Muhlenberg College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MUHLENBERG AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME INDEPENDENT THINKERS WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY AGILE, CHARACTERIZED BY A ZEST FOR REASONED AND CIVIL DEBATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND TRADITIONS OF DIVERSE CIVILIZATIONS AND CULTURES, ABLE TO EXPRESS IDEAS WITH CLARITY AND GRACE, COMMITTED TO LIFE-LONG LEARNING, EQUIPPED WITH ETHICAL AND CIVIC VALUES AND PREPARED FOR LIVES OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.
- Income
- $160.2 million
- Spending
- $165.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Employees
- 1,736
- Volunteers
- 515
- Highest pay
- $517,421, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 (3)
- $40.7 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH EXPENDITURES FOR 2,063 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE COLLEGE OFFERS 40 MAJORS IN THE HUMANITIES, FINE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND NATURAL SCIENCES, IN ADDITION TO STRONG PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN SUCH AREAS AS PRE-HEALTH, PRE-LAW, PRE-THEOLOGY, BUSINESS AND EDUCATION. MUHLENBERG PROFESSORS ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS. THEY CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, PUBLISH BOOKS AND ARTICLES, ARE QUOTED IN THE MEDIA, PRESENT AT CONFERENCES, AND WIN AWARDS. MUHLENBERG PROFESSORS ARE THE FORCE BEHIND THE COLLEGE'S UNMATCHED CONNECTIVITY. THEY DRIVE THE RICH AND REWARDING CURRICULUM, WHICH CONNECTS AND COMBINES CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS WITH OUTSTANDING PRE-PROFESSIONAL STUDY.
- $89.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: LIBRARY, DEPRECIATION, INTEREST, NON-CASH FINANCIAL AID, AMORTIZATION OF BOND SETTLEMENT COSTS (2,063 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS). STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDING RECRUITMENT FOR ADMISSION, COUNSELING, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PEER TUTORING PROGRAM, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATION, AND STUDENT RECORD ADMINISTRATION. ALL OF THESE SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO THE SENSE OF CONNECTIVITY EXPERIENCED BY MUHLENBERG STUDENTS WHILE INTERACTING IN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY.
- $19.0 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: HOUSING OF 1,750 STUDENTS; MEALS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,625 STUDENTS; AND A BOOKSTORE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,063 STUDENTS AND 808 EMPLOYEES.
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 December 1932.
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.