Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Marquette University

EIN 39-0806251 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

As a Catholic, Jesuit university our mission is to search for truth, discover shareknowledge, foster personal professional excellence, promote a life of faith and developleadership expressed in service to others. See Schedule O.

Income
$840.0 million
Spending
$747.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
8,123
Volunteers
2,050
Highest pay
$4.5 million, mens basketball head coach

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 32 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $416.1 million spent. Instruction Consistently ranked among the top 100 colleges and universities nationwide, Marquette annually enrolls more than 11,700 students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and confers approximately 2,800 degrees annually. Marquette offers 80 undergraduate majors and 93 minors to students in the College of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Communication, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences and Nursing. Marquette has 79 doctoral and masters degree programs, and 19 graduate certificate programs, and a School of Dentistry and Law School. TheGraduate School of Management has nationally ranked MBA programs as well as specialty masters programs in several business areas. Marquette has Wisconsins only School of Dentistry and one of only two law schools in the state.
  2. $91.6 million spent. Student Services We know that learning occurs outside, as well as inside, the classroom. Our core values of excellence, faith, leadership and service are fostered through student participation in our residence hall communities and campus organizations, which include academic and professional groups, club and recreational sports, spiritual activities and community service organizations. Marquettes urban location, just blocks from downtown Milwaukee, gives students ample opportunities for internships, co-op experiences and part-time employment. On campus, professionals in the Office of Student Affairs, Student Health Service, Counseling Center and Campus Ministry, as well as faculty and other staff, help students as they navigate the challenges of young adult life. Marquette also has an Educational Opportunity Program, which provides academic opportunity and support to first-generation college students, students from under-represented groups or ethnicities and students from low-income families.
  3. $56.6 million spent. Academic Support and Library All Marquette undergraduates receive a strong liberal arts foundation through the universitys Core of Common Studies, which includes courses in nine core knowledge areas. Curriculum development is an ongoing process, with faculty support available through the Center for Teaching and Learning and various departmental resources. Programs for faculty development include curriculum enhancement and diversity grants, teaching enhancement awards, fellowship awards for research, young scholar awards and summer faculty fellowships. The Preparing Future Faculty Program encourages the development of graduate students for the multiple roles they will face as faculty members.
  4. Program Services Expenses 121,089,601, Grants and Allocations 0, Revenue 116,241,580 Auxiliary Enterprises Expenses 51,817,862, Grants and Allocations 0, Revenue 67,875,845 Research-Expenses 63,681,392, Grants and Allocations 0, Revenue 48,365,735 Public Service Expenses 5,590,347, Grants and Allocations 0, Revenue 0

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 November 6, 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 February 1970.

    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 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.