University of Pennsylvania raised over $517 million in 2015

Are the country’s wealthiest universities getting wealthier while less-affluent institutions stay — well, less affluent?

Recent data outlining donations made to universities in 2015 points to “yes.”

Some point fingers at wealthy alumni opting to pour dollars into their alma maters rather than organizations on the come up. Others argue the accumulation of wealth is due to the wide array of offerings elite institutions have to offer.

“If you’ve got an institution that has a hospital, art museum, symphony orchestra, and research labs, then obviously there are more areas that would appeal to different types of interests on the part of philanthropists,” Ann E. Kaplan, survey director for Council for Aid to Education, told the The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Stanford University raked in the most cash in 2015 with a whopping $1.63 billion. Locally, the University of Pennsylvania pulled $517.2 million, the 10th highest amount raised last year.