Higher Learning Commission
Higher Learning Commission reported $17.5 million in revenue and $17.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.84 went to program services, $22.16 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 92.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $605,600 (PRESIDENT). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 38% 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 $18MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | Not reported | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 92.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $605,600 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.46% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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 expenseHighest 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 Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $557,308 | $0 | $48,292 | $605,600 |
| VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $237,102 | $0 | $62,577 | $299,679 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $268,682 | $0 | $28,532 | $297,214 |
| VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF F Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $231,270 | $0 | $49,108 | $280,378 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF ACCREDIT Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $195,637 | $0 | $49,127 | $244,764 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF ACCREDIT Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $189,722 | $0 | $54,849 | $244,571 |
| VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF T Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $190,104 | $0 | $48,595 | $238,699 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Higher Learning Commission (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $891K (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–1b19 · 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 560
- Volunteers Part I, line 619
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Higher Learning Commission totaling $250K 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 Higher Learning Commission's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Higher Learning Commission, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Higher Learning Commission spent in FY2025, $77.84 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Rainier ScholarsSeattle, WA · revenue $18M · programs 70.2% · FY2025
- The Girls' Middle SchoolPalo Alto, CA · revenue $18M · programs 80.1% · FY2025
- Heritage K-8 Charter SchoolEscondido, CA · revenue $18M · programs 56.5% · FY2025
- Shulamith School for GirlsCedarhurst, NY · revenue $18M · programs 89.3% · FY2025
- Vermont Student Development FundWinooski, VT · revenue $17M · programs 99.9% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Higher Learning Commission's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Higher Learning Commission reported that 77.8% of its $17.5 million in expenses went to program services, 22.2% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Higher Learning Commission pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Higher Learning Commission reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $605,600, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Higher Learning Commission get its money?
Of $17.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 0.9% came from contributions and grants and 92.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Higher Learning Commission a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-4405660 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 202600709349301755 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202520599349301417 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202410619349300816 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202340559349300919 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202240599349301204 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131959349300523 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-4405660: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.