Biggest 2009 College Endowment Losses

Posted 2 Feb 2010 || Photo: PhotoAlto | Sigrid Olsson | Getty Images ||Source: NACUBO College endowments took a big hit in their last fiscal year, suffering their worst annual returns since the Great Depression. According to a new study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and the Commonfund Institute, endowments and affiliated foundations had an average investment loss of 19 percent between July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009.CNBC.com looked at the 250 largest endowments in the U.S. and highlighted the 15 that suffered the most dramatic losses in market value. They are ranked according to the percentage change in market value between fiscal year-end 2009 and fiscal year-end 2008. Factors such as growth from gifts, reductions due to expenditures and withdrawals, as well as investment returns determine an endowment's fiscal year-end market value.Click ahead to see the rankings. Some of the biggest losers may surprise you!By Brooke Sopelsa

Photo: PrincipiaCollege.edu Location: Saint Louis, Mo.2009 Endowment Loss:  $206 million (-28%)Endowment Value:  $529 million

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri Location: Saint Paul, Minn. 2009 Endowment Loss:  $98.8 million (-28.16%)Endowment Value:  $252 million

Photo: P. Spisak Location:  Tallahassee, Fla. 2009 Endowment Loss:  $161 million (-28.22%)Endowment Value:  $410 million

Photo: Getty Images Location:  New Haven, Conn.2009 Endowment Loss:  $6.5 billion (-28.6%)Endowment Value:  $16.3 billion

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri Location:  Pasadena, Calif.2009 Endowment Loss:  $123 million (-29.1%)Endowment Value:  $300 million

Photo: Mewtu Location:  Pittsburgh, Pa.2009 Endowment Loss:  $313 million (-29.4%)Endowment Value:  $754 million

Photo: Getty Images Location:  Cambridge, Mass.2009 Endowment Loss:  $10.9 billion (-29.8%)Endowment Value:  $25.7 billion

Photo: L33tminion Location:  Needham, Mass.2009 Endowment Loss:  $141 million (-30%)Endowment Value:  $329M

Photo: Jradjarhead Location: Lewiston, Maine2009 Endowment Loss:  $83 million (-31.2%)Endowment value:  $184 million

Photo: Brian R. Mooney Location:  Birmingham, Ala.2009 Endowment Loss:  $96 million (-31.22%)Endowment Value:  $211 million

Photo: Paul Houle Location: Ithaca, N.Y.2009 Endowment Loss:  $75 million (-31.7%)Endowment Value:  $161 million

Photo: DebateLord Location:  Virginia Beach, Va.2009 Endowment Loss:  $87 million (-31.9%)Endowment Value:  $187 million

Photo: CancerCenters.Cancer.gov Location:  Houston, Texas2009 Endowment Loss:   $360 million (-33%)Endowment Value:  $731 million

Photo: Newkai Location:  Syracuse, N.Y2009 Endowment Loss:  $327 million (-33.2%)Endowment Value:  $658 million

Photo: Richard J. Hartnett Location:  Haverford, Penn.2009 Endowment Loss:  $185 million (-35.5%)Endowment Value:  $336 million

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