Dartmouth’s endowment rose to $10 billion in fiscal year 2026 after achieving a 17.5% investment return, with a $476 million distribution that covered roughly 34% of the College’s operating budget.
New endowment gifts fell 54% to $145.29 million, down from a prior year boosted by an extraordinary bequest, and 78% of the endowment remains restricted while 22% is unrestricted; the Board‑approved spending formula smooths returns, and the College approved a $496 million payout for fiscal 2027, about 4.1% higher than the 2026 distribution.
The one‑year return trailed six of the seven Ivy peers, with the University of Pennsylvania posting the highest at 27.4% and Dartmouth at 17.5%; long‑term ten‑year returns show Dartmouth matching Yale at 11.7% and exceeding several peers, while AI‑related and venture‑capital investments contributed significantly to the gains and a 4% excise tax increase raised the deferred tax liability by $119.9 million, reducing net investment return.
Source: www.thedartmouth.com
