Anderson University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION OFFERING BACHELORS, MASTERS, AND DOCTORATE DEGREES. LOCATED ON APPROXIMATELY 398 ACRES IN THE UPSTATE REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA NEAR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE APPALACHIANS, THE UNIVERSITY FEATURES A RIGOROUS EDUCATION IN A SUPPORTIVE CHRISTIAN ATMOSPHERE. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 64 BACCALAUREATE MAJORS, 43 MAJOR-EMBEDDED CONCENTRATIONS, AS WELL AS 56 MINORS AND TWO UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS 22 MASTER DEGREES AND 7 GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN THE FIELDS OF BUSINESS, CHRISTIAN STUDIES, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CYBERSECURITY, EDUCATION, MUSIC EDUCATION, NURSING, AND PATHOLOGY. AT THE POST-MASTER'S LEVEL, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 11 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS: DOCTOR OF MINISTRY, DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (FOUR), DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LEADERSHIP, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PREACHING, AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (THREE).
- Income
- $177.4 million
- Spending
- $154.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 1,871
- Volunteers
- 328
- Highest pay
- $954,675, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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 (3)
- $120.4 million spent. THE UNIVERSITY IS A COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION OFFERING BACHELORS, MASTERS, AND DOCTORATE DEGREES. LOCATED ON APPROXIMATELY 398 ACRES IN THE UPSTATE REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA NEAR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE APPALACHIANS, THE UNIVERSITY FEATURES A RIGOROUS EDUCATION IN A SUPPORTIVE CHRISTIAN ATMOSPHERE. THE MAIN SOURCESOF REVENUE ARE TUITION, FEE, AND AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE INCOME AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 64 BACCALAUREATE MAJORS, 43 MAJOR-EMBEDDED CONCENTRATIONS, AS WELL AS 56 MINORS AND TWO UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS 22 MASTER DEGREES AND 7 GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN THE FIELDS OF BUSINESS, CHRISTIAN STUDIES, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CYBERSECURITY, EDUCATION, MUSIC EDUCATION, NURSING, AND PATHOLOGY. AT THE POST-MASTER'S LEVEL, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 11 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS: DOCTOR OF MINISTRY, DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (FOUR), DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LEADERSHIP, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PREACHING, AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (THREE).HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2024-2024 FISCAL YEAR - HISTORIC ENROLLMENT, MAJOR TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY:AMID THE MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL PERIOD IN ITS 113-YEAR HISTORY, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY REMAINS THE LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SELECTIVE IN ADMISSION, WITH MORE THAN 4,500 STUDENTS ENROLLED AS THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR BEGAN IN AUGUST 2024. WITH A CLASS OF NEARLY 1,000 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, A RETENTION RATE (82%) HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE (68.2%) AND THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF TROJAN FOOTBALL, ENROLLMENT AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY STANDS AT 4,519. A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY IS AMONG THE BEST COLLEGE WORKPLACES IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO THE GREAT COLLEGES TO WORK FOR PROGRAM, WHICH PLACED ANDERSON UNIVERSITY ON ITS HONOR ROLL FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ANDERSON UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF ONLY THREE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE THE DESIGNATION.CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION ENDORSES NEW INITIATIVE AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND FORMER UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS ANDREW YOUNG HAS ENDORSED A SUMMER PROGRAM AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY THAT WILL BRING TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH CHRISTIAN COLLEGES TO STUDY AND PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ESPOUSED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ANDERSON UNIVERSITY AND CITY OF ANDERSON LAUNCH JOINT VENTURETHE CITY OF ANDERSON AND ANDERSON UNIVERSITY HAVE JOINED FORCES TO LAUNCH A "MY CITY/MY UNIVERSITY" CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE BONDS BETWEEN ANDERSON UNIVERSITY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE THEME OF "MY CITY, MY TEAM" PLAYED OUT ON MAIN STREET BANNERS THROUGHOUT THE FALL 2024. THE WEEK OF THE FIRST GAME, THE COMMUNITY JOINED STUDENTS, FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND CHEERLEADERS AT A PEP RALLY IN WREN PARK IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN. MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE ATTENDED, CHEERING FOR THE TROJANS, PAINTING A MURAL, AND ENJOYING FOOD TRUCKS.100 YEARS OF IVY LEAVES THIS SPRING, THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES WILL REACH A MAJOR MILESTONE: PUBLICATION OF THE 100TH EDITION OF THE IVY LEAVES JOURNAL. PRODUCED ANNUALLY BY THE STUDENTS OF ANDERSON UNIVERSITY, IVY LEAVES SHOWCASES A SELECTION OF CREATIVE WORKS AND IS ANDERSON UNIVERSITY'S ONLY STUDENT-READ, STUDENT-LED JOURNAL, TELLING THE STORIES OF STUDENT ARTISTS, WRITERS AND DESIGNERSANDERSON UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES MORE THAN 600 GRADUATES IN ITS MAY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIESMORE THAN 600 NEW GRADUATES TURNED THEIR TASSELS AND MARKED A TURNING POINT IN THEIR LIVES AS ANDERSON UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. DURING THE FRIDAY MORNING CEREMONY, HELD ON THE HISTORIC ALUMNI LAWN, GRADUATES FROM ANDERSON UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES. DURING THE SATURDAY MORNING CEREMONY, HELD AT NEWSPRING CHURCH, GRADUATES FROM ANDERSON UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES, COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS, CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONS, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN AND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES.A DAY TO GIVE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS -- AGAINDURING A DAY 2024, GIVING TO ANDERSON UNIVERSITY CONTINUED AN UPWARD TREND. THE 2024 A DAY CAMPAIGN RAISED A TOTAL OF $824,374, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 63 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 858 GIFTS AND PLEDGES FROM 808 DONORS. A DAY, WHICH TOOK PLACE APRIL 4, IS A 24-HOUR CAMPAIGN WHERE ANDERSON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND FRIENDS COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CAUSES THAT HELP STUDENTS AND PROVIDE CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS. AU PROFESSOR TO EARN A FULBRIGHT AWARD ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER FULBRIGHT AWARD FOR ANDERSON UNIVERSITY. A PROFESSOR WITH THE ANDERSON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED THE FULBRIGHT AWARD TO BRAZIL FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE FULBRIGHT FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIP BOARD. THIS FULBRIGHT RESEARCH EXAMINES CHANGES IN TRUST BETWEEN PUBLIC, FOR-PROFIT, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CITY OF JAGUARINA, BRAZIL, WHERE THE HOST INSTITUTION (UNIEDUK) HAS A CAMPUS. FIELD RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH TWO, TWO-MONTH LONG TRIPS OVER THE NEXT TWO SUMMERS.AWARDS AND ACCOLADES- -BEST COLLEGES FOR VETERANS AMONG REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE SOUTH: #14 (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2024-2025) -BEST COLLEGE AMONG REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE SOUTH: #34 (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2024-2025) -BEST VALUE SCHOOL AMONG REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE SOUTH: #31 (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2024-2025) -BEST FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE AMONG COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES: #41 (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2024-2025) -BEST COLLEGES IN THE SOUTH (PRINCETON REVIEW, 2025-2026) - BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN NURSING
- $17.7 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE REVENUE: AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES EXIST TO FURNISH GOODS OR SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, OR INCIDENTALLY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. FEES CHARGED FOR AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE PRICED TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED. THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES IS THAT THEY ARE MANAGED AS AN ESSENTIALLY SELF-SUPPORTING ACTIVITY. REVENUES AND EXPENSES FROM AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE REPORTED AS CHANGES IN NET ASSETS WITHOUT DONOR RESTRICTIONS.AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES REVENUE INCLUDES ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENT HOUSING AND DINING FACILITIES. A SMALL NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS SPECIFICALLY FOR DEFRAYING THE COSTS OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES ARE AWARDED, WHICH REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE RECOGNIZED. PAYMENTS FOR HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES ARE DUE APPROXIMATELY BY THE START OF THE ACADEMIC TERM. DINING PLANS ARE NOT OFFERED DURING THE SUMMER TERM. PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS FOR HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES ARE DELIVERED OVER THE ACADEMIC TERMS. CONSEQUENTLY, ASSOCIATED REVENUES ARE EARNED AND RECOGNIZED OVER THE COURSE OF EACH TERM AS THE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED.
- $47,487 spent. OTHER PROGRAM REVENUE THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, COMMISSIONS FROM SALES OF STUDENT RELATED ITEMS, PERKINS DEBT SERVICE, TICKET SALES FOR ATHLETIC AND THEATRE EVENTS, AND MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION REVENUE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1935.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.