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Wagner College

EIN 13-5604699 · Staten Island, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WAGNER COLLEGE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR LIFE, AS WELL AS FOR CAREERS, BY EMPHASIZING SCHOLARSHIP, ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND CITIZENSHIP. WAGNER COLLEGE OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT IS ANCHORED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS, EXPERIENTIAL AND (SEE SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUATION) CURRICULAR LEARNING, INTERCULTURALISM, INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, AND SERVICE TO SOCIETY, AND THAT IS CULTIVATED BY A FACULTY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION, REFLECTIVE PRACTICE, AND INTEGRATIVE LEARNING.

Income
$132.4 million
Spending
$145.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
1,131
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$509,262, former president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 0% 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 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 August 31, 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. $79.5 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS: WAGNER COLLEGE SERVES 2,001 STUDENTS (FALL 2024 SEMESTER). WAGNER OFFERS PROGRAMS IN HUMANITIES, PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS, PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, THE SCIENCES, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS. THE COLLEGE GRANTS THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, EXECUTIVE MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO APPROXIMATELY 90% OF ALL FULL-TIME STUDENTS THROUGH THE COLLEGE'S FINANCIAL AID OFFICE.
  2. $10.3 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT: STUDENT SERVICES FOR 2,001 STUDENTS INCLUDE DEAN OF STUDENTS, ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT, ADMISSIONS, CHAPLAIN, CAREER PLANNING, HEALTH SERVICES, FINANCIAL AID, ORIENTATION, REGISTRAR COUNSELING, STUDENT GOVERNMENT, STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD, CAMPUS LIFE, AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS ATHLETIC SERVICES CONSISTING OF 26 VARSITY SPORTS TEAMS FOR MEN AND WOMEN. ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOR 2,001 STUDENTS INCLUDE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, LIBRARY, LANGUAGE LAB, MEDIA SERVICES, NURSING LAB, AND SPIRO COMPUTER LAB.
  3. $27.5 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: WAGNER COLLEGE PROVIDES RESIDENCE AND DINING SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 80% OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 1948.

    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.