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Wilmington University Inc

EIN 51-0107088 · New Castle, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 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

WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, RELEVANCY OF THE CURRICULUM, AND INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION TO STUDENTS. AS AN INSTITUTION WITH ADMISSIONS POLICIES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL, IT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO STUDENTS OF VARYING AGES, INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS.THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A RANGE OF EXEMPLARY CAREER-ORIENTED UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR A GROWING AND DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION. IT DELIVERS THESE PROGRAMS AT LOCATIONS AND TIMES CONVENIENT TO STUDENTS AND AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. A HIGHLY QUALIFIED FULL-TIME FACULTY WORKS CLOSELY WITH PART-TIME FACULTY DRAWN FROM THE WORKPLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY'S PROGRAMS PREPARE STUDENTS TO BEGIN OR CONTINUE THEIR CAREER, IMPROVE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN THE JOB MARKET, AND ENGAGE IN LIFELONG LEARNING.

Income
$142.4 million
Spending
$136.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
2,030
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$2.4 million, vice president (thru 2/29/24)

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    13 of 16 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 (1)
  1. $106.2 million spent. WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO BEING A UNIVERSITY WHERE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER IS PARAMOUNT, INTEGRITY GUIDES ALL OF OUR CHOICES, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IS OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE, AND RESPONSIVENESS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS IS KEY. IN DESIGNING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND STUDENT SERVICES, WE SUPPORT INNOVATION AND ACTIVELY SEEK FACULTY WITH EXPERIENCE IN THEIR FIELDS WHO CAN PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH AN EDUCATION FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL APPLICATION.WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY IS CLASSIFIED BY THE CARNEGIE COMMISSION AS A DOCTORAL/RESEARCH UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS DEGREE PROGRAMS AT THE ASSOCIATE'S, BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL LEVELS. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS DEGREE PROGRAMS IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND LIBERAL ARTS, THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND NATURAL SCIENCES, THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, THE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SCHOOL OF LAW. THE UNIVERSITY SERVED 18,982 (UNDUPLICATED) STUDENTS DURING FISCAL 2025, OFFERING PROGRAMS AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT DELAWARE AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN ONLINE MODALITY.THE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING FISCAL 24/25 WERE AS FOLLOWS:WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION AND THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY. THIS INSTITUTIONAL CLASSIFICATION REFLECTS THAT WE ARE THE ONLY INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE THAT AFFORDS "HIGH ACCESS AND HIGH EARNINGS" TO FOSTER STUDENT SUCCESS. WE REFLECT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND OUR GRADUATES EXPERIENCE COMPETITIVE WAGES. WE JOIN 479 INSTITUTIONS NATIONALLY WHO HAVE EARNED THIS DESIGNATION AND NOW SERVE AS A MODEL TO OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THESCHOOLHOUSE302, PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE COLLEGE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE SECOND ANNUAL NEW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR INDUCTION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NEWLY APPOINTED PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.THE COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION OF NURSE ANESTHESIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (COA) CONDUCTED AN ONSITE CAPABILITY/ACCREDITATION REVIEW OF THE DELAWARE NURSE ANESTHESIOLOGY PROGRAM AT CHRISTIANACARE AND WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY. THE REVIEW TEAM COMMENDED THE HIGH-QUALITY SELF-STUDY AND ROBUST EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE. ALL EIGHT STANDARDS, INCLUSIVE OF 156 CRITERIA WERE FOUND TO BE "IN COMPLIANCE." PENDING AN OFFICIAL ACCREDITATION DECISION IN OCTOBER 2025, THE FIRST COHORT BEGINS IN JANUARY 2026.FORBES ADVISOR EDUCATION RECOGNIZED WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY'S WELL-ROUNDED BIOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM AS A TOP 10 BEST ONLINE BIOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM. STUDENTS CAN EARN THEIR DEGREE IN PERSON AT BRANDYWINE AND NEW CASTLE LOCATIONS OR 100% ONLINE USING INNOVATIVE AT-HOME LAB KITS.THE LEGAL STUDIES CONCENTRATION IN THE LAW POLICY AND POLICY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE EARNED A FAVORABLE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.THE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED A NEW MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM WITH AN INAUGURAL COHORT OF 25 STUDENTS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY COMMITTED TO CARING FOR OUR STUDENTS AS CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS AS SUCH THE UNIVERSITY SERVED A TOTAL OF 18,982 STUDENTS INCLUDING 12,265 UNDERGRADUATE, 6,017 GRADUATE, 654 DOCTORAL STUDENTS, AND 46 SCHOOL OF LAW STUDENTS DURING FISCAL 2025. THE UNIVERSITY AWARDED 3,972 TOTAL DEGREES, INCLUDING 1,703 UNDERGRADUATE, 2,106 GRADUATE AND 163 DOCTORAL DEGREES DURING FISCAL 2025.

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 July 1968.

    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.