Skip to the page content
Your donations
Check before you give

Southern Wesleyan University

EIN 57-0324936 · Central, SC

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY IS A CHRIST-CENTERED, STUDENT-FOCUSED LEARNING COMMUNITY DEVOTED TO TRANSFORMING LIVES BY CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO BE DEDICATED SCHOLARS AND SERVANT-LEADERS WHO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST.

Income
$31.1 million
Spending
$32.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
456
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$239,353, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 39% 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 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 (1)
  1. $26.7 million spent. SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY IS A CHRIST-CENTERED, STUDENT-FOCUSED LEARNING COMMUNITY DEVOTED TO TRANSFORMING LIVES BY CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO BE DEDICATED SCHOLARS AND SERVANT LEADERS WHO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS THROUGH BOTH TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES. FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO SEEK AN EXCELLENT RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF A STRONG CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT, THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES ON-CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT ITS FACILITY IN CENTRAL, SOUTH CAROLINA. THERE THE RICH TRADITIONS OF ACADEMIA ARE COUPLED WITH RESIDENCE HALL COMMUNITIES, SPORTS, CHAPEL AND ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES. SWU'S ON-CAMPUS PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS IN AREAS SUCH AS BUSINESS, RECREATION, TEACHER EDUCATION, MUSIC, ENGLISH, COMMUNICATION, RELIGION & MINISTRY, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, MATH, COMPUTER SCIENCE, FORENSICS, PRE-MEDICINE, HISTORY, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES. SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY OFFERS ONLINE PROGRAMS IN AN INNOVATIVE FRAMEWORK THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVENIENTLY COMPLETE UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS. SWU ONLINE CONTINUES YEAR-ROUND, AND STUDENTS ENTER THE PROGRAM AT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE YEAR. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH SWU ONLINE INCLUDE AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES. ALSO OFFERED ARE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HUMAN SERVICES, NURSING, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY STUDIES. SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS ONLINE GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA), THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT (MSM), THE MASTER OF EDUCATION IN CLASSROOM LEADERSHIP (MEDCL), THE MASTER OF EDUCATION IN ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION (MEDAS), THE MASTER OF EDUCATION IN E-LEARNING AND INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN, THE DOCTOR OF EDUCATION IN CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT (EDD), AND THE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

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 October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 May 1970.

    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 October 21, 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.