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Wilkes University

EIN 24-0795506 · Wilkes Barre, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$163.9 million
Spending
$160.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
1,823
Volunteers
114
Highest pay
$504,088, 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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 27% 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 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

    26 of 27 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. $96.6 million spent. INSTRUCTION - INCLUDES ALL EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE INSTITUTION'S INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES CREDIT AND NON CREDIT COURSES, ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 50 UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS, 15 GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AND SEVERAL PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. ENROLLMENT INCLUDES 1,896 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM 31 STATES AND 19 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. CLASS SIZES ARE KEPT SMALL TO ENABLE GREATER ACCESS TO PROFESSORS AND MORE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM. UNDERGRADUATE FRESHMEN CLASS SIZES AVERAGE 19 STUDENTS WITH 14 STUDENTS FOR UPPER LEVEL CLASSES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WILKES IS DEDICATED TO BEING A LEADER IN HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND IS DEDICATED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH MENTORING. THIS ALSO INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR GENERAL, NEED BASED, AND ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS FROM RESTRICTED OR UNRESTRICTED CURRENT FUNDS IN THE FORM OF GRANTS TO STUDENTS. AT LEAST 90% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL AID. GRANTS AWARDED INCLUDE SEOG SCHOLARSHIPS, WILKES NEED BASED GRANTS AND WILKES MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $31.6 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - INCLUDES FUNDS EXPENDED FOR ACTIVITIES WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. WILKES CLASSIFIES THE FOLLOWING OFFICES INTO THIS PROGRAM: OFFICES OF ENROLLMENT SERVICES (ADMISSIONS), REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATION, CAREER SERVICES, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES. IN ADDITION, EXPENDITURES FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES, CULTURAL EVENTS, INTRAMURAL AND INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, FRESHMAN ORIENTATION, AND STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE CONSIDERED STUDENT SERVICES FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES.
  3. $13.6 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT - INCLUDES FUNDS EXPENDED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE INSTITUTION'S PRIMARY MISSION OF INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THE ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY INCLUDING ACADEMIC DEANS BUT NOT DEPARTMENT CHAIRS THAT ARE CHARGED TO THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION CATEGORY ARE FOUND IN THIS PROGRAM. ALL SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER EXPENSES FOR THE LIBRARY ARE ALSO CONSIDERED ACADEMIC SUPPORT.RESEARCH - INCLUDES ALL EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY ORGANIZED TO PRODUCE RESEARCH, WHETHER COMMISSIONED BY AN AGENCY EXTERNAL TO THE INSTITUTION OR SEPARATELY BUDGETED WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE EXPENSES OF SEVERAL RESEARCH GRANTS ARE RECORDED TO THE RESEARCH CLASSIFICATION.PUBLIC SERVICE - INCLUDES FUNDS EXPENDED FOR ACTIVITIES ESTABLISHED PRIMARILY TO PROVIDE NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES BENEFICIAL TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS EXTERNAL TO THE UNIVERSITY. THE EXPENSES OF THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, RADIO AND TELEVISION STUDIOS, SHINE PROGRAM, AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY LECTURE SERIES ARE AMONG THOSE POSTED TO THIS PROGRAM.

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 October 13, 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 December 1948.

    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 October 21, 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.