University of the Southwest
University of the Southwest reported $21.8 million in revenue and $18.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.07 went to program services, $24.11 to management and general costs and $0.82 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $330,793 (PRESIDENT). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 42% 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 $18MFor 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 $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 24.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $330,793 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.80% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 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 expenseUsw offers graduate level programs in the fields of business, education, and arts and sciences. Degrees offered include mba, dba, mse, edd, ms, ma, and dmin. The usw college of business functions as an educational catalyst for positive social change by developing business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives dedicated to applying servant leadership principles in free enterprise operations. The usw college of education mission is to immerse candidates in authentic professional learning through a rigorous and innovative curriculum that leverages their strenghts and empowers them to be…
Usw offers undergraduate level programs in the fields of business, education, and arts and sciences. Degrees offered include bba, bse, bs, and ba. To complement the undergraduate degree programs, student organizations and activities include professional, academic honor, christian ministry, civic, and cultural experiences. The university also supports intramural sports programming where students, staff, and faculty are welcome to participate. Athletic programming includes: baseball, softball, mens and womens basketball, mens and womens soccer, volleyball, cross country, and golf. As a…
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 | $312,715 | $0 | $18,078 | $330,793 |
| CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,689 | $0 | $15,513 | $225,202 |
| EVP/CFO/TREASURER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $160,152 | $0 | $7,060 | $167,212 |
| DEAN/FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,155 | $0 | $19,454 | $165,609 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $120,665 | $0 | $12,177 | $132,842 |
| FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,520 | $0 | $13,928 | $118,448 |
| FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $108,248 | $0 | $3,215 | $111,463 |
| FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $102,510 | $0 | $104 | $102,614 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from University of the Southwest (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $755K (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–1b17 · 16 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5158
- Volunteers Part I, line 620
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| USIM Media marketing | $1,308,194 |
| GREAT WESTERN Food services | $577,311 |
| M&M TOURS Transportation | $264,422 |
| OPEN AI Technology services | $184,140 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to University of the Southwest totaling $1.3M 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 University of the Southwest's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for University of the Southwest, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 University of the Southwest spent in FY2025, $75.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Riverhead Charter SchoolCalverton, NY · revenue $22M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- The Harley SchoolRochester, NY · revenue $22M · programs 85.0% · FY2025
- The Maya Angelou Public Charter SchoolWashington, DC · revenue $22M · programs 91.5% · FY2025
- San Jose Charter AcademyWest Covina, CA · revenue $22M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
- Webb InstituteGlen Cove, NY · revenue $22M · programs 80.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of University of the Southwest's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, University of the Southwest reported that 75.1% of its $18.4 million in expenses went to program services, 24.1% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does University of the Southwest pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation University of the Southwest reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $330,793, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does University of the Southwest get its money?
Of $21.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 6.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 77.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is University of the Southwest a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 85-0164940 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 202533189349309873 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202433389349300813 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202333139349305173 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202213189349311881 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202201039349300440 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202111039349301851 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 85-0164940: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.