Transylvania University
Transylvania University reported $86.1 million in revenue and $71.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.54 went to program services, $9.32 to management and general costs and $2.14 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 62.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $458,860 (PRESIDENT). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 54% 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 $71MFor 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 $86MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 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 | $0.27 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 6.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 62.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $458,860 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.65% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 36.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 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 expenseTransylvania University, located in the heart of downtown lexington, kentucky, is a topranked private liberal arts college featuring a community-driven, personalized approach to a liberal arts education. Founded in 1780, it is the 16th oldest institution of higher learning in the country, with approximately 1,000 students
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $400,609 | $0 | $58,251 | $458,860 |
| EVP FOR BUSINESS AFFAIRS, CFO Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,637 | $0 | $36,415 | $252,052 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF TH Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $200,219 | $0 | $35,402 | $235,621 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,810 | $0 | $26,835 | $179,645 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE AND DEAN OF STUDEN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,912 | $0 | $33,753 | $175,665 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,858 | $0 | $36,482 | $169,340 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,169 | $0 | $32,901 | $165,070 |
| PROFESSOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $124,643 | $0 | $39,448 | $164,091 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Transylvania University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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 · 31 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 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 5844
- Volunteers Part I, line 6100
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ASPIRANT POINT-C Medical insurance services | $6,092,310 |
| BON APPETIT Food services | $2,436,144 |
| KENTUCKY UTILITIES Utilities | $1,040,345 |
| MARSH & MCLENNAN AGENCY Insurance | $604,347 |
| CHARD SNYDER AND ASSOCIATES Medical insurance services | $406,928 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 31 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
31 private foundations reported grants to Transylvania University totaling $421K 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Transylvania University spent in FY2025, $88.54 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Trinity CollegeWashington, DC · revenue $86M · programs 77.2% · FY2025
- University of Saint Francis of Fort Wayne IndianaFort Wayne, IN · revenue $86M · programs 84.0% · FY2025
- University of Central Florida FoundationOrlando, FL · revenue $86M · programs 70.7% · FY2025
- Magnolia Educational and Research FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $86M · programs 64.7% · FY2025
- Austin CollegeSherman, TX · revenue $86M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Transylvania University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Transylvania University reported that 88.5% of its $71.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.3% to management and general and 2.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Transylvania University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Transylvania University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $458,860, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Transylvania University get its money?
Of $86.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 6.6% came from contributions and grants and 62.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Transylvania University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 61-0444825 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 202631349349302558 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521349349307957 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349309450 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331309349301668 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211299349303661 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202140329349301534 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 61-0444825: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.