After experiencing negative returns during the recent recession, college and university endowments posted an average return of 15.8% in FY 14, the fourth time in the previous five fiscal years that the returns exceeded 10%. That’s according to preliminary findings of an annual survey conducted by the Commonfund Institute and the National Association of College and University Business Officers as reported by Inside Higher Ed. The final results are expected in early 2015.
However, these recent increases in endowment values are nearly offset by the losses they suffered during the recession, including an average decrease of nearly 20% in FY 09. Overall, endowment values have increased by an average of only about 7% in the past 10 fiscal years.
