.

Since July 1, 1998, the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century has been raising gifts and pledges to help the University achieve its vision for the 21st century. Campaign funds are being raised for six critical areas of need: endowed faculty positions and scholarship funds, academic programs, University Libraries, new and enhanced academic facilities and equipment and annual giving.

Established in 1962 and located in Washington, D.C., NACUBO serves a membership of more than 2,500 colleges, universities and higher education service providers across the country. NACUBO represents chief administrative, business and financial officers through a collaboration of knowledge and professional development, advocacy and community.

Below is a complete list of the top 20 public colleges and universities ranked in the NACUBO Endowment Study:
1. VMI Foundation Inc 
2. University of Virginia
3. Oregon Health Sciences Foundation
4. University of Michigan
5. University of California, San Francisco Foundation
6. University of Texas System
7. University of Delaware
8. UNC at Chapel Hill and Foundations
9. Endowment Association of the College of William and Mary
10. The Citadel
11. The Texas A&M University System and Foundations
12. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
13. Georgia Tech Foundation Inc.
14. Medical College of Georgia
15. University of Pittsburgh
16. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AND FOUNDATION
17. Colorado School of Mines Foundation Inc.
18. University of Cincinnati
19. Kansas University Endowment Association
20. University of Louisville Foundation