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Upper Iowa University

EIN 42-0680372 · Fayette, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY PROVIDES QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACCESSIBLE THROUGH VARIED DELIVERY METHODS TO INSPIRE SUCCESS AND EMPOWER LIVES.

Income
$49.0 million
Spending
$52.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
922
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$320,882, president and cfo

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 77% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $21.0 million spent. EDUCATION, INSTRUCTION, AND SUPPORT - UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY SERVED 4,026 STUDENTS WORLDWIDE. THE FAYETTE CAMPUS SERVED 503 TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, DRAWING THE MAJORITY OF THESE STUDENTS FROM IOWA, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS. THE UNIVERSITY IS DIVERSE IN ITS ETHNICITY, RACE, GENDER, ECONOMICS, AND GEOGRAPHY. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, AND THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY OFFERS SEVERAL MASTER'S DEGREES, BOTH ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACE. MASTER'S DEGREES ARE AVAILABLE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION, COUNSELING, SPORT ADMINISTRATION, AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATES ALSO ARE AVAILABLE IN ACCOUNTING, CORPORATE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, LITERACY COACH, TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $5.4 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES - RESIDENCE HALLS, FOOD SERVICES, LOGO STORE, ETC. FOR THE ABOVE STUDENTS. UNIVERSITY OFFERS DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS INCLUDING TRADITIONAL DORMS, SUITE STYLE LIVING, AND APARTMENT STYLE LIVING. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS FIVE DIFFERENT MEAL PLAN OPTIONS TO BEST SERVE STUDENTS' NEEDS, FROM A TRADITIONAL STUDENT LIVING ON CAMPUS OR A COMMUTER.
  3. $13.2 million spent. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT - PROVIDE SUPPORT TO INTERNAL OPERATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY SUCH AS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES, BUSINESS OFFICE, FACILITIES, ETC.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1955.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.