Auckland University expects this year to become the first New Zealand tertiary institution to earn $1 billion in a year.
Vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon said the income will come from sources including government funding, student fees and research contracts.
Mr McCutcheon said many people do not understand the scale of the contribution Auckland and the seven other universities make.
He said they provide most of the country's degree graduates and have the largest share of the international student market, which is a major export earner.
