(Chicago, IL) – Two of Illinois’ largest private universities may be able to avoid a new tax on their endowments. “The Chicago Tribune” reported yesterday that both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University are close to the threshold of students from Illinois that will allow the school to avoid a one-point-four percent tax on their endowments. That could be a huge savings. The University of Chicago’s endowment is just under eight billion-dollars, Northwestern’s endowment is worth just under 10 billion.