East-West University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY IS AN INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. ITS MISSION IS THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE BY ALL THROUGH RELEVANT, EFFECTIVE AND CONVENIENT EDUCATION AND SERVICE TO HUMANKIND WITH A GLOBAL, MULTI-CULTURAL AND FUTURE-ORIENTED PERSPECTIVE. DIVERSITY IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE. ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS COME FROM MANY RACES AND FROM MANY LANDS, TEACHING, WORKING, AND STUDYING ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUALS BORN IN INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHICAGO. THE UNIVERSITY HAS DISTINGUISHED ITSELF AS A KEY PLAYER IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE LIVING ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE CITY. SINCE 1983, MORE THAN 2,000 GRADUATES HAVE COME OUT FROM EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY'S VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITH ASSOCIATE AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES GRANTED TO THEM.
- Income
- $13.7 million
- Spending
- $12.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 98
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $222,775, executive vp/chancelor
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 August 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 (5)
- $4.9 million spent. FINANCIAL AID AND RECORDSEAST-WEST UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS WHO, WITHOUT SUCH AID, WOULD BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY. TO THAT END, WE OFFER A VARIETY OF FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES TO QUALIFYING STUDENTS. THIS YEAR FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS OF $4,592,969 (42% OF THE TUITON) TO OUR STUDENTS.THE RECORDS OFFICE MAINTAINS, PRESERVES, AND DISTRIBUTES STUDENTS' PERMANENT ACADEMIC RECORD AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY IN THE AREAS OF ACADEMIC POLICY, ENROLLMENT, AND COURSE INFORMATION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REGISTRATION, CLASS SCHEDULING, COURSE OFFERINGS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION, GRADE PROCESSING, CATALOG, GRADUATION SUPPORT, ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT DELIVERY, AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT. THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGMENT SYSTEM TO ELEMENTS AND ACQUIRED ELEMENT451 FOR CRM.
- $3.5 million spent. PHYSICAL FACILITIES & STUDENT LIFE CENTERTHE STUDENT LIFE CENTER IS A MODERN, OPEN AND BRIGHTLY LIT BUILDING DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY AND ITS VIBRANT URBAN SETTING IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH LOOP.THE NEW STUDENT LIFE CENTER CONTAINS:TEN FLOORS OF ON-CAMPUS HOUSING CALLED THE FLATS. MULTI-PURPOSE GYMNASIUM, FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND DORM RESIDENTS. A STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS CENTER, FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND DORM RESIDENTS. A NEW LIBRARY WITH EXPANDED COLLECTION AND STATE-OF-THE-ART COMPUTERS. AUDITORIUM FOR LARGE EVENTS, ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. GREEN FEATURES, INCLUDING ENERGY-SAVING HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS AND A GREEN ROOF. A MODERN, INVITING ATRIUM-STYLE SPACE FEATURING FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS AND PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT. 24/7 ON-SITE SECURITY AND SUPERVISION.THE EXPANSION OF EAST-WEST'S CAMPUS EXTENDED THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND ALLOWED STUDENTS TO INTERACT FREELY WITH CLASSMATES, FACULTY, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE STUDENT LIFE CENTER PROVIDES EAST-WEST STUDENTS WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO THE SOUTH LOOP'S CIVIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING HAROLD WASHINGTON LIBRARY CENTER, CHICAGO MUSEUM CAMPUS, AND GRANT PARK. IN 2024-25 YEAR, SLC WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE MASTER LEASE FROM CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THREE FLOOR OF THE BUILDING AND APPLICATION IS ALREADY FOR THE MASTER LEASE FOR FIVE-SEVEN FLOORS FOR THREE YEARS.
- $2.4 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING DEGREE PROGRAMS:BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES GUIDES THE STUDENT THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF COURSES WHICH INCLUDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ECONOMICS, HISTORY, STATISTICS, POLITICAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND SOCIOLOGY. THE PROGRAM APPLIES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND SOUND UNDERSTANDING OF MAJOR THEORIES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES TO UNDERSTAND AND RESOLVE CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES. THE PROGRAM HELPS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN GRADUATE STUDY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, GOVERNMENT, HISTORY, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, LAW, POLITICAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, PUBLIC RELATIONS, SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK, URBAN PLANNING, AND SIMILAR FIELDS.BIOLOGICAL SCIENCESIN THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SOUTH LOOP, EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY CAN HELP MAKE YOUR DREAM OF A CAREER IN SCIENCE OR MEDICINE A REALITY! EARN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY AND PREPARE FOR GRADUATE, NURSING, OR MEDICAL SCHOOL.CAREERS IN SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND HEALTH CARE BEGIN WITH A FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION IN BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES. EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY PROVIDES AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION IN BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PREREQUISITES TO PURSUE AN ADVANCED DEGREE IN SCIENCE OR MEDICINE. STUDENTS ARE TRAINED IN MODERN BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND PHYSICS LABORATORIES BY EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS WHO HAVE EXTENSIVE TEACHING EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS ARE TRAINED ON STATE-OF-THE-ART MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EQUIPMENT TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORLD OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY. IMPORTANTLY, RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE PRIMARY AND CLINICAL AREAS TO PREPARE GRADUATES FOR THE RIGORS OF POST-GRADUATE WORK OR CONTINUED HEALTHCARE EDUCATION.BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONTHE BS DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFERS STUDENTS DIVERSIFIED AND CHALLENGING CORE COURSES THAT ALL EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY BUSINESS STUDENTS MUST TAKE AND SPECIALTY COURSES PROVIDING A SOLID FOUNDATION IN BUSINESS THEORY AND APPLICATIONS. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL CLASSES LIKE ACCOUNTING, ECONOMICS, FINANCE, AND MANAGEMENT, STUDENTS TAKE COURSES IN CHALLENGING AREAS SUCH AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING, FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. THE BS DEGREE PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS A BROAD KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE BUSINESS DISCIPLINES, PREPARES THEM FOR CAREER POSSIBILITIES IN BUSINESS-RELATED AREAS, GIVES THEM THE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIL SOCIETY, AND PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER STUDIES AND GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL WORK.ACADEMIC PROGRAMSTHE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY AT EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION OF PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, CAREER-FOCUSED EDUCATION TO A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION IN CHICAGO AREA. THE PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, GRADUATE STUDY, AND ENTRY-LEVEL CAREERS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THE CURRICULUM PROVIDES A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF FOUNDATIONAL AREAS IN BIOLOGY LIKE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS, ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND OTHER DISCIPLINES, ALSO FOCUS ON LABORATORY COMPETENCY, QUANTITATIVE REASONING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION. RECENT CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDED HANDS-ON LABORATORY EXPERIENCES. EMERGING TOPICS SUCH AS MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN NEW COURSE, MOLECULAR RESEARCH METHODS AND LABORATORY TECHNIQUES, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO MODERN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TOOLS RELEVANT TO MODERN RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE. ANOTHER NEW COURSE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE WAS ALSO STARTED TO PROMOTE INTERDISCIPLINARY UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND CONTEMPORARY LOCAL AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES. ADDITIONALLY, INVITED LECTURES AND FIELD EXPERIENCES FURTHER CONNECT STUDENTS WITH CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AND REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS IN BIOLOGY. THE PROGRAM REFLECTS THE DIVERSE STUDENT BODY OF EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE. INITIATIVES INCLUDE MENTORING FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL AND TRANSFER STUDENTS, PEER MENTORING PROGRAMS, AND THE PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM PRACTICES TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION.RETENTION AND TIMELY GRADUATION ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH FREQUENT ADVISING SESSIONS, IMPROVED COURSE SEQUENCING, AND STRUCTURED DEGREE PLANNING. UPPER-DIVISION STUDENTS RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDANCE, INCLUDING SUPPORT WITH CV PREPARATION, LINKEDIN PROFILE DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC JOB SEARCHING TO FACILITATE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS TO EMPLOYMENT OR ADVANCED STUDY.THE PROGRAM ALSO ENGAGES IN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS. FACULTY PARTNERED WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, BUTLER UNIVERSITY, MARIAN UNIVERSITY, DEPAUW UNIVERSITY, NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY, AND CALUMET COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH ON A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL STUDY EVALUATING A NETWORK-BASED OPEN HOUSE MODEL FOR RECRUITING TRAINEES INTO POST-BACCALAUREATE STEM PROGRAMS. FINDINGS WERE PUBLISHED IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION IN THE ARTICLE, "EFFECTIVENESS OF A NETWORK OPEN HOUSE MODEL TO RECRUIT TRAINEES TO POST-BACCALAUREATE STEM PROGRAMS." THE BIOLOGY PROGRAM REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT INCLUDE STRENGTHENING RECRUITMENT, EXPANDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS, ENHANCING ALUMNI OUTCOME TRACKING, AND EXPLORING FOCUSED PROGRAM TRACKS ALIGNED WITH REGIONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS.COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCETHE COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE PROGRAM AT EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY OFFERS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS) AND AN ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) DEGREE PROGRAMS. THE COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION THAT COMBINES ACADEMIC COURSEWORK WITH RELEVANT "HANDS-ON" LABORATORY EXPERIENCES. THE STUDY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IS THE COMBINATION OF COMPUTATION AND SOLVING INFORMATION-BASED PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD BY APPLYING THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES. THE STUDY INV
- $160,403 spent. LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES CENTEREAST-WEST UNIVERSITY LIBRARY IS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE STUDENT LIFE CENTER. IT HAS A SHELVING CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND BOOKS AND JOURNALS, AN AREA OF 14,000 SQUARE FEET, AND A SEATING CAPACITY OF 60. THE LIBRARY INCLUDES QUIET GROUP SPACES, SOME WITH COMPUTERS. ITS SPACES HAVE BEEN RE-PURPOSED TO SUPPORT AND ENABLE STUDY, TEACHING AND LEARNING IN ORDER TO MEET STUDENTS' TEAM-ACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING NEEDS. THE LIBRARY COLLECTION INCLUDES 15 DATABASES PROVIDING FULL-TEXT ACCESS TO OVER 8,820 JOURNALS AND OTHER SERIAL TITLES, 17 DATABASES INDEXING OVER 16,669 JOURNALS AND OTHER SERIAL TITLES, 48 ELECTRONIC BOOK REFERENCE SETS, 20,000 PLUS MONOGRAPHS, AND OVER 1800 FILMS.THE LIBRARY PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF RESOURCES TO STUDENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY FAMILY. ORIENTATION TO THE LIBRARY AND INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH QUARTER AND THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR AS NEEDED.
- $489,933 spent. ADMISSIONS AND RETENTIONATTENDING COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LIFE DECISIONS THAT YOU WILL MAKE. YOU MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHICH UNIVERSITY IS RIGHT FOR YOU. THE ADMINISTRATION AT EAST-WEST WANTS YOU TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH AS MANY ASPECTS OF THE UNIVERSITY AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST STEP IS FOR OUR ADMISSIONS STAFF TO DISCUSS YOUR GOALS, UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS, TRANSFER CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS. THE ADVISORS HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE PROCESS TOWARD FULFILLING YOUR ACADEMIC DREAMS.THE OFFICE OF COUNSELING AND STUDENT AFFAIRS SERVES TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER EACH STUDENT AT EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY TO REALISE THEIR FULL ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL POTENTIAL BY COLLABORATING WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. THE OFFICE STRIVES TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND THAT EMBRACES STUDENT DIVERSITY IN ALL AREAS OF THE STUDENT'S JOURNEY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.