Liberty University
Liberty University reported $1.94 billion in revenue and $1.53 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.94 went to program services, $14.47 to management and general costs and $0.59 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 84.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $9,781,223 (Former Trustee/Officer). 1,030 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 44% 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 $1.53BFor 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 $1.94BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.49 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 84.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $9,781,223 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.64% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1,030 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 37.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 31 | 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 of approximately 140,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for both the online and residential programs. Scholarships, grants and other financial assistance are awarded to eligible students based on program criteria, which included scholastic merit, athletic excellence, artistic performance, financial need, high school attended and field worked
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former Trustee/Officer Former, 0.0 hrs/week | $9,781,223 | $0 | $0 | $9,781,223 |
| Head Football Coach Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $4,998,651 | $0 | $53,452 | $5,052,103 |
| Head Basketball Coach Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $1,612,564 | $0 | $68,664 | $1,681,228 |
| Trustee/President Director/trustee, officer, 53.5 hrs/week | $1,095,435 | $0 | $32,225 | $1,127,660 |
| VP & Director of Athletics Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $955,806 | $0 | $61,101 | $1,016,907 |
| Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Officer, 53.5 hrs/week | $665,613 | $0 | $61,882 | $727,495 |
| Provider, Collaborative Health Partners, LLC Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $657,324 | $0 | $38,175 | $695,499 |
| EVP for Enrollment Management & Marketing Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $546,123 | $0 | $89,985 | $636,108 |
1,030 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Liberty University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $10M (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–1b31 · 9 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 2Yes
- 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 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 513,542
- Volunteers Part I, line 614,645
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Google LLC Admissions Lead Generation | $42,118,500 |
| Sodexo Management Inc - Liberty University Location Food Service | $37,765,213 |
| Central Virginia Family Physicians Health Services | $19,685,976 |
| SyCom Technologies LLC Network/Technology Solutions | $12,686,419 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 372 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
73 private foundations reported grants to Liberty University totaling $774K 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 Liberty 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 Liberty University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Liberty University spent in FY2025, $84.94 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Research Foundation for The State University of New YorkAlbany, NY · revenue $1.86B · programs 82.9% · FY2025
- The Administrators of the Tulane Educational FundNew Orleans, LA · revenue $1.94B · programs 86.1% · FY2025
- Trustees of Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · revenue $1.84B · programs 86.1% · FY2025
- Banner-University Family CarePhoenix, AZ · revenue $1.96B · programs 90.5% · 2024
- Temple University - of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $1.79B · programs 88.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Liberty University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Liberty University reported that 84.9% of its $1.53 billion in expenses went to program services, 14.5% to management and general and 0.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Liberty University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Liberty University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $9,781,223, for the role of Former Trustee/Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Liberty University get its money?
Of $1.94 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 1.0% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 84.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Liberty University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-0946734 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 202621349349312962 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501359349307950 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401359349310735 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349308877 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241369349311344 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121379349306227 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-0946734: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.