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Chowan University

EIN 56-0554199 · Murfreesboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHOWAN UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE COEDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEARNING, SCHOLARLY INQUIRY, AND SERVICE. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES THE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME LEARNERS WHO POSSESS THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, CREATIVITY, AND ETHICAL VALUES NECESSARY TO SURVIVE AND FLOURISH IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, GLOBAL SOCIETY. CHOWAN UNIVERSITY, AS A CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION, WAS FOUNDED UPON AND IS DEDICATED TO JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES. CONSISTENT WITH THIS HERITAGE, THE UNIVERSITY IS GUIDED BY THE HISTORIC PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, AN ATMOSPHERE OF OPEN DIALOGUE, FREEDOM OF INQUIRY AND EXPRESSION, AND A MORAL COMMITMENT TO THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH.

Income
$27.4 million
Spending
$31.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
530
Volunteers
41
Highest pay
$221,036, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 22% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 38 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (1)
  1. $26.5 million spent. CHOWAN UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE, COEDUCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY WITH BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WITH A LIBERAL ARTS BASIS IN CAREER-ORIENTED FIELDS SUCH AS BUSINESS, TEACHER EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ETC. IN ALL, THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS DEGREES IN 20 PROGRAMS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN, AND ARE EXPOSED TO, VARIOUS CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THEY ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS VARIOUS STYLES OF STUDENT HOUSING FOR RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS. RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS RECEIVE TRAINING AND PROGRAMMING FROM THE RESIDENCE LIFE STAFF. ATHLETIC AND INTRAMURAL PARTICIPATION IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN THE LEARNING AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. DURING FALL 2024, THE UNIVERSITY SERVED APPROXIMATELY 583 STUDENTS IN ITS TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, WITH 512 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SPRING 2025. THE GRADUATE PROGRAM HAD 72 STUDENTS IN FALL 2024 AND 71 IN SPRING 2025. AMONG THESE, 565 STUDENTS WERE RESIDENTIAL IN FALL 2024, AND 489 IN SPRING 2025. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLED AROUND 7 STUDENTS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE ADULT DEGREE PROGRAM FOR FALL 2024 AND 6 IN SPRING 2025. THE UNDERGRADUATE RESIDENCY PROGRAM, DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS OBTAINING THEIR TEACHING LICENSE, HAD 13 PARTICIPANTS IN FALL 2024 AND 6 IN SPRING 2025. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 159 STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR PROGRAM STUDIES.

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

  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 May 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 1949.

    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.