The University of Pittsburgh sometimes just referred to as “Pitt,” was established in 1787 as Pittsburgh Academy. Over the years, it caught fire – twice – and moved locations a few times until it settled into its current spot in the Oakland neighborhood. The university was private until it became part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966.
Now, it’s 132-acre campus is home to nearly 29,000 students. The school is split into 17 graduate and undergraduate sections, including the 42-story Cathedral of Learning. The annual budget that Pitt works with is over $2 billion, including $940 million in research. They are ranked 16th highest in research in the nation.
Pennsylvania State University - $4.2 Billion
Penn State, also known as Pennsylvania State University, is a public university that was established in 1855. They’ve been dubbed a “public Ivy,” thanks to their prestigious educational programs and facilities. What originally began as the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania has grown into multiple campuses across the state, which hold over 95,000 students.
The school’s annual Panhellenic Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropic event in the world. In 2013, they managed to raise a record-breaking $13.3 million. Penn State was ranked as the 74th best university in the world in 2018, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
New York University - $4.2 Billion
NYU is a private research university located in Lower Manhattan, New York City. They also have campuses sprinkled throughout the world, including locations in Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, London, and Los Angeles. The school has an endowment of over $4 billion, with a budget of over $11 billion per year.
They have a large student body, with over 50,000 in attendance last year. NYU also has a long list of notable alumni. The university has produced 30 Pulitzer Prize-winning graduates, 37 Nobel Prize winners, 30 Academy Award winners and several members of Congress.
Oxford University: $8 Billion
Oxford is regarded as the oldest university in the English-speaking world, with teachings beginning there right around 1100. It has grown to become one of society’s most prestigious universities. With an endowment of around $8 billion and an annual budget of over $2 billion.
Oxford caters to more than 23,000 students. Notable alumni include 72 Nobel Prize winners and 28 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. Former U.S president Bill Clinton also graduated from the English university.
Cambridge University: $7.5 Billion
Established in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest English university in the world. They remain ranked as the best university in the UK, according to the three major national rankings. There have been 120 Nobel Prize winners to come from Cambridge, along with 14 British Prime Ministers.
Their endowment has increased substantially over the past few years and is currently around $7.5 billion, with an annual research budget of over $300 million. Since Cambridge is nearly as old as Oxford, they’re often regarded as “ancient universities,” and sometimes, “Oxbridge.” Some of the most famous names in history that have been affiliated with Cambridge are Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Lord Byron.