Sterling College
Sterling College reported $23.8 million in revenue and $24.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.00 went to program services, $11.16 to management and general costs and $1.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 80.2% of the total. Government grants made up 17.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $213,446 (COLLEGE PRES). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 22% 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 $25MFor 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 $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 17.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 80.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $213,446 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.86% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 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 instructional programs, servicing approximately 650 full-time students
Student services financial aid advising, admissions, athletics and all other miscellaneous student services
Auxiliary enterprises value-added services that foster personal, professional, and academic growth for students, staff, and faculty. Includes dining services, student housing and the college bookstore
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLLEGE PRES Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $191,119 | $0 | $22,327 | $213,446 |
| VP ACADEMIC Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $104,032 | $0 | $18,644 | $122,676 |
| CFO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $65,621 | $0 | $7,299 | $72,920 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sterling College (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $257K (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–1b22 · 22 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5374
- Volunteers Part I, line 65
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COMPASS GROUP Food service | $1,955,547 |
| JENZABAR Software srvcs | $606,115 |
| IMAGINE IT It services | $358,991 |
| KANSAS INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND Prof services | $338,070 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Sterling College totaling $84,084 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 Sterling 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 Sterling College, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Sterling College spent in FY2025, $87.00 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of Southern Indiana FoundationEvansville, IN · revenue $24M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- KIPP Delta Public SchoolsHelenawest Helena, AR · revenue $24M · programs 78.7% · FY2024
- Odyssey 2020 AcademyGalveston, TX · revenue $24M · programs 93.9% · FY2025
- Michigan Virtual UniversityLansing, MI · revenue $24M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- French American School of Puget SoundMercer Island, WA · revenue $24M · programs 72.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Sterling College's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Sterling College reported that 87.0% of its $24.8 million in expenses went to program services, 11.2% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Sterling College pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Sterling College reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $213,446, for the role of COLLEGE PRES (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Sterling College get its money?
Of $23.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 17.2% came from contributions and grants (including 17.2% from government grants) and 80.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Sterling College a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 48-0543728 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 202621339349304852 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500589349301815 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410739349300246 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340589349300504 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220539349300717 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121329349301312 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 48-0543728: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.