Key Takeaways
- • Boston College's endowment grew approximately 20.4 percent to about $5.19 billion in fiscal year 2026, an increase of nearly $880 million, according to financial statements released by the university.
- • BC's total assets reached $8.5 billion for FY2026, up 9.7 percent year over year, while net assets rose 13.5 percent to $6.4 billion.
- • The university's endowment growth outpaced Boston University (16.1 percent) and MIT (6.7 percent), per the reported peer figures.
- • Liabilities declined modestly by $7.2 million to $2.1 billion, driven by debt service payments partly offset by construction accruals.
- • Operating expenses rose 4.6 percent, slowing from a 6.1 percent increase in the prior year, and the university says it enters FY2027 "from a position of strength."
Summary
Boston College reported that its endowment grew about 20.4 percent to roughly $5.19 billion for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2026, an increase of nearly $880 million, according to financial statements released by the university and reported by The Heights. The university attributed the growth primarily to strong investment returns on the endowment and large donor contributions.
Total assets reached $8.5 billion, up 9.7 percent from the prior year. The university said asset growth was also driven by property, plant and equipment, largely from construction at the Newton East Campus and the Catholic Religious Archives building on Brighton Campus. The acquisition of Education First's Boston International Language Campus on Lake Street, completed after FY2026 ended, is not included in the report.
Liabilities fell by $7.2 million to $2.1 billion, which the university attributed to annual debt service payments partly offset by higher construction accruals. As a result, net assets, defined as total assets minus total liabilities, rose 13.5 percent to $6.4 billion.
Operating expenses increased 4.6 percent, a slower rate than the 6.1 percent increase reported the prior year. The university cited strong undergraduate demand, rebounding graduate enrollment and steady auxiliary revenues from dining and residential life. In its summary, the university described the year as successful despite what it called "intense scrutiny on higher education institutions," and said it enters fiscal 2027 "from a position of strength."
Among Boston-area peers, BC's endowment growth outpaced Boston University's reported 16.1 percent and MIT's 6.7 percent. Other Boston-area institutions had not released FY2026 data at the time of publication.
Total assets reached $8.5 billion, up 9.7 percent from the prior year. The university said asset growth was also driven by property, plant and equipment, largely from construction at the Newton East Campus and the Catholic Religious Archives building on Brighton Campus. The acquisition of Education First's Boston International Language Campus on Lake Street, completed after FY2026 ended, is not included in the report.
Liabilities fell by $7.2 million to $2.1 billion, which the university attributed to annual debt service payments partly offset by higher construction accruals. As a result, net assets, defined as total assets minus total liabilities, rose 13.5 percent to $6.4 billion.
Operating expenses increased 4.6 percent, a slower rate than the 6.1 percent increase reported the prior year. The university cited strong undergraduate demand, rebounding graduate enrollment and steady auxiliary revenues from dining and residential life. In its summary, the university described the year as successful despite what it called "intense scrutiny on higher education institutions," and said it enters fiscal 2027 "from a position of strength."
Among Boston-area peers, BC's endowment growth outpaced Boston University's reported 16.1 percent and MIT's 6.7 percent. Other Boston-area institutions had not released FY2026 data at the time of publication.
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