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Houghton University

EIN 16-0743045 · Houghton, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY PROVIDES AN ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING, CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES TO STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE TRADITIONS AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND EQUIPS THEM TO LEAD AND LABOR AS SCHOLAR-SERVANTS IN A CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$51.5 million
Spending
$37.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
919
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$294,918, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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

    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 May 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 (4)
  1. $13.5 million spent. INSTRUCTION: HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY PROVIDES ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING, CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES THROUGH AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW. A HOUGHTON EDUCATION IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL TRADITION AND IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THROUGH BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND ONLINE PLATFORM. OUR RURAL, RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS FOCUSES ON LEARNING WITHIN AN INTENTIONAL CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY, OFFERING OVER 70 MAJORS TO APPROXIMATELY 900 TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH DEGREES IN THE LIBERAL ARTS, NATURAL SCIENCES AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM IS A HALLMARK OF A HOUGHTON EDUCATION, AND UNIQUELY PREPARES OUR STUDENTS TO LEAD AND LABOR AS SCHOLAR-SERVANTS IN A CHANGING WORLD. OUR ONLINE EDUCATION PROVIDES THE SAME ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING EDUCATION THROUGH AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW TO A STUDENT BODY OF DIVERSE LEARNERS INCLUDING ADULTS, PROFESSIONALS, TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND PRE-COLLEGE DUAL-ENROLLED STUDENTS.
  2. $7.2 million spent. AUXILARY ENTERPRISES: HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY'S AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF STUDENT HOUSING, DINING SERVICES AND THE HIGHLANDERS SHOP CAMPUS STORE. AS A RURAL, RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS, THESE COMPONENTS BECOME A VITAL PART OF A STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND FEEDING INTO THE VITALLY IMPORTANT TASK OF DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. AS STUDENTS LIVE AND LEARN TOGETHER, THE GROWTH WHICH TAKES PLACE IN STUDENT HOUSING AND THE DINING HALL IS OFTEN A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE WORLD-CHANGING, KINGDOM IMPACT OUR ALUMNI WILL HAVE AFTER GRADUATION.
  3. $9.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: AT HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY, EDUCATION IS NOT CONFINED TO THE CLASSROOM. STUDENT LIFE, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 35 UNIQUE STUDENT CLUBS, A WEEKLY RHYTHM OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDES BOTH SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUGHTON STUDENTS. AS AN NCAA DIII SCHOOL, HIGHLANDER ATHLETICS SPONSORS 15 SPORTS TEAMS AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE STUDENT BODY, OFFERING LIFE-LONG WELLNESS SKILLS AND INTENSIVE CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. OTHER STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDE WRAP-AROUND CARE SUPPORTING STUDENT'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, AND INTERNSHIP AND CAREER SERVICES.
  4. $2.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE GRANTS TO STUDENTS, AS WELL AS DEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS AND STUDENT LOANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 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 May 1970.

    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.