The University's Endowment has hit $1 Billion

Maroon Eagle

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mstateglfr

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Neat.

I thought I read once years back that MSU's endowment wouldnt ever be anything to write home about because it wasnt allowed to grow too much.
...may have been in a thread about university rankings and how endowment is factored into US News' rankings?...not positive.
 
Jul 5, 2020
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Neat.

I thought I read once years back that MSU's endowment wouldnt ever be anything to write home about because it wasnt allowed to grow too much.
...may have been in a thread about university rankings and how endowment is factored into US News' rankings?...not positive.
The foundation's investment philosophy will control how it performs generally, like any investment fund. I would characterize the CEO and board as relatively conservative, but not a standard deviation away from other similar sized foundations.
 

mstateglfr

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The foundation's investment philosophy will control how it performs generally, like any investment fund. I would characterize the CEO and board as relatively conservative, but not a standard deviation away from other similar sized foundations.
Well I am definitely misremembering then!
 

dorndawg

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Does that put us ahead of anyone in the SEC? I recall at one point seeing we were last but that was probably over a decade ago.

And that was before we let in the Texas schools - their endowments astound the mind.
 

dorndawg

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Does that put us ahead of anyone in the SEC? I recall at one point seeing we were last but that was probably over a decade ago.
And that was before we let in the Texas schools - their endowments astound the mind.
 

85Bears

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With the multi billion dollar endowments a lot of major universities have, just based on the interest and ROI , it would be nice if students housing, meals and books could be covered. You know, throw a bone to the peasants.
 

HRMSU

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Does that put us ahead of anyone in the SEC? I recall at one point seeing we were last but that was probably over a decade ago.

And that was before we let in the Texas schools - their endowments astound the mind.
And the oil keeps flowing in....literally
 
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HRMSU

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With the multi billion dollar endowments a lot of major universities have, just based on the interest and ROI , it would be nice if students housing, meals and books could be covered. You know, throw a bone to the peasants.
Free housing and free meals.....sounds a lot like prison ****
 
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85Bears

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So teach them to rely on govt to pay there bills. Bad idea
I’d agree except for the ridiculous student debt kids are saddled with, and with multi billion dollar endowments maybe the fat cats don’t need 300 administrative vice presidents in every dept.
 

HRMSU

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I’d agree except for the ridiculous student debt kids are saddled with, and with multi billion dollar endowments maybe the fat cats don’t need 300 administrative vice presidents in every dept.
My son works for Wally World and just got approved for full funding of online degree from Upig. Not grade based and you don't even have to be full time employee AND you can still do the program if you are on approved leave.....there is a way to avoid debt it just may not be the most sexy and "cool" way. I'll kick in the money we are saving to give him a head start with a gently used F150.
 

Tall Dawg

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This is hard to believe but true.
If MSU would’ve placed only $10,000 in bitcoin in Dec of 2011, when it was $5/bit, and not taken any profits they’d be sitting on a cool $228,000,000 just 14 years later!!
That would buy one heck of a roster for several sports for several years…:)
 

L4Dawg

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Does that put us ahead of anyone in the SEC? I recall at one point seeing we were last but that was probably over a decade ago.

And that was before we let in the Texas schools - their endowments astound the mind.
Yes, Ole Miss, LSU, and South Carolina at least. It’s not far off of Alabama and Auburn.
 

Duke Humphrey

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With the multi billion dollar endowments a lot of major universities have, just based on the interest and ROI , it would be nice if students housing, meals and books could be covered. You know, throw a bone to the peasants.
Well the vast majority of the endowment Is comprised of private scholarships, so that is exactly what it’s doing
 

85Bears

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Well the vast majority of the endowment Is comprised of private scholarships, so that is exactly what it’s doing
A cursory view of articles on that subject reveal it’s not so cut and dried. many schools with large endowments give only a small amount to reduce student costs, much of it goes to salaries, hiring positions, infrastructure. It varies but your post doesn’t address the main point, which is with billions of dollars in endowments, why isn’t more of the funding going to reduce student/cost/debt ?


Just in 2016, “experts I consulted estimate that over $100 billion of educational endowment money nationwide is invested in hedge funds, costing them approximately $2.5 billion in fees in 2015 alone.”

This calls into question how beneficial these institutions are for students as opposed to the private equity barons running them. As Julien Berman of the Harvard Crimson wrote, “In 2014, five rich institutions including Harvard paid more to private equity fund managers than they dished out in aid to their entire student bodies.” Meanwhile, another study Berman noted found that endowment increases have no effect on tuition. In other words, Harvard getting more money is not making it any more affordable.

Tax free
 
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anon1758050382

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This is hard to believe but true.
If MSU would’ve placed only $10,000 in bitcoin in Dec of 2011, when it was $5/bit, and not taken any profits they’d be sitting on a cool $228,000,000 just 14 years later!!
That would buy one heck of a roster for several sports for several years…:)
I can't say I was calling for this as early as 2011, but I made the argument that Mississippi State should allocate 1-10% of the endowment to bitcoin when the price was under $10k/bitcoin. The price is now over $100k/bitcoin, but from a risk-adjusted perspective, it makes even more sense now. I'll make the argument again:
  1. Diversification
  2. Long-Term Growth Potential
  3. Technological Innovation
  4. Attracting Donors
  5. Financial Stewardship
--

Diversification​

Traditional endowment portfolios often rely heavily on stocks, bonds, and real estate. Bitcoin, as a decentralized digital asset, operates independently of traditional financial markets. This unique characteristic can provide a hedge against market volatility and economic downturns, potentially reducing overall portfolio risk. For instance, Brown University's endowment recently invested $4.9 million in bitcoin ETFs, representing a small but strategic diversification.

Long-Term Growth Potential​

Over the past decade, bitcoin has demonstrated substantial growth, outperforming many traditional asset classes. A modest allocation to bitcoin could yield significant returns over time, enhancing the endowment's ability to fund scholarships, faculty positions, and research initiatives. Stanford University's Blyth Fund, managed by students, allocated 7% of its endowment to bitcoin investments, reflecting confidence in its long-term value.

Technological Innovation​

As a leading research institution, MSU is committed to fostering innovation and embracing emerging technologies. Investing in bitcoin aligns with this mission, positioning the university at the forefront of the digital asset revolution. The University of Austin has partnered with Unchained Capital to introduce a pioneering bitcoin endowment, demonstrating a commitment to forward-thinking financial strategies.

Attracting Donors​

A strategic investment in bitcoin could attract a new generation of donors interested in supporting innovative financial initiatives. This move could enhance MSU's appeal to alumni and philanthropists who are passionate about technological advancement and financial innovation.

Financial Stewardship​

By prudently allocating a portion of the endowment to bitcoin, MSU can demonstrate proactive financial stewardship, adapting to evolving market conditions and technological advancements. This approach reflects a commitment to maximizing the endowment's potential to support the university's mission and objectives.
--
Allocating 1–10% of MSU's endowment to bitcoin offers a strategic opportunity to enhance portfolio diversification, capitalize on long-term growth, align with technological innovation, attract future-oriented donors, and demonstrate financial stewardship. Given the university's recent success in surpassing $260 million raised in fiscal year 2025 and achieving an endowment exceeding $1 billion, this initiative could further strengthen MSU's financial position and support its mission to provide transformative education and research opportunities.

For future reference:
  • bitcoin price - $117,000
  • 1% of $1 billion - $10 million (85.47 BTC)
  • 10% of $1 billion - $100 million (854.70 BTC)
 
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Duke Humphrey

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A cursory view of articles on that subject reveal it’s not so cut and dried. many schools with large endowments give only a small amount to reduce student costs, much of it goes to salaries, hiring positions, infrastructure. It varies but your post doesn’t address the main point, which is with billions of dollars in endowments, why isn’t more of the funding going to reduce student/cost/debt ?


Just in 2016, “experts I consulted estimate that over $100 billion of educational endowment money nationwide is invested in hedge funds, costing them approximately $2.5 billion in fees in 2015 alone.”

This calls into question how beneficial these institutions are for students as opposed to the private equity barons running them. As Julien Berman of the Harvard Crimson wrote, “In 2014, five rich institutions including Harvard paid more to private equity fund managers than they dished out in aid to their entire student bodies.” Meanwhile, another study Berman noted found that endowment increases have no effect on tuition. In other words, Harvard getting more money is not making it any more affordable.

Tax free
And your generalization isn’t so cut and dry

Salaries/positions and infrastructure serve students, so it is tied to their cost. This may shock you, but this money is given by individuals who get to choose how that money is used, and which at MSU, the vast majority go back into student scholarships and support
 

L4Dawg

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A cursory view of articles on that subject reveal it’s not so cut and dried. many schools with large endowments give only a small amount to reduce student costs, much of it goes to salaries, hiring positions, infrastructure. It varies but your post doesn’t address the main point, which is with billions of dollars in endowments, why isn’t more of the funding going to reduce student/cost/debt ?


Just in 2016, “experts I consulted estimate that over $100 billion of educational endowment money nationwide is invested in hedge funds, costing them approximately $2.5 billion in fees in 2015 alone.”

This calls into question how beneficial these institutions are for students as opposed to the private equity barons running them. As Julien Berman of the Harvard Crimson wrote, “In 2014, five rich institutions including Harvard paid more to private equity fund managers than they dished out in aid to their entire student bodies.” Meanwhile, another study Berman noted found that endowment increases have no effect on tuition. In other words, Harvard getting more money is not making it any more affordable.

Tax free
No surprise at all that you are here downplaying anything positive about MSU. I expected to see you doing this, and here you are. I don’t know how the mods allow you to still post.
 

85Bears

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And your generalization isn’t so cut and dry

Salaries/positions and infrastructure serve students, so it is tied to their cost. This may shock you, but this money is given by individuals who get to choose how that money is used, and which at MSU, the vast majority go back into student scholarships and support
Yes, private donations, we know that. It varies by institution, but a lot of schools are paying huge sums of money to hedge fund managers for their billion dollar investments, and raising tuition at the same time. It’s all tax free since it’s supposedly about educating the public.

It’s the same scam with the billions paid out for tv contracts with college football, couldn’t they use some of that money to fund nil instead of squeezing mom and pop who can barely afford tickets, oh no. Can’t do that.
 
Jul 5, 2020
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Yes, private donations, we know that. It varies by institution, but a lot of schools are paying huge sums of money to hedge fund managers for their billion dollar investments, and raising tuition at the same time. It’s all tax free since it’s supposedly about educating the public.

It’s the same scam with the billions paid out for tv contracts with college football, couldn’t they use some of that money to fund nil instead of squeezing mom and pop who can barely afford tickets, oh no. Can’t do that.
You can FOIA the foundation's annual report if it's not already publicly available. The foundation is managing hundreds of endowments, all of which are fully restricted to their stated purpose in a memorandum with the donor. This is SOP for higher education. The endowments you are referencing are to the Ivies, which must be doing much more risky things with theirs because they have very small enrollments and donors who likely have donated more unrestricted money to those endowments.

And, Ole Miss is also above $1bn. They haven't announced yet because they are waiting to announce it as an end of their campaign event before football season.
 
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85Bears

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You can FOIA the foundation's annual report if it's not already publicly available. The foundation is managing hundreds of endowments, all of which are fully restricted to their stated purpose in a memorandum with the donor. This is SOP for higher education. The endowments you are referencing are to the Ivies, which must be doing much more risky things with theirs because they have very small enrollments and donors who likely have donated more unrestricted money to those endowments.

And, Ole Miss is also above $1bn. They haven't announced yet because they are waiting to announce it as an end of their campaign event before football season.
I am not referring to MSU at all, I am referring to University endowments nation wide, some of which are mind boggling huge. big ten schools, Ivy League. It’s ridiculous to me you can have a 10-30 billion dollar endowment and raising tuition on kids who are saddled with crippling debt. Tax free. Again I’m not referring to MSU, as Some schools do have endowments which are put to good use, supposedly.
 

L4Dawg

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You can FOIA the foundation's annual report if it's not already publicly available. The foundation is managing hundreds of endowments, all of which are fully restricted to their stated purpose in a memorandum with the donor. This is SOP for higher education. The endowments you are referencing are to the Ivies, which must be doing much more risky things with theirs because they have very small enrollments and donors who likely have donated more unrestricted money to those endowments.

And, Ole Miss is also above $1bn. They haven't announced yet because they are waiting to announce it as an end of their campaign event before football season.
Ah, so more Rebels posting here…they won’t let this go for sure, not even for a day or so…..
 

L4Dawg

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I am not referring to MSU at all, I am referring to University endowments nation wide, some of which are mind boggling huge. big ten schools, Ivy League. It’s ridiculous to me you can have a 10-30 billion dollar endowment and raising tuition on kids who are saddled with crippling debt. Tax free. Again I’m not referring to MSU, as Some schools do have endowments which are put to good use, supposedly.
Ok Confederate.