National University
National University reported $555.8 million in revenue and $574.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $49.02 went to program services, $50.91 to management and general costs and $0.07 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,053,175 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 338 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% 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 $574MFor 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 $556MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 49.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 50.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 2.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,053,175 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.18% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 338 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 20 | 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 expenseNational University ("nu") is a not-for-profit university, headquartered in san diego, ca, founded in 1971 to serve the needs of a diverse group of students. Nu provides innovative,challenging, accessible degree opportunities to non-traditional, working, and military students. Nu is accredited by the accrediting commission for senior colleges and universities of the western association of schools and colleges
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/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $992,000 | $0 | $61,175 | $1,053,175 |
| EVP, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $448,500 | $0 | $63,177 | $511,677 |
| EVP, SSS&ADMIN/CFO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $448,500 | $0 | $61,878 | $510,378 |
| FORMER CFO THRU 4/24 Former, 45.00 hrs/week | $419,271 | $0 | $48,384 | $467,655 |
| EVP, CAUSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $379,858 | $0 | $62,141 | $441,999 |
| EVP, CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $347,288 | $0 | $58,490 | $405,778 |
| PROVOST/CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $352,878 | $0 | $41,641 | $394,519 |
| SVP, ADMIN & FINANCE/ASST SECRETARY Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $356,315 | $0 | $37,135 | $393,450 |
338 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.9M (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–1b20 · 19 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 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 55,322
- Volunteers Part I, line 619
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GOOGLE LLC Social media advertising | $34,118,712 |
| ARMED FORCES COMMUNICATIONS INC Marketing | $31,446,778 |
| META PLATFORMS INC Social media advertising | $10,131,469 |
| LINKEDIN CORPORATION Social media advertising | $8,144,702 |
| HE HOLDINGS LLC Marketing | $4,315,500 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 103 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to National University totaling $15,628 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 National 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 National University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 National University spent in FY2025, $49.02 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Midwestern UniversityDowners Grove, IL · revenue $556M · programs 93.0% · FY2025
- Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CT · revenue $559M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
- University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · revenue $555M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
- Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers FoundationStaten Island, NY · revenue $559M · programs 88.0% · 2024
- University of RichmondRichmond, VA · revenue $535M · programs 82.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of National University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, National University reported that 49.0% of its $574.1 million in expenses went to program services, 50.9% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,053,175, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National University get its money?
Of $555.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 2.6% came from contributions and grants (including 1.6% from government grants) and 77.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7172306 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 202611349349311416 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501299349304060 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349315532 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331339349300303 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241309349304964 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141379349306979 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7172306: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.