Campus Garden Brew

Harvard University’s endowment began accumulating in 1638, when John Harvard bequeathed his library and half his estate to the institution. As of 2025, this spans 387 years. The University of Michigan was founded in 1817, and its endowment began accumulating with land grants from the Treaty of Fort Meigs that year. As of 2025, this spans 208 years. In other words, Harvard has a 178 year head start over the University of Michigan in accumulating its endowment. *