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Mercy University

EIN 13-1967321 · Dobbs Ferry, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MERCY UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MOTIVATED STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION BY OFFERING LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN PERSONALIZED AND HIGH QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, THUS PREPARING (SEE SCHEDULE O) STUDENTS TO EMBARK ON REWARDING CAREERS, TO CONTINUE LEARNING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES AND TO ACT ETHICALLY AND RESPONSIBLY IN A CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$228.0 million
Spending
$214.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
19.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
2,508
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$657,134, 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    16 of 23 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 (1)
  1. $170.9 million spent. MERCY UNIVERSITY IS A PRIVATE, NON-SECTARIAN, NON-PROFIT INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY THE MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATIONANDDRIVEN BY A STUDENT-CENTERED MISSION: TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF HIGHER EDUCATION. FOUNDED IN 1950 BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, THE INSTITUTION HAS GROWN FROM A JUNIOR COLLEGE TO A COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY OFFERING OVER 100 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS ACROSS SIX SCHOOLS: BUSINESS, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES, LIBERAL ARTS, NURSING, AND SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. IN 2023, MERCY RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO AMEND ITS CHARTER AND OFFICIALLY TRANSITION FROM MERCY COLLEGE TO MERCY UNIVERSITY. (SEE SCHEDULE O)SERVING NEARLY 9,000 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ANNUALLY, MERCY IS KNOWN FOR ITS HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, PERSONALIZED STUDENT EXPERIENCE, TALENTED FACULTY, AND AFFORDABILITY.THE UNIVERSITY'S FOOTPRINT COMPRISES ITS MAIN CAMPUS IN DOBBS FERRY, NY; TWO SATELLITE CAMPUSES IN THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN IN NEW YORK CITY;AND ONLINE. THE UNIVERSITY SPONSORS INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS IN TEN VARSITY SPORTS AT THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA) DIVISION II LEVEL. MERCY'SSTUDENT BODY REFLECTS THE RICH DIVERSITY OF THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA.AS AN EXAMPLE, IN 2025, MERCY UNIVERSITY EARNED THE SEAL OF EXCELENCIA RECERTIFICATION, AN AWARD GIVEN TO SELECT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN ENSURING HISPANIC STUDENTS ARE POSITIONED TO SUCCEED. MERCY'S FACULTY INCLUDES FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS, PUBLISHED AUTHORS, AND RECOGNIZED PROFESSIONALS WHO INTEGRATE REAL-WORLD EXPERTISE WITH ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION. THEIR COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE REFLECTS THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION.

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 April 1971.

    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.

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