Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University reported $125.2 million in revenue and $124.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $91.64 went to program services, $7.12 to management and general costs and $1.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $443,913 (PRESIDENT). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 33% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $124MFor 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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $125MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.29 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $443,913 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.36% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 14.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 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: for the fiscal year 2024-25, enrollment was 3866 undergraduate and graduate students completing traditional, online, and hybrid courses. 792 degrees (614 undergraduate, 178 graduate and doctoral) were conferred during the year, and the total number of full-time professors was 198 including deans and administrative appointees. We offered 75 undergraduate degrees/concentrations and 29 graduate degree/concentrations programs. Charleston Southern University is regionally accredited by the southern association of colleges and schools commission on colleges (sacscoc), whose mission is…
Student services: consists of campus ministries, residence life, career services, student activities, counseling services, campus recreation, campus security, and title ix. The enrollment services office is housed in the hunter center. Enrollment services is comprised of the following: admissions (undergraduate and graduate), financial aid, student accounts, va services, enrollment operations, the cashier's office, and the registrar's office. The enrollment services office handles all undergraduate and graduate recruiting. The admissions office handles multiple communication channels for more…
Auxiliary enterprises: the university's auxiliary enterprises consist primarily of residence life, campus dining services, the campus bookstore, and conference and camp operations that support students, faculty, staff, and external groups.dining services - including the main dining hall, java city, buc stop diner, and chick-fil-a express - are operated and managed by aramark. The campus bookstore is operated and managed by slingshot.during the summer months, the university hosts external youth and church-affiliated camps and conferences, including partnerships with the south carolina baptist…
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 Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $400,161 | $0 | $43,752 | $443,913 |
| PRESIDENT EMERITUS Highest compensated employee, 15.00 hrs/week | $313,785 | $0 | $455 | $314,240 |
| VP ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $92,728 | $0 | $114,157 | $206,885 |
| VP INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,178 | $0 | $28,098 | $204,276 |
| HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,980 | $0 | $36,085 | $191,065 |
| DIRECTOR, PA PROGRAM, DEAN OF COHS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,213 | $0 | $13,041 | $168,254 |
| VP ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,178 | $0 | $37,950 | $168,128 |
| DIRECTOR, PT PROGRAM Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,216 | $0 | $7,182 | $165,398 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Charleston Southern University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.1M (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–1b25 · 25 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,117
- Volunteers Part I, line 6235
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ARAMARK SERVICES INC Food service | $5,790,299 |
| SLINGSHOT LP Bookstore | $3,657,036 |
| TRIDENT CONSTRUCTION CO INC Construction | $3,376,909 |
| CHUCKTOWN FLIGHT TRAINING LLC Flight instruction | $2,862,706 |
| DYNAMIC CAMPUS SOLUTIONS INC Technology services | $2,449,272 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 26 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Charleston Southern University totaling $281K 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 Charleston Southern 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 Charleston Southern University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Charleston Southern University spent in FY2025, $91.64 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Washington State University FoundationPullman, WA · revenue $125M · programs 75.0% · FY2025
- Lakeside SchoolSeattle, WA · revenue $125M · programs 82.4% · FY2025
- Alfred UniversityAlfred, NY · revenue $125M · programs 88.4% · FY2025
- University of Toledo Physicians Clinical FacultyToledo, OH · revenue $126M · programs 94.2% · FY2025
- William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS · revenue $125M · programs 87.6% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in South Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Charleston Southern University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Charleston Southern University reported that 91.6% of its $124.1 million in expenses went to program services, 7.1% to management and general and 1.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Charleston Southern University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Charleston Southern University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $443,913, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Charleston Southern University get its money?
Of $125.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 4.2% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 93.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Charleston Southern University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-0474291 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 May 31, 2025, object 202601049349301220 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202510999349301556 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202420879349301027 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202331079349300438 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202211089349301516 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202140139349301024 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-0474291: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.