Southwest Baptist University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHRIST-CENTERED, CARING ACADEMIC COMMUNITY PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE SERVANT LEADERS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY; A HIGHER-EDUCATION INSTITUTION OFFERING COURSES THAT LEAD TO BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES.
- Income
- $56.1 million
- Spending
- $58.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 779
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $366,272, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 May 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 (4)
- $32.3 million spent. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERING COURSES THAT LEAD TO BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES. STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE FROM MORE THAN 100 AREAS OF ACADEMIC STUDY AS THEY PURSUE A LIBERAL ARTS BASED, CAREER-ORIENTED EDUCATION. STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO GRADUATE WITH A B.A., B.M., B.S., B.S.N., B.S.W., A.A., A.A.S., AS.N., A.S.R., AND AS. DEGREE. GRADUATE DEGREES INCLUDE: M.B.A., M.S. (IN EDUCATION AND NURSING), M.S. (IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION), ED.S., ED.D. (IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP), AND THE D.P.T. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE UNIVERSITY IS COMPRISED OF FIVE COLLEGES: MERCY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS, COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, GENEVA CASEBOLT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, THE ROBERT W. PLASTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, AND THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCE. SBU IS A THRIVING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION WITH MORE THAN 2,000 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. THE MAIN CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED IN BOLIVAR, MO, WITH ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, SALEM, SPRINGFIELD AND ONLINE. THE UNIVERSITY REPORTS A 12:1 STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, 66% OF FULL-TIME TEACHING FACULTY ON THE BOLIVAR CAMPUS HAVE EARNED DOCTORATE DEGREES. IN ADDITION, SBU HAS RECEIVED AN A RATING, BASED ON GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS, IN THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AND ALUMNI'S REPORT WHAT WILL THEY LEARN? SINCE 2013. SBU IS ONE OF THE NATION'S COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION, HONORING THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE FOUR DISTINCTIONS: ENGAGED STUDENTS, GREAT TEACHING, VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES.
- $9.3 million spent. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OFFERS A VARIETY OF ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES AND STUDENT SERVICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY. THIS SECTION WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION/ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR NEW STUDENTS. TWO OUTSTANDING COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSITION PROGRAM INCLUDE WELCOME WEEK AND THE UNIVERSITY SUCCESS CENTER (USC). WELCOME WEEK IS AN ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS HELD BI-ANNUALLY ON THE CAMPUS THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. EACH NEW STUDENT IS PROVIDED A SMALL-GROUP EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO BUILD INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ACCLIMATE THEM TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION CULTURE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE UNIVERSITY SUCCESS CENTER IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL ADVISING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH STUDENTS. THE USC PROVIDES WEEKLY CONTACT WITH NEW STUDENTS THAT FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC GOALS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL AREAS OF UNIVERSITY LIFE, THE USE OF CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, GOAL-SETTING, AND PRACTICE IN DECISION-MAKING. STUDENTS HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED COUNSELORS TO ASSIST WITH PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES. THIS SERVICE IS OFFERED WITHOUT DIRECT COST TO STUDENTS. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OPERATES A HEALTH CENTER THAT PROVIDES MINOR ROUTINE HEALTH CARE. THE CAREER SERVICES OFFICE IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WITH CAREER COUNSELING, CAREER ASSESSMENTS, JOB SEARCHES, PLACEMENT FILES, RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, AND MOCK INTERVIEWS. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO SUPPORTS SEVERAL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION. SBU PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF NCAA DIVISION II INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS COMPETING WITHIN THE GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCES. SPORTS INCLUDE: BASEBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, FOOTBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD, SOFTBALL, BEACH VOLLEYBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD, AND STUNT TEAM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN ACTIVE INTRAMURAL PROGRAM IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS MAY PARTICIPATE. STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE AND FORENSICS, DRAMA AND THEATER PRESENTATIONS, AND SEVERAL MUSIC ENSEMBLES. THE SBU FORENSICS (SPEECH AND DEBATE) TEAM HAS EARNED 14 NATIONAL TITLES AT THE PI KAPPA DELTA NATIONAL FORENSICS CHAMPIONSHIP.
- $8.6 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES CONSISTS, FOR THE MOST PART, OF THE UNIVERSITY DINING COMMONS (CAFETERIA), THE RESIDENCE HALLS, CONFERENCE CENTER, AND THE JANE AND KEN MEYER WELLNESS AND SPORTS CENTER. THE DINING COMMONS IS THE MAIN FACILITY FOR PROVIDING MEALS TO STUDENTS. THE MARKETPLACE SERVES BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER SIX DAYS PER WEEK, AND BRUNCH AND DINNER ON SUNDAYS. IN ADDITION TO THE MARKETPLACE, THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS A CONVENIENCE STORE STYLE SHOP CALLED THE CORNER MARKET, A COFFEE AND SANDWICH SHOP CALLED CRAFT COFFEE AND DELI-CRAFT, AND A SHAKE SMART LOCATION. CAMPUS HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR NON-MARRIED, FULL-TIME STUDENTS ON THE BOLIVAR CAMPUS. THE UNIVERSITY HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT HOUSING FACILITIES, INCLUDING RESIDENCE HALLS AND APARTMENTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)RESIDENCE FACILITIES ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES CALLED RESIDENT DIRECTORS AND STUDENTS EMPLOYED TO SERVE AS RESIDENT ASSISTANTS (RAS). THE RAS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ACTIVITIES, INFORMING RESIDENTS OF DORM POLICIES, AND HELPING STUDENTS GROW SPIRITUALLY AND SOCIALLY. THE CONFERENCE CENTER PROVIDES GENERAL SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S CAMPS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS GENERALLY FOCUS ON CHRISTIAN GROWTH EMPHASES, ATHLETIC/ ACADEMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, OR BOTH. THEY HELP TO INTRODUCE FUTURE STUDENT PROSPECTS TO THE UNIVERSITY. THE JANE AND KEN MEYER WELLNESS AND SPORTS CENTER IS A FACILITY THAT PROVIDES A HEALTHY AND MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, AND OTHERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN WELLNESS AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER INCLUDES A FITNESS AREA WITH STRENGTH TRAINING AND CARDIO MACHINES, RACQUETBALL COURTS, SWIMMING POOL, GYMNASIUM WITH THREE COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL COURTS, A RUNNING/WALKING TRACK, CLIMBING WALL, AND SPORTS CAFE.
- $2.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 March 1947.
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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