Emerson College
Emerson College reported $340.2 million in revenue and $348.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.38 went to program services, $13.92 to management and general costs and $1.70 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 89.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,050,166 (PRESIDENT). 284 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 21% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $349MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $340MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.60 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 2.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 89.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,050,166 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.30% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 284 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 26 of 28 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEmerson College's mission is to educate and elevate extraordinary artists, communicators, scholars, and professionals for the betterment of humanity. We pursue this mission through world-class teaching, practice, performance, and discovery that are experiential, innovative, and inclusive. The college educates approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students annually - this year from 50 U.S. States, washington, d.c., puerto rico, the US virgin islands, and 69 countries. The college has more than 600 full and part-time faculty
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $859,615 | $0 | $190,551 | $1,050,166 |
| VP ADMIN & FIN (THRU 01/2025) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $452,976 | $0 | $60,936 | $513,912 |
| VP FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $354,187 | $0 | $55,298 | $409,485 |
| PROF(THRU 12/24)/DEAN GRAD/PROF STUD Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,103 | $0 | $58,248 | $374,351 |
| AVP FIN(THRU 1/25)/INT VP FIN/CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $281,324 | $0 | $69,409 | $350,733 |
| VP & CHIEF OF STAFF (THRU 05/2024) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,916 | $0 | $21,894 | $338,810 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $301,422 | $0 | $33,332 | $334,754 |
| DIR OF POLLING CENTER/ASSOC PROF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $283,223 | $0 | $47,457 | $330,680 |
284 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Emerson College (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b28 · 26 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 53,504
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,077
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BON APETIT MANAGEMENT CO Food services | $15,542,732 |
| 2U INC Software (as service) publisher | $12,382,760 |
| SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION CO INC Construction | $4,563,975 |
| WINDWALKER GROUP LLC Facilities support services | $3,092,789 |
| COMPASS FACILITY SERVICES INC Janitorial services | $2,401,147 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 87 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
48 private foundations reported grants to Emerson College totaling $2.2M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Emerson College's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Emerson College, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Emerson College spent in FY2025, $84.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The University of TulsaTulsa, OK · revenue $339M · programs 91.6% · FY2025
- Health Science Center at Brooklyn FoundationBrooklyn, NY · revenue $340M · programs 98.8% · FY2025
- Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · revenue $335M · programs 87.2% · FY2025
- National Geographic SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $341M · programs 82.6% · 2025
- St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN · revenue $333M · programs 92.8% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Emerson College's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Emerson College reported that 84.4% of its $348.8 million in expenses went to program services, 13.9% to management and general and 1.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Emerson College pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Emerson College reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,050,166, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Emerson College get its money?
Of $340.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 2.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 89.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Emerson College a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-1286950 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611319349306671 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511349349301146 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441359349310379 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311329349303676 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241309349300504 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101309349300040 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-1286950: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.