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Arcadia University

EIN 23-1352620 · Glenside, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARCADIA UNIVERSITY'S PIONEERING, GLOBAL, INTEGRATED, LIBERAL ARTS, AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE CULTIVATES LEADERS WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY FEARLESS AND UNIQUELY PREPARED FOR LIFE AND WORK. OUR HIGHLY REGARDED, VALUES-BASED LEARNING COMMUNITY REFLECTS THE WORLD IN WHICH WE WANT TO LIVE.

Income
$187.6 million
Spending
$191.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
1,037
Volunteers
800
Highest pay
$625,338, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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 (3)
  1. $119.7 million spent. ARCADIA UNIVERSITY OFFERS A HIGH-QUALITY LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. STUDENTS CHOOSE FROM OVER 65 MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY IN THE SCIENCES, HEALTH SCIENCES, EDUCATION, ARTS AND HUMANITIES, AND BUSINESS EARNING THEIR BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES, AND DOCTORAL DEGREES. 99% OF ARCADIA'S FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. ARCADIA ALSO OFFERS STUDENTS ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE GATEWAY TO SUCCESS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES ACT101 SERVICES FOR PA RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY. STUDENTS RECEIVE PERSONAL ATTENTION AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO HELP THEM SUCCEED.
  2. $26.6 million spent. ARCADIANS ARE DRIVEN TO SEEK, EXPERIENCE, AND UNDERSTAND BROAD AND VARIED PERSPECTIVES, PREPARING THEM TO THRIVE IN AN INTERCONNECTED WORLD. ARCADIA UNIVERSITY IS DISTINCT IN THAT OUR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN REAL-WORLD LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING INTERNSHIPS, EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH, SERVICE LEARNING, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND EXPERENTIAL LEARNING THAT EXPANDS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THE ARCADIA UNDERGRADUATE CURICULUM (AUC) ENSURES IMMERSION WITH GLOBAL ISSUES THROUGH STUDY ABROAD OR DOMESTIC PROGRAMMING. ARCADIA CONTINUES TO RANK NATIONALLY FOR STUDY ABROAD PARTICIPATION AND PROVIDES ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE UNIVERSITY STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. OUR GLOBAL PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OVER 3,000 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM U.S. INSTITUTIONS EVERY YEAR.
  3. $12.3 million spent. WE BELIEVE THAT LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WAY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS, AND WE TREAT RESIDENTIAL LIFE AS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING. OUR DESIRE IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS' LIVING ARRANGEMENTS SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THEIR EDUCATIONAL WORK AND GOALS. WHILE OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS CONDUCIVE TO STUDY AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, WE ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOLLOWING CORE COMPETENCIES IN OUR STUDENTS: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION; GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES; CIVIC ENGAGEMENT; CITIZENSHIP; SELF-ADVOCACY; PROBLEM-SOLVING; RESPECT FOR OTHERS; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF IDENTITY, PURPOSE, AND INTEGRITY. WITHIN THE RESIDENCE HALLS AND APARTMENTS, AN ENGAGED TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF USE THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT AS A TOOL TO MAXIMIZE LEARNING MOMENTS AND CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AND APPLY THESE COMPETENCIES.

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 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 November 6, 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 May 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 June 1934.

    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 November 4, 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.