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Charitable contributions are up at the nation's colleges

Last year was a good year for fundraising at the nation’s colleges and universities.

Last year was a good year for fundraising at the nation's colleges and universities.

Collectively, they took in a record $33.8 billion in charitable contributions in 2013, up nine percent from the previous year and for the first time surpassing the pre-recession level of 2008, according to the annual survey by the Council for Aid to Education, a national non profit based in New York City.

In 2009, giving fell from $31.6 billion - which had been the high point — to $27.85 billion. Since that time, giving has gradually increased, the council said.

The University of Pennsylvania took in $506.61 million, the sixth highest total nationally, according to the survey. The top five schools were: Stanford University ($931.57 million), Harvard University ($792.26 million), the University of Southern California ($674.51 million), Columbia University ($646.66 million) and Johns Hopkins University ($518.57 million).

Just below Penn were: Cornell University ($474.96 million), New York University ($449.34 million), Yale University ($444.17 million) and Duke University ($423.66 million).

Gifts from alumni showed the largest increase, up 16.9 percent, though the percentage of alumni donating decreased to 8.7 percent, according to the report.

Locally, Princeton University, Rutgers and Penn State - in addition to Penn - were among top fundraisers.

Here are fundraising totals for area colleges.

In New Jersey: Princeton University, $242.5 million; Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, $1.8 million; Rider University, $14 million; Rowan University, $3.95 million; Rutgers University, $106.2 million.

In Pennsylvania: Bryn Mawr College, $23.2 million; Cedar Crest College, $3.8 million; Cheyney University, $832,370; Delaware Valley College, $2.1 million; DeSales University, $5 million; Drexel University, $64.95 million; Haverford College, $21.6 million; Immaculata University, $1.4 million; La Salle University, $6.4 million; Lafayette College, $19.2 million; Lehigh University, $44.6 million; Montgomery County Community College-Central Campus, $791,999; Moravian College, $5.97 million; Muhlenberg College, $5.2 million; Neumann University, $1.8 million; Northampton County Area Community College, $2.9 million; Penn State University, $217.6 million; Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, $2.3 million; Philadelphia University, $3.7 million; Saint Joseph's University, $16.2 million; Swarthmore College, $50.3 million; Temple University, $63 million; Thomas Jefferson University, $31.5 million; University of the Sciences, $1.7 million; Ursinus College, $8.4 million; Villanova University, $47.5 million; West Chester University, $6.25 million; Widener University-Main Campus, $5.7 million.

In Delaware: University of Delaware, $46.8 million.