Chart of the Week: Endowment Returns

College endowments have begun their recovery from the recent financial crisis, as the median annual rate of return rose into positive territory for the first time in the past three years. However, given how sharp the decline in endowment value really was during the recession, endowments have a long way to go to return to their previous values. Interestingly enough, as this chart shows, the three year average annual rate of return for fiscal year 2010 is the lowest it's been in the for the past 22 years.