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Southern Assoc of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Inc

EIN 32-0261810 · Decatur, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES IS THE REGIONAL BODY FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF DEGREE-GRANTING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. THE COMMISSION'S MISSION IS THE ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND IT STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTITUTIONS BY ENSURING THAT INSTITUTIONS MEET STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND STUDENTS. IT SERVES AS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF SHARED VALUES AND PRACTICES AMONG THE DIVERSE INSTITUTIONS IN ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, LATIN AMERICA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL SITES APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION ON COLLEGES THAT AWARD ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, MASTER'S, OR DOCTORAL DEGREES. THE COMMISSION ALSO ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FROM OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Income
$14.8 million
Spending
$14.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
83
Volunteers
77
Highest pay
$690,097, 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs.

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

    77 of 77 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 (1)
  1. $11.0 million spent. THE COMMISSION PROVIDES ACCESS TO INDUSTRY INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND COST SAVING PROGRAMS. THE COMMISSION PROVIDES ANNUAL MEETINGS AND SUMMER INSTITUTES DESIGNED FOR ENHANCING PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMISSION PRINCIPLES, PREPARING FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS AND LEARNING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING ASSESSMENTS.THE COMMISSION PROVIDES ACCREDITATION OF DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTIONS IN ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA, AND LATIN AMERICA.

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 October 2008.

    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.

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