Suffolk 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
- $358.6 million
- Spending
- $386.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 3,334
- Volunteers
- 701
- Highest pay
- $964,487, president, ex-officio 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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 4% 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
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 2525 of 26 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)
- $149.8 million spent. THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES PREPARES STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS TO LIVE MORE FULFILLING LIVES, TO APPRECIATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITIES OF WHICH THEY ARE MEMBERS AND TO REACH THEIR ETHICAL, PERSONAL, INTELLECTUAL AND FINANCIAL GOALS. TO HELP ITS STUDENTS MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL, THE COLLEGE EMPHASIZES CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL THINKING THROUGH A RIGOROUS "SUCCESS SKILLS" UNDERGRADUATE CORE PROGRAM IN WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION, COMPUTING, ANALYZING, AND INTEGRATING. FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTS DIVERSIFIED LIBERAL ARTS CONCENTRATIONS AVAILABLE IN THE HUMANITIES, THE NATURAL SCIENCES AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, ALONG WITH GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL FIELDS, MOST OFFERING CAREER-RELATED PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM TRACKS AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE ON OR OFF CAMPUS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. REVENUES RELATED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S PROGRAM SERVICES ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON THE SCHOOL IN WHICH ACADEMIC COURSES ARE TAUGHT. EXPENSES ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON THE FTE ENROLLMENT IN THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.
- $108.2 million spent. THE SAWYER BUSINESS SCHOOL (SBS) CREATES A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENABLES STUDENTS TO EMERGE AS SUCCESSFUL LEADERS IN THE PRACTICE OF GLOBAL BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SERVICES. THE SBS VALUES EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, AND WORKS WITH ITS STUDENTS, ALUMNI, AND BUSINESS PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THE PROGRAMS ARE BUILT ON THE CORE VALUES OF PROMOTING OPPORTUNITY, EXCELLENCE, QUALITY TEACHING, INCLUSION AND COLLABORATION, AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. REVENUES RELATED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S PROGRAM SERVICES ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON THE SCHOOL IN WHICH ACADEMIC COURSES ARE TAUGHT. EXPENSES ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON THE FTE ENROLLMENT IN THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.
- $70.6 million spent. THE LAW SCHOOL IS DEDICATED TO WELCOMING STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND EDUCATING THEM TO BECOME HIGHLY SKILLED AND ETHICAL LAWYERS WHO ARE WELL-PREPARED TO SERVE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ACROSS THE NATION, AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE LAW SCHOOL SEEKS TO DEVELOP IN ITS STUDENTS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SERVE THE PROFESSION'S CHANGING NEEDS IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE, GLOBAL, AND TECHNOLOGICALLY-DEPENDENT SOCIETY. THE LAW SCHOOL'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ITS STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO AN EXCELLENT LEGAL EDUCATION, INSPIRE A COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, AND PROVIDE ITS GRADUATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS.
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 November 1937.
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.