Dickinson College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DICKINSON COLLEGE PROVIDES A USEFUL, INNOVATIVE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO LEAD RICH AND FULFILLING LIVES OF ENGAGED GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
- Income
- $266.2 million
- Spending
- $239.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 14.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 2,433
- Volunteers
- 1,300
- Highest pay
- $595,671, 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 2534 of 34 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)
- $177.8 million spent. EDUCATING STUDENTS - DICKINSON COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO MAKING A TOP-TIER EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF FAMILIES' ECONOMIC MEANS. ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS FROM THE MOST RECENT ENTERING CLASS, WHO DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED AND WHO MET APPLICATION DEADLINES, WERE OFFERED AID. IN 2024-25, DICKINSON STUDENTS RECEIVED AN ESTIMATED $112,670,177 IN FINANCIAL AID, OF WHICH $95,307,961 WAS PROVIDED FROM THE COLLEGE'S FUNDS. STATE AND FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS, PARENT LOANS AND OTHER OUTSIDE SOURCES PROVIDED THE REMAINING FUNDS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN FALL 2024, THE COLLEGE EMPLOYED 221 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT FACULTY. 91% OF FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS HOLD A DOCTORATE OR OTHER TERMINAL DEGREE. OF THIS GROUP, FULL PROFESSORS COMPRISED 28%, ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS 36%, ASSISTANT PROFESSORS 31%, AND INSTRUCTORS 5%. THE STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO FOR FALL 2024 WAS 11:1. TO SUPPORT ITS ACADEMIC, STUDENT LIFE AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS, THE COLLEGE ALSO EMPLOYS 331 PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF PERSONNEL (ALL FT) AND 321 SUPPORT STAFF PERSONNEL (281 FT; 40 PT). DICKINSON CONTINUES TO RECEIVE FAVORABLE AND FREQUENT MEDIA ATTENTION AND ATTRACT GREATER LEVELS OF STUDENT INTEREST EACH YEAR. AS THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AND THE QUALITY OF RECENT ENTERING CLASSES DEMONSTRATE, DICKINSON HAS A SECURE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AS A TOP-QUALITY LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE. THE INCREASED LEVEL OF INTEREST THE COLLEGE HAS SEEN IN RECENT YEARS PUTS THE COLLEGE IN A GOOD POSITION TO CONTINUE TO ANALYZE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROFILE OF STUDENTS WHO ENROLL AND REMAIN AT DICKINSON IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SELECTIVITY, YIELD AND RETENTION.2,311 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED FOR FALL 2024, INCLUDING 157 STUDENTS STUDYING OFF-CAMPUS AT THE COLLEGE'S CENTERS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. FOR FALL 2024, STUDENTS CAME FROM 44 U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES AND 52 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS ADMITTED 3,059 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS REFLECTING AN ACCEPTANCE RATE OF 42%. FIRST-YEAR ENROLLMENT FIGURES REFLECT THE COLLEGE'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC QUALITY (53% RANKED TOP 10% OF CLASS). THE 1-YEAR RETENTION RATE WAS 93%, AND 79% OF ENTERING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS GRADUATED WITHIN FOUR YEARS. DICKINSON STUDENTS MAY SELECT EITHER OF TWO BROAD DEGREE ORIENTATIONS WITHIN THE CURRICULUM: THE BACHELOR OF ARTS OR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ARE THE SAME IN EITHER CASE; ONLY STUDENTS WITH THE CONCENTRATION IN ONE OF THE NATURAL OR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES MAY BE CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE. COURSES ARE OFFERED IN TWO SEMESTERS, EACH COMPRISING 14 WEEKS OF CLASSES FOLLOWED BY FINAL EXAMINATIONS. THE FALL SEMESTER BEGINS IN LATE AUGUST AND CONCLUDES IN DECEMBER. STUDENTS HAVE A READING PERIOD AT THE END OF CLASSES IN WHICH TO PREPARE FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND PAPERS WHICH ARE SCHEDULED DURING THE SUBSEQUENT WEEK. SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS NEAR THE END OF JANUARY AND RUNS THROUGH MID-MAY, FOLLOWING THE SAME PATTERN OF CLASSES AND EXAMINATIONS AS THE FALL SEMESTER. SEEKING A BALANCE BETWEEN THE FULL BREADTH OF LIBERAL LEARNING AND DEPTH REPRESENTED BY ONE DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE, EACH DICKINSON STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO TAKE A MINIMUM OF 32 COURSES, COMPLETE A SERIES OF ALL-COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS, AND SELECT A MAJOR CONCENTRATION. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE INCLUDE A FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR, ONE "WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINE" COURSE AND ONE "QUANTITATIVE REASONING" COURSE. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION INCLUDE DISTRIBUTION COURSES (AT LEAST ONE COURSE IN THE ARTS, HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LABORATORY SCIENCE), CROSS-CULTURAL STUDIES, AND ONE COURSE IN SUSTAINABILITY.DICKINSON OFFERS A RICH CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THE EXPLORATION OF NEW FIELDS OF STUDY (RECENT INTRODUCTION OF A MAJOR IN DATA ANALYTICS AND A MINOR IN ETHICS ARE EXAMPLES). SOME THE COLLEGE'S RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- SURPASSING THE $70 MILLION GOAL FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, RAISING $78 MILLION FROM MORE THAN 5,000 DONORS. THIS ENABLED US TO LAUNCH THE DICKINSON PROMISE, WHICH WILL OFFER LOAN-FREE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES TO EVERY ADMITTED DOMESTIC STUDENT WITH A FAMILY INCOME OF $75,000 OR LESS. THIS PLACES DICKINSON IN A SMALL GROUP OF LESS THAN 50 SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY ABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH SUPPORT.- SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN FALL OF 2024, THE BURGESS INSTITUTE FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS REDEFINING HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARING FOR CAREERS IN BUSINESS, FINANCE AND LEADERSHIP. THROUGH BURGESS, STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH TOP ALUMNI LEADERS DURING IMMERSIVE SITE VISITS TO COMPANIES INCLUDING MORGAN STANLEY AND UTZ BRANDS, AND ITS EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM BROUGHT MULTIPLE ALUMNI BUSINESS FOUNDERS AND CEOS TO CAMPUS FOR INTENSIVE INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS. - DICKINSON DONORS CONTINUED TO ENHANCE THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE BY ESTABLISHING NEW FUNDS TO SUPPORT A DANCE PROFESSIONAL-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, THE DURDEN FACULTY SEMINAR PROGRAM, AND THE CHURCHILL MOSAICS FUND. - THE COLLEGE ALSO MADE SEVERAL IMPRESSIVE ENHANCEMENTS TO ITS ATHLETIC FACILITIES THROUGH ALUMNI GIFTS TO ESTABLISH THE HARE FAMILY SPORTS PERFORMANCE & TRAINING CENTER, NEW PROFESSIONAL-GRADE PLAYING FIELD SURFACES, A NEW SCOREBOARD AT BIDDLE FIELD, AND FUNDS FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.
- $35.0 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES - AUXILIARY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGE INCLUDE HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES, CAMPUS STORES, AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND 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 July 1959.
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.
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