Northeastern University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
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
- $3.2 billion
- Spending
- $3.1 billion
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 25,790
- Volunteers
- 509
- Highest pay
- $3.0 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 32 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $779.9 million spent. Instruction NORTHEASTERN ENABLES 52,269 STUDENTS TO FULFILL THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS BY PROVIDING TEACHING AND ADVISING THAT RESULT IN THE GRANTING OF ASSOCIATE, BACHELOR, MASTER AND DOCTORAL DEGREES IN A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES. THE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC AREAS CONSIST OF THE BOUVE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE, COLLEGE OF ARTS, MEDIA AND DESIGN, D'AMORE-MCKIM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, COLLEGE OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, AND SCHOOL OF LAW.
- $641.8 million spent. Student financial aid Northeastern awards grants and scholarships to students from several sources: federal and state governments, institutionally-funded and endowment/donor funded. The Office of Student Financial Services administers financial aid and is committed to working with students to identify financial aid options that can help make a Northeastern education affordable.
- $186.2 million spent. Auxiliary enterprises NORTHEASTERN PROVIDES STUDENT HOUSING IN 33 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER RELATED PROGRAM SERVICES. LINE 4D, PROGRAM SERVICE ------------------------- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CONSIST OF: RESEARCH, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, STUDENT SERVICES, AND OTHER STUDENT AID.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.