Summarized financial information for the year ended June 30, 2018
The University’s operating surplus for the year was $196 million or 4% of revenue, higher than last year’s operating surplus of $114 million, or 2% of revenue. The balance sheet was strengthened this past year as net assets increased by $2.9 billion, or 7%, to $47.0 billion. The increase in net assets was driven by investment returns on the endowment, generous campaign contributions, and a disciplined focus on expenses. Moody's and Standard & Poor's both reconfirmed Harvard's AAA rating this past year.
Read the full FY18 Financial Overview from the Vice President for Finance and the Treasurer
Operating Revenue
Total operating revenue increased 4% rising to $5.2 billion. The largest drivers were growth in executive and continuing education, non-federal sponsored support revenues, the annual endowment distribution and current use giving.
Sources of Operating Revenue for Fiscal 2018
| Endowment income made available for operations | 35% |
| Student income | 21% |
| Sponsored support | 18% |
| Gifts for current use | 9% |
| Other | 17% |
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses increased by 3% to $5.0 billion. Compensation expense (i.e. salaries, wages and benefits), which represents approximately half of the University's total operating expense, increased 2%, exceeding $2.5 billion.
Operating Expenses for Fiscal 2018
| Employee salaries, wages, and benefits | 50% |
|
Operating expenses (space and occupancy, services purchased, supplies and equipment, other expenses) |
36% |
| Depreciation and interest | 11% |
| Scholarships and other student awards | 3% |
Read the full FY18 Financial Report
Harvard's Endowment
Harvard’s endowment is a dedicated and permanent source of funding that maintains the teaching and research mission of the University. Made up of more than 13,000 individual funds invested as a single entity, the endowment’s returns have enabled leading financial aid programs, groundbreaking discoveries in scientific research, and hundreds of professorships across a wide range of academic fields.
Distributions from Harvard’s endowment provide a critical source of funding for the University. The endowment distributed $1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2018.
Roughly 80% of the funds that make up Harvard’s endowment are restricted to specific programs, departments, or purposes (dedicated scholarships, named professorships, etc.), and must be spent in accordance with terms set forth by the donor. Payout from these funds can only be spent in support of the fund’s designated purpose.
Unrestricted funds, which account for roughly 20% of Harvard’s endowment, are more flexible in nature and are critical in supporting structural operating expenses and transformative, strategic initiatives.
Learn more about Harvard's endowment
Harvard's FY18 Financial Report is now available for download.
