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Sacred Heart University

EIN 06-0776644 · Fairfield, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY, WE NOT ONLY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO GIVE THEM A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF WHO THEY ARE AND ALL THEY CAN BE. THROUGH OUR DISTINCTIVE MISSION AND COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP IN CATHOLIC HIGHER EDUCATION, WE HELP STUDENTS HELP OTHERS. THE UNIVERSITY IS A CO-EDUCATION INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OFFERING UNDERGRADUATE,GRADUATE AND DOCTORAL DEGREES, AS WELL AS CONTINUING EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, WITH A COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP IN CATHOLIC HIGHER EDUCATION.

Income
$575.7 million
Spending
$504.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
5,843
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$1.5 million, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    21 of 22 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 (4)
  1. $152.8 million spent. SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE IS DEDICATED TO HELPING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FIN THE MOST AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR ATTENDING COLLEGE. FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS CAN ACCESS TWO MAIN TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: (1) TRADITIONAL MERIT OR NEED-BASED AID, AND (2) A VARIETY OF OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR TRADITIONAL AID. PART-TIME UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR SEVERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OPTIONS. (Expenses $ 77,468,538 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 87,671,022) AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES USED TO SUPPORT THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY.
  2. $142.9 million spent. SACRED HEART CONTINUES TO OFFER A BROAD ARRAY OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS REGARDLESS OF WHICH UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE PROGRAM IS CHOSEN, OUR FOCUS ON ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES - ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION AND THE PRINCIPLES OF ENGAGED LEARNING-PROVIDES EACH STUDENT WITH A RICH, PERSONALIZED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
  3. $73.4 million spent. SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF ITS STUDENT BODY BY OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL STUDENT EXPERIENCE. THROUGH ACADEMIC ADVISING, CAREER SERVICES, THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER, THE OFFICE OF ACCESSIBILITY, THE MAUREEN HAMILTON WELLNESS CENTER, AND STUDENT LIFE PROGRAMS, THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES RESOURCES ALIGNED WITH ITS MISSION. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO PROMOTES ACTIVE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM THROUGH ATHLETICS, FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE, PERFORMING ARTS, AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP STUDENTS GROW, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT A HOLISTIC STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO SUCCEED DURING THEIR TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY AND BEYOND. (Expenses $ 77,468,538 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 87,671,022) AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES USED TO SUPPORT THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY.
  4. $77.5 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES USED TO SUPPORT THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1964.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.