US Colleges Raise a Record $41 Billion, So Why Is Tuition Still Climbing?

More than a quarter of contributions went to just 20, mostly private, institutions, led by Harvard, Stanford and the University of Southern California, according to a new report from the Council for Aid to Education. Relatively weak stock market performance during the 2016 fiscal year, which ended June 30, meant fewer individual donations last year. Overall, charitable contributions comprise just 10 percent of university spending, down from a high of 16 percent in 2000.