Carson-Newman University
Carson-Newman University reported $48.4 million in revenue and $58.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.19 went to program services, $9.94 to management and general costs and $1.87 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 84.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $238,374 (PRESIDENT). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 32% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $59MFor 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 July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $48MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 12.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 84.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $238,374 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.40% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 35 of 35 | 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 expenseCarson-newman college is a private, christian-based liberal-arts not-for- profit institution of higher education which is operated under the auspices of the tennessee baptist convention. The college provides undergraduate and graduate instruction to approximately 2,669 students, academic support that includes library services, tutoring, and english instruction for speakers of other languages
Carson-newman college provides student services that include admissions, orientation, registration, financial-aid assistance counseling, academic support and career counseling, psychological counseling, intramural programs, and inter-collegiate athletics
Carson-newman college provides auxiliary enterprises that include housing for approximately 805 full-time students residential students, food service, a bookstore, and facilities for summer programs operated by lifeway ministries for approximately 4000 children
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 | $195,874 | $0 | $42,500 | $238,374 |
| PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,635 | $0 | $0 | $157,635 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,618 | $0 | $0 | $147,618 |
| HEAD FOOTBAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,760 | $0 | $0 | $146,760 |
| VP OF RELATI Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,654 | $0 | $0 | $142,654 |
| VP FOR CHURC Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $91,416 | $0 | $40,000 | $131,416 |
| VP OF ENROLL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,500 | $0 | $0 | $125,500 |
| AHLETIC DIRE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $121,519 | $0 | $0 | $121,519 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Carson-Newman University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (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–1b35 · 35 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 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- 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 51,183
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| APPALACHIAN CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN Construction | $3,238,150 |
| TOTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Landscaping | $3,045,093 |
| COMPASS GROUP Food service | $2,322,672 |
| PREMIERE BLDG MAINT CORP Janitorial | $1,380,909 |
| BIBLE INSURANCE AGENCY Insurance | $1,307,427 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to Carson-Newman University totaling $65,082 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 Carson-Newman 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 Carson-Newman University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Carson-Newman University spent in FY2025, $88.19 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Carson-Newman University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Carson-Newman University reported that 88.2% of its $58.9 million in expenses went to program services, 9.9% to management and general and 1.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Carson-Newman University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Carson-Newman University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $238,374, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Carson-Newman University get its money?
Of $48.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 12.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 84.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Carson-Newman University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-0479189 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 July 31, 2025, object 202641469349301419 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202531539349300803 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202441669349301404 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202400729349300425 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021 (amended), object 202202979349301055 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202121669349301322 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-0479189: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.