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Mount Saint Marys University

EIN 52-0591672 · Emmitsburg, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, MOUNT ST. MARY'S GRADUATES ETHICAL LEADERS WHO ARE INSPIRED BY A PASSION FOR LEARNING AND LEAD LIVES OF SIGNIFICANCE IN SERVICE TO GOD AND OTHERS.

Income
$143.3 million
Spending
$143.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
1,435
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$374,216, former 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    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 (5)
  1. $78.8 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 2,737 STUDENTS CONSISTING OF 2,020 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, 197 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 223 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN EDUCATION, 126 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THEOLOGY, 19 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, 43 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, 35 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT, 6 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES, 87 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND 17 NON-DEGREE SEEKING GRADUATE STUDENTS. THE UNIVERSITY AWARDED A TOTAL OF 634 DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES COMPRISED OF 386 BACHELOR'S DEGREES, 38 POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATES, 180 MASTER'S DEGREES, 26 THEOLOGY MASTER'S DEGREES AND 4 POST-MASTER'S CERTIFICATES.
  2. $29.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES WHICH IS COMPRISED OF ATHLETICS, STUDENT HOUSING, DINING SERVICES, POST OFFICE, VENDING, PHYSICAL PLANT, LAUNDRY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
  3. $10.5 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY. THIS INCLUDES COUNSELING /HEALTH CENTER, STUDENT AFFAIRS AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
  4. $6.7 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT
  5. $4.7 million spent. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 March 1946.

    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.

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