Bentley University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $414.0 million
- Spending
- $397.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 2,832
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, president/trustee
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $344.1 million spent. TUITION, FEES, AND AUXILIARYBENTLEY HAS BEEN EDUCATING BUSINESS-MINDED STUDENTS SINCE HARRY C. BENTLEY FIRST CONVENED 30 ACCOUNTING STUDENTS ON HUNTINGTON AVENUE IN BOSTON IN 1917. WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY ADAPTED TO BECOME ONE OF THE TOP BUSINESS UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S., COMBINING BUSINESS WITH ARTS AND SCIENCE TO PREPARE SUCCESSFUL LEADERS WHO MAKE BUSINESS A FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. FACULTY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PURSUING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY'S TEACHING MISSION. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS COLLABORATE WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD AND COMMUNITY, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM HANDS-ON LEARNING IN REAL-WORLD WORKING ENVIRONMENTS. FACULTY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PURSUING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY'S TEACHING MISSION. THE UNIVERSITY HAS MORE THAN 100 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT, LEARNING, AND LEADERSHIP. APPROXIMATELY 75% OF BENTLEY'S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS LIVE IN CAMPUS-PROVIDED HOUSING. RESIDENCE HALLS INCLUDE SINGLE, DOUBLE, TRIPLE, AND QUADRUPLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS AS WELL AS APARTMENTS AND SUITES. ALL OF THE RESIDENCE HALLS OFFER STUDENTS MODERN DAY AMENITIES. IN ADDITION, THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS RESIDENT STUDENTS SEVERAL DIFFERENT DINING OPTIONS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1950.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.