Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University reported $1.18 billion in revenue and $1.10 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.02 went to program services, $8.24 to management and general costs and $2.74 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 71.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $7,606,787 (Head Basketball Coach -Current). 955 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 26% 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 $1.10BFor 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 $1.18BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 10.8% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 71.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $7,606,787 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.69% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 955 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 41.8 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 39 of 42 | 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 expenseInstructional: Instructional programs include academic instruction and services for undergraduate and graduate students including financial aid in the form of scholarships and fellowships. Student enrollment for Fall Semester 2024 was 12,129 and Spring Semester 2025 was 11,858
Student Services : This category includes athletic expenditures and services that support educational activities. Services includes the offices of admissions and registrar. It encompasses student activities, organizations, athletics, counseling and guidance and admissions and records
Sponsored Research: Sponsored research includes expenditures for all activities that are part of the University's research program, including activities specifically organized to produce research outcomes, whether commissioned by an agency external to the institution or separately budgeted by an organizational unit within the institution
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Basketball Coach -Current Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $7,542,537 | $0 | $64,250 | $7,606,787 |
| Head Football Coach Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $4,860,356 | $0 | $68,942 | $4,929,298 |
| Head Basketball Coach Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $4,692,732 | $0 | $82,363 | $4,775,095 |
| President/Trustee Director/trustee, officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $2,040,260 | $0 | $279,462 | $2,319,722 |
| Athletic Director Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $1,315,854 | $0 | $134,316 | $1,450,170 |
| Sr.V.P. for Business and Finance CFO Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $1,092,978 | $0 | $147,688 | $1,240,666 |
| Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $778,211 | $0 | $437,944 | $1,216,155 |
| V.P. for Legal Affairs and Secretary Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $1,053,908 | $0 | $150,528 | $1,204,436 |
955 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Southern Methodist 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–1b42 · 39 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 56,538
- Volunteers Part I, line 63,204
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Aramark Corporation Dining | $32,115,269 |
| Siemens Building Technologies Inc Construction | $26,089,386 |
| JE Dunn Construction Company Construction | $24,235,579 |
| Rogers O'Brien Construction Company Construction | $23,526,837 |
| EC Build LLC Construction | $12,486,250 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out.
Private foundation grants it received
161 private foundations reported grants to Southern Methodist University totaling $59M 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 Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Southern Methodist University spent in FY2025, $89.02 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- College BoardNew York, NY · revenue $1.17B · programs 84.5% · 2024
- IDEA Public SchoolsWeslaco, TX · revenue $1.19B · programs 90.5% · FY2025
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · revenue $1.17B · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- St Louis UniversitySt Louis, MO · revenue $1.20B · programs 83.6% · FY2025
- University of OttawaCanada, · revenue $1.12B · programs 87.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Southern Methodist University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Southern Methodist University reported that 89.0% of its $1.10 billion in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 2.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Southern Methodist University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Southern Methodist University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $7,606,787, for the role of Head Basketball Coach -Current (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Southern Methodist University get its money?
Of $1.18 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 10.8% came from contributions and grants (including 0.0% from government grants) and 71.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Southern Methodist University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 75-0800689 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 202601009349301025 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202501009349301230 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202411039349301961 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202341089349301929 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202241089349301819 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202131049349301803 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 75-0800689: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.