Covenant College Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EXPLORE AND EXPRESS THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN ALL THINGS; TO EDUCATE CHRISTIANS TO ENGAGE CULTURE AND CULTURES; TO EXAMINE AND UNFOLD CREATION; AND TO PURSUE BIBLICAL JUSTICE AND MERCY IN COMMUNITY WITH THE STUDENT-FACULTY RELATIONSHIP, STRONG TEACHING, AND SCHOLARSHIP AT THE FOUNDATION. OUR CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY SEEKS TO HELP STUDENTS MATURE IN THREE PRIMARY AREAS: IDENTITY IN CHRIST, BIBLICAL FRAME OF REFERENCE, AND SERVICE THAT IS CHRIST-LIKE.
- Income
- $64.2 million
- Spending
- $63.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Employees
- 1,018
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $358,626, 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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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 2525 of 27 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
7 of 7Has a 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 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)
- $35.7 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES: THESE EXPENSES RELATE DIRECTLY TO THE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES OF THE COLLEGE. WITH APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MAJORS, ONE MASTER'S PROGRAMS, AND MORE THAN FIFTY MINORS AND CONCENTRATIONS, COVENANT COLLEGE PROVIDED NEARLY 900 STUDENTS WITH A WELL-ROUNDED LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PREPARING THEM FOR CAREERS OR ADVANCED DEGREES IN THEOLOGY, MEDICINE, BUSINESS, ART, MUSIC, ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, AND MUCH MORE.
- $9.3 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AND INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS: THE COLLEGE'S FOUR RESIDENCE HALLS, STUDENT APARTMENTS, AND DINING HALL COMPOSE THE AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES. WHILE ALL OF THE HALLS OFFER A CLOSE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, EACH BUILDING HAS ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE PERSONALITY AND EACH FLOOR HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY AND TRADITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COLLEGE HOSTS CAMPS AND CONFERENCES AND HAS AN ONSITE GIFT SHOP FILLED WITH COVENANT APPAREL, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, SNACKS AND OTHER ITEMS. THE CAMPS AND CONFERENCES AS WELL AS THE GIFT SHOP ARE INCLUDED IN INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS.
- $8.3 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: STUDENT SERVICES AT COVENANT HELP CREATE A RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. FROM THE MOMENT A STUDENT BECOMES INTERESTED IN ATTENDING COVENANT, THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE PROVIDES HIM OR HER WITH RESOURCES AND PERSONALIZED ATTENTION TO HELP EACH STUDENT MAKE AN INFORMED AND THOUGHTFUL DECISION ABOUT WHERE TO ATTEND COLLEGE. THE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FOSTERS A POSITIVE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH INTENTIONAL TRAINING WITH RESIDENT ASSISTANTS, HALL PRESIDENTS, AND DORM COUNCILS. IN ADDITION TO CAMPUS ACTIVITIES, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT OFFERS STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC COUNSEL, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS. OUR RECORDS AND FINANCIAL AID OFFICES PERSONALLY WORK WITH STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEY ARE ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION AND ARE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION AT COVENANT. STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE CENTER FOR CALLING & CAREER, WHERE THEY LEARN TO BUILD A RESUME, WRITE A COVER LETTER, INTERVIEW WELL, AND NETWORK WITH FUTURE EMPLOYERS.
- $2.2 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT: THE COLLEGE WORKS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACADEMIC SUPPORT AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR COVENANT EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF, THE COVENANT LIBRARY IS NETWORKED WITH MORE THAN 18,000 OTHER INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE, PROVIDING INTERLIBRARY LOAN ACCESS AND DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICES TO OVER 1.3 BILLION LIBRARY ITEMS. OUR LIBRARY WAS ELEVENTH IN THE WORLD TO GO LIVE WITH THE ONLINE COMPUTER LIBRARY CENTER'S NEW CLOUD-BASED OPERATING SYSTEM, WEB-SCALE MANAGEMENT SERVICE. COVENANT'S WRITING CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE LIBRARY, PROVIDING STUDENTS ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING FOR ESSAYS, RESEARCH PAPERS, AND ANY WRITING-RELATED ASSIGNMENTS. THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT COVENANT WORKS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR DEANS AND FACULTY MEMBERS AS THEY SEEK TO PROVIDE A RIGOROUS EDUCATION TO COVENANT STUDENTS. COVENANT'S MASTER OF EDUCATION AND MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING DEGREES OFFERED BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AT COVENANT PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY OF COMPLETING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ONE YEAR. COVENANT'S MACLELLAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM OFFERS COURSES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF POTENTIAL CHRISTIAN LEADERS. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WHILE AT COVENANT AND DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP THROUGH STUDENT-INITIATED PROJECTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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