Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lackawanna College

EIN 24-0839402 · Scranton, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LACKAWANNA COLLEGE IS AN ACCREDITED, PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT EDUCATION INSTITUTION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION TO ALL PERSONS WHO SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND BETTER THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE. THE COLLEGE STRIVES TO BE AN AFFORDABLE, OPEN-ENROLLMENT COLLEGE, PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY AND TRANSFERABLE EDUCATION THAT EXCEEDS ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS AT ALL LEARNING LEVELS. THE COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ACADEMICALLY UNDERPREPARED FOR COLLEGE LEVEL WORK, AND NURTURING STUDENTS' SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND CAPACITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE COLLEGE IS ALSO COMMITTED TO CULTIVATING AND MAINTAINING ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR REGIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND NON-PROFIT AGENCIES. THE COLLEGE DELIVERS SERVICE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKFORCE.

Income
$43.2 million
Spending
$41.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
710
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$298,327, 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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 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)
  1. $24.3 million spent. TUITION AND FEES FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. LACKAWANNA COLLEGE IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITED BY THE MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION. THE INSTITUTION OFFERS 22 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AND 8 BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS TO ITS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION. IN FALL 2024, LACKAWANNA ENROLLED NEARLY 1,910 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
  2. $4.2 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE REVENUE. NINETY-FIVE PERCENT (95%) OF LACKAWANNA COLLEGE'S AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE REVENUE IS GENERATED BY OFFERING HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICE TO APPROXIMATELY 300 STUDENTS IN COLLEGE-OWNED FACILITIES.
  3. $1.5 million spent. CONTINUING EDUCATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM REVENUE. LACKAWANNA COLLEGE OPERATES A CONTINUING EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT FALL UNDER THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE CREDIT STRUCTURE. THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT, THE COLLEGE OFFERS A DIPLOMA PROGRAM IN ITS ACT 120 POLICE ACADEMY AND VARIOUS CERTIFICATE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS FUNDED UNDER THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS AND WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACTS.

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

  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 June 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 March 1960.

    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.