Introduction
When evaluating universities for their potential to nurture future entrepreneurs, one of the most consistent metrics is the amount of venture capital (VC) funding raised by their alumni founders. This ranking provides insight into which institutions have historically produced high-value startups. The data analyzed here spans a period from August 1, 2017, to the present, focusing on seed through late-stage venture funding rounds.
Key Findings
The chart below lists universities ranked by total known venture capital funding raised by their alumni founders since August 1, 2017. The ranking is based on data from disclosed funding rounds within this timeframe.
Methodology
- Inclusion Criteria: Universities and affiliated business schools were included in the analysis.
- Data Sources: Funding information was compiled from disclosed rounds during the specified period.
- Exclusions: Only alumni who have raised $1 million or more are considered.
- Additional Notes: Founders with degrees from multiple universities within the ranking are counted separately for each institution.
Top 20 Universities by Venture Capital Funding
1. Harvard University ($5.3 billion)
Harvard remains at the top of the list, consistently producing high-value startups. Its alumni have raised an impressive $5.3 billion in venture capital since August 2017.
Subsequent Rankings:
- 2. Stanford University ($4.8 billion)
- 3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School) ($4.6 billion)
- 4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ($3.9 billion)
- 5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) ($3.7 billion)
- 6. Columbia University ($3.5 billion)
- 7. Princeton University ($3.2 billion)
- 8. New York University (NYU) ($2.9 billion)
- 9. University of Chicago ($2.7 billion)
- 10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($2.5 billion)
- 11. University of California, Berkeley ($2.3 billion)
- 12. University of Texas at Austin ($2.1 billion)
- 13. University of Michigan ($1.9 billion)
- 14. University of Virginia ($1.7 billion)
- 15. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ($1.6 billion)
State-Wise Breakdown
U.S. States with High VC Funding
- California: Leaders in venture capital, with a total of $20.8 billion raised.
- Massachusetts: Second-largest contributor, raising $17.3 billion.
- New York: Significant investment, totaling $15.6 billion.
- Texas: A strong third with $14.2 billion raised.
Case Studies
Harvard University
Harvard alumni have founded numerous successful startups, including Akamai Technologies and Zipcar, which have raised significant amounts of VC funding since their inception.
Stanford University
Stanford’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has been instrumental in the success of companies like Square (now Meta) and PayPal, both of which have attracted substantial investment.
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School)
Wharton alumni are known for launching impactful startups such as Expensify, Stripe, and TikTok, all of which have garnered billions in funding.
Conclusion
The ranking methodology provides a robust framework for evaluating universities based on the financial success of their alumni. Harvard, Stanford, and Penn remain top performers, with notable examples from each institution proving their continued influence in the venture capital landscape.
