Kansas University’s endowment market value increased 14.1 percent from 2013 to 2014, up from 9 percent growth the previous year, according to recently released national rankings.

The annual National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)-Commonfund Study of Endowments compared data from 832 U.S. colleges and universities. The 2014 study compared the change in endowment market values from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2014.

KU Endowment Association’s total endowment funds — $1.5 billion for 2014, according to NACUBO — are by far the largest of any Kansas university on the list. They are 64th largest of the study’s 832 schools nationwide.

Of the 10 Kansas universities in the 2014 study, KU’s endowment market value growth was the fourth largest.

According to the study: Kansas State University Foundation grew 30 percent to a total of $474 million; Fort Hays State University Foundation grew 19.4 percent to $64 million; and Hesston College grew 19.4 percent to $13 million.

In NACUBO’s 2013 study, KU ranked 63rd overall in size of total endowment funds. The funds grew 9 percent, from $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2012 to $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2013.

Nationally, institutions’ endowments returned an average of 15.5 percent for the 2014 fiscal year compared with 11.7 percent for the 2013 fiscal year, according to NACUBO.

Rising return rates have enabled colleges and universities to increase spending from their endowments to support student aid programs, faculty research and other activities.

What is the richest school, by endowment funds, on this year’s list?

On top is Harvard University, with endowment funds totaling $35.9 billion. The University of Texas system is second with $25.4 billion, and Yale University is third, with $23.9 billion.

Kansas institutions by the numbers

Here’s how Kansas schools’ total endowment funds compare to the 832 other schools in the national NACUBO study. Schools are listed by total endowment funds, with their percent growth from the previous year in parentheses.

64 — Kansas University Endowment Association, $1.5 billion (14.1 percent growth)

178 — Kansas State University Foundation, $474 million (30 percent)

276 — Wichita State University Foundation, $237 million (11.7 percent)

348 — Washburn University Foundation, $164 million (11.3 percent)

514 — Emporia State University Foundation, $80 million (12.7 percent)

549 — Pittsburg State University Foundation Inc., $69 million (-6.1 percent)

566 — Fort Hays State University Foundation, $64 million (19.4 percent)

626 — Friends University, $48 million (7.9 percent)

680 — McPherson College, $36 million (7.2 percent)

814 — Hesston College, $13 million (19.4 percent)

Source: 2014 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments