Houghton University
Houghton University reported $51.5 million in revenue and $37.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.44 went to program services, $11.62 to management and general costs and $2.94 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 45.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $294,918 (PRESIDENT). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 13% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $37MFor 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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 41.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 45.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $294,918 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.79% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 38.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 30 | 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 expenseInstruction: Houghton University provides academically challenging, christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences through an orthodox christian worldview. A houghton education is deeply rooted in the wesleyan theological tradition and is available to students through both residential and online platform. Our rural, residential campus focuses on learning within an intentional christ-centered community, offering over 70 majors to approximately 900 traditional undergraduate students, equipping them with degrees in the liberal arts, natural sciences and pre-professional programs.…
Auxilary enterprises: Houghton University's auxiliary enterprises are primarily composed of student housing, dining services and the highlanders shop campus store. As a rural, residential campus, these components become a vital part of a student's experience, providing opportunity for social and emotional growth and feeding into the vitally important task of developing christian young men and women. As students live and learn together, the growth which takes place in student housing and the dining hall is often a significant factor in the world-changing, kingdom impact our alumni will have…
Student services: at Houghton University, education is not confined to the classroom. Student life, including approximately 35 unique student clubs, a weekly rhythm of spiritual development, and student leadership development, provides both social and professional learning opportunities for houghton students. As an ncaa diii school, highlander athletics sponsors 15 sports teams and serves approximately one-third of the student body, offering life-long wellness skills and intensive christian leadership development. Other student services include wrap-around care supporting student's mental and…
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, 39.00 hrs/week | $279,134 | $0 | $15,784 | $294,918 |
| PROVOST AND DEAN OF FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,551 | $0 | $12,979 | $154,530 |
| VP OF FINANCE Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $134,012 | $0 | $13,129 | $147,141 |
| VP FOR ENROLLMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,425 | $0 | $13,141 | $146,566 |
| VP FOR ADVANCEMENT AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 39.00 hrs/week | $124,786 | $0 | $5,593 | $130,379 |
| DEAN OF EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $121,837 | $0 | $8,219 | $130,056 |
| VP FOR STUDENT LIFE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,616 | $0 | $13,718 | $118,334 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Houghton University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $588K (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–1b30 · 29 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 2No
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5919
- Volunteers Part I, line 683
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| METZ CULINARY MANAGEMENT Food service | $3,034,772 |
| SODEXO INC & AFFILIATES (FAC CONTRACT Custodial and maintenance | $1,827,411 |
| ASTROTURF CORPORATION Construction | $197,780 |
| ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS INC Technology switches | $159,734 |
| JOHNSON CONTROLS FIRE PROTECTION LP Fire monitoring | $112,978 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Houghton University totaling $75,432 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 Houghton University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Houghton University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Houghton University spent in FY2025, $85.44 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA · revenue $51M · programs 91.0% · FY2025
- Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSan Juan, PR · revenue $51M · programs 65.5% · FY2025
- Valor Texas Education FoundationAustin, TX · revenue $51M · programs 90.4% · FY2025
- Kent Place SchoolSummit, NJ · revenue $52M · programs 74.3% · FY2025
- South Texas College of Law HoustonHouston, TX · revenue $51M · programs 73.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Houghton University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Houghton University reported that 85.4% of its $37.3 million in expenses went to program services, 11.6% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Houghton University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Houghton University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $294,918, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Houghton University get its money?
Of $51.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 41.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 45.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Houghton University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 16-0743045 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 May 31, 2025, object 202631009349300328 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202500989349301300 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202401009349301010 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202341089349300334 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202220739349300307 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202121039349300927 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 16-0743045: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.