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Simmons University

EIN 04-2103629 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIMMONS UNIVERSITY IS A COMMUNITY OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT UNITES PASSION WITH PURPOSE.

Income
$225.9 million
Spending
$221.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
2,327
Volunteers
749
Highest pay
$657,025, president

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 25

    24 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $71.4 million spent. INSTRUCTION - UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS: SIMMONS UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE INSTITUTION OFFERING A WOMEN-CENTERED UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE THAT EMPHASIZES LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION, AND AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. DURING THE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY SERVED 1,756 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND CONFERRED 482 BACCALAUREATE DEGREES. INSTRUCTION INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE ONLINE PROGRAM FOR ADULT LEARNERS, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL AID PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY TO STUDENTS IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS. APPROXIMATELY 95% OF UNDERGRADUATES RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS OR GRANTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
  2. $56.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION - GRADUATE PROGRAMS: SIMMONS CURRENTLY SERVES 3,652 STUDENTS IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE MASTER AND DOCTORAL LEVELS. THE UNIVERSITY'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE CO-EDUCATIONAL. THESE PROGRAMS ARE HOUSED IN THE GWEN IFILL COLLEGE OF MEDIA, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES; SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; SCHOOL OF NURSING; SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK; SCHOOL OF SCIENCES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS; AND THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS ONLINE PROGRAMS IN NURSING, SOCIAL WORK, BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH REACHING ALL FIFTY STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND CANADA. DURING THE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY CONFERRED 1,306 GRADUATE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTION INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR THE GRADUATE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL AID.
  3. $58.4 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND STUDENT SERVICES - INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE STUDENT'S EDUCATION, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY IS THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY WHICH HOUSES OVER 140,345 PRINTVOLUMES, SUBSCRIBES TO AND/OR PROVIDES ACCESS TO 151,562 E-JOURNALS, 244,296 E-BOOKS, AND 114 ELECTRONIC DATABASES FOR ARTICLES, REFERENCE CONTENT, STATISTICS AND BEYOND. ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY IS THE UNIVERSITY'S HEALTH CENTER WHOSE STAFF HANDLED 2,013 STUDENT/PATIENT VISITS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THIS CATEGORY IS THE CAREER EDUCATION CENTER WHICH HAD 3,280 STUDENT CONTACTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1938.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.