BC’s total assets are worth $4.27 billion

Boston College isn’t just a school – it’s also a business. And, it’s a successful one.

As of May 31, 2015, BC’s endowment was valued at $2.34 billion dollars. This is roughly five times as much money as Johnny Depp has made over his entire career, but less than a fifth of Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth of $43 billion dollars.

Part of this year’s endowment growth is thanks to $91 million dollars in donations which, in case you were curious, is enough to buy at least a few decently sized islands in the Caribbean.

BC’s endowment has grown to over 100 times its value in 1980, with a significant portion of that growth since 2011. At that time,  our endowment was valued at slightly over $1.72 billion dollars (which is roughly how much the Space Shuttle Endeavor cost, in case we ever need a space shuttle).

Now, we are one of the forty wealthiest universities in the country. BC’s endowment, according to the college, supports a variety of university programs such as financial aid, research funds, and faculty chairs.

Last spring, BC reported the university’s total assets were valued at $4.27 billion dollars. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, is also valued at around $4.3 billion dollars so we’re in good company.

It turns out schools are more lucrative businesses than many of us think. But, there’s a reason universities are not thought of as the “big businesses.” This $4.27 billion dollar value in assets is the same as Facebook’s global revenue in 2011 alone.

Harvard may have a larger endowment, but this year BC produced a larger return rate of 7.5 percent.  This return translates to around $172.5 million dollars, which is slightly more than the net worth of everyone’s favorite early 2000s icon, Britney Spears.
If current trends continue, Boston College’s endowment will continue rising steadily which not only predicts a bright future for our potential as caribbean real estate owners, but a bright future for generations of students to come to the Heights.