University of the People
University of the People reported $22.3 million in revenue and $21.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.38 went to program services, $13.54 to management and general costs and $2.08 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 76.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $323,693 (COO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 63% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 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) | 13.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 23.4% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 76.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $323,693 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.48% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 7 | 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 expenseEducation services: as stated in its mission, the organization seeks to provide quality web-based educational programs, leading to a degree for the successful participant. For year end 8/31/2025, these expenses included instructional expenses, accreditation expenses, technological expenses and support
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $323,693 | $0 | $0 | $323,693 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,166 | $0 | $0 | $263,166 |
| Provost Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $245,514 | $0 | $0 | $245,514 |
| Vice President Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $221,533 | $0 | $0 | $221,533 |
| AVP Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,211 | $0 | $0 | $168,211 |
| Vice President Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,818 | $0 | $0 | $156,818 |
| General Counsel Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,104 | $0 | $0 | $146,104 |
| Director Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,681 | $0 | $0 | $129,681 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from University of the People (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (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–1b7 · 6 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 15aNo
- 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 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- 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 528
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to University of the People totaling $533K 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 University of the People's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for University of the People, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 University of the People 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
- Hillel Day School of Metro DetroitFarmington Hills, MI · revenue $22M · programs 70.8% · FY2025
- Le Jardin Community CenterHomestead, FL · revenue $22M · programs 88.9% · 2025
- Mount Carmel College of NursingColumbus, OH · revenue $22M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- Virginia Commonwealth University FoundatRichmond, VA · revenue $22M · programs 93.9% · FY2025
- The Summit SchoolUpper Nyack, NY · revenue $22M · programs 90.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of University of the People's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, University of the People reported that 84.4% of its $21.9 million in expenses went to program services, 13.5% to management and general and 2.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does University of the People pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation University of the People reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $323,693, for the role of COO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does University of the People get its money?
Of $22.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 23.4% came from contributions and grants and 76.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is University of the People a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-4078735 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 August 31, 2025, object 202622129349301737 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202532109349300613 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202411439349300321 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301709349300865 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221949349300627 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202110819349300646 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-4078735: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.