Chesnut Hill College of the Sisters of St Joseph
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE IS A PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SPONSORED BY THE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH. THE COLLEGE'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC EDUCATION IN AN INCLUSIVE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY MARKED BY INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, SERVICE TO OTHERS, CONCERN FOR THE EARTH, AND A COMMITMENT TO REDUCING BARRIERS TO LEARNING.
- Income
- $53.7 million
- Spending
- $54.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 74%
- Employees
- 695
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $626,794, president, through dec 2024
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $30.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND STUDENT SERVICE:THE COLLEGE PROVIDES UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE INSTRUCTION GROUNDED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO LEARNING THROUGH INCLUSIVE, STUDENT CENTERED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE COLLEGE ACHIEVED A SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC MILESTONE WITH THE LAUNCH OF NEW NURSING DEGREE PATHWAYS, INCLUDING A TRADITIONAL BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN) PROGRAM AND AN ACCELERATED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (ABSN). (CONT'D ON SCHEDULE O.)THE LAUNCH WAS SUPPORTED BY A COMBINATION OF INSTITUTIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT AND REQUIRED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL AND CLINICAL LEARNING SPACE THROUGH THE REMODELING OF THE SUGARLOAF FACILITY, THE RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING OF NURSING FACULTY AND PROGRAM PERSONNEL, AND INITIAL PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS. TOTAL INVESTMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NURSING PROGRAM DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY $1,964,105 IN CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS RELATED TO FACILITY DEVELOPMENT, $554,459 IN SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMATIC OPERATING COSTS, $252,228 IN BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, AND APPROXIMATELY $80,000 IN MARKETING AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, REFLECTING THE SIGNIFICANT START-UP INVESTMENT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM ENROLLED AN INITIAL COHORT OF SIX STUDENTS DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, GENERATING APPROXIMATELY $63,000 IN PROGRAM REVENUE.THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM OFFERED AT CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE PROVIDES SPECIALIZED COURSEWORK AND HANDS-ON TRAINING DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SETTINGS THAT UTILIZE THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF INSTRUCTION. THE CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES CHILD-CENTERED LEARNING, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGH STRUCTURED, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTS.THE COLLEGE ALSO ENHANCED ITS GRADUATE BUSINESS EDUCATION OFFERINGS THROUGH ITS MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT BY PROVIDING CONCENTRATION OPTIONS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. CONCENTRATIONS INCLUDE ACCOUNTANCY, HEALTHCARE, AND MINISTRY LEADERSHIP, EACH INTEGRATING SPECIALIZED COURSEWORK WITHIN THE BROADER MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM.THE ACCOUNTANCY CONCENTRATION SUPPORTS ACADEMIC PREPARATION ALIGNED WITH PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PATHWAYS AND ADVANCEMENT IN ACCOUNTING-RELATED ROLES. THE HEALTHCARE CONCENTRATION EMPHASIZES MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP WITHIN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINES. THE MINISTRY LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN RELIGIOUS AND FAITH-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND INCORPORATES PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATION, AND STEWARDSHIP IN MISSION-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTS.THESE CONCENTRATION OFFERINGS SUPPORT THE COLLEGE'S COMMITMENT TO FLEXIBLE ACADEMIC PATHWAYS, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND ALIGNMENT WITH DIVERSE STUDENT CAREER GOALS.CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE OFFERS A RANGE OF BACCALAUREATE, GRADUATE, AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS GROUNDED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND CAREER-FOCUSED DISCIPLINES. ACADEMIC OFFERINGS INCLUDE UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS SUCH AS BUSINESS, PSYCHOLOGY, AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, AS WELL AS GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND A DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. THE COLLEGE ALSO OFFERS ACCELERATED ADULT DEGREE PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE PATHWAYS FOR DEGREE COMPLETION AND PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT.THE NURSING PROGRAMS ENROLLED AN INAUGURAL COHORT OF STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR, MARKING THE COMMENCEMENT OF INSTRUCTION AND TUITION BASED PROGRAM ACTIVITY. THESE EFFORTS REPRESENT A FOUNDATIONAL PHASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLEGE'S NURSING PROGRAMS AND ADVANCE THE INSTITUTION'S LONG TERM ACADEMIC STRATEGY TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SERVICE ORIENTED PROFESSIONS AND REGIONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS DURING THE YEAR CONTINUED TO INTEGRATE CLASSROOM, EXPERIENTIAL, AND CLINICAL LEARNING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS, PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION, AND LIFELONG LEARNING.THE COLLEGE CONTINUES TO EVALUATE AND REFINE ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO ALIGN WITH STUDENT DEMAND, REGIONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE MAINTAINS A MONTESSORI EDUCATION PROGRAM AS PART OF ITS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE OFFERINGS. THE PROGRAM REMAINS AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY (AMS) AND ACCREDITED BY THE MONTESSORI ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION (MACTE). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, STUDENTS ENGAGE IN BOTH ACADEMIC STUDY AND SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCES, SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE AND PREPARING GRADUATES FOR PROFESSIONAL ROLES IN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT SERVE DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS. THE PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO THE COLLEGE'S BROADER MISSION BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES, SUPPORTING WORKFORCE PREPARATION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR, AND PROMOTING INCLUSIVE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY RESPONSIVE APPROACHES TO LEARNING.THE COLLEGE REMAINS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH ONGOING ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM REVIEW. PRIOR ACADEMIC RESTRUCTURING EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN INCREASED COLLABORATION AMONG FACULTY AND MORE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS, AND THE COLLEGE CONTINUES TO MONITOR PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AND STUDENT OUTCOMES TO SUPPORT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY CONTINUES TO INCLUDE IN-PERSON, HYBRID, AND ONLINE LEARNING MODALITIES SUPPORTED BY THE COLLEGE'S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS ARE USED TO SUPPORT BOTH ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES.ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT:CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE CONTINUES ITS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A TRANSFORMATIVE AND HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE SUPPORTED BY A RANGE OF STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVES. ACAD
- $16.9 million spent. FINANCIAL AID.THE COLLEGE PROVIDED INSTITUTIONALLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT STUDENT ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND PERSISTENCE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE COLLEGE AWARDED SIGNIFICANT INSTITUTIONAL AID TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, WITH APPROXIMATELY NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF FULL TIME UNDERGRADUATES RECEIVING SOME FORM OF INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. FINANCIAL AID WAS APPLIED TOWARD TUITION, FEES, HOUSING, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES AND WAS AWARDED BASED ON DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY. (CONT'D ON SCHEDULE O.)THE COLLEGE'S FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO LEARNING AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND INCLUSION BY ENABLING STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AID RECIPIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET CONTINUING STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS. THE COLLEGE REGULARLY REVIEWS ITS FINANCIAL AID PRACTICES TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH ITS MISSION AND STUDENT NEEDS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.