The Corporation of Mercer University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MERCER UNIVERSITY'S MISSION IS TO TEACH, TO LEARN, TO CREATE, TO DISCOVER, TO INSPIRE, TO EMPOWER, AND TO SERVE.
- Income
- $484.7 million
- Spending
- $453.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- -2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 4,514
- Volunteers
- 570
- Highest pay
- $970,596, senior associate dean/school of medicine
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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% 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
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 2549 of 50 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
10 of 10Gave 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 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 (8)
- $129.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION: THE UNIVERSITY HAS 12 COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS. THE UNIVERSITY'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE LIBERAL ARTS, BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, MEDICINE, NURSING, PHARMACY, LAW, THEOLOGY, MUSIC AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS. THESE EXPENSES ARE RELATED TO THE DIRECT INSTRUCTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE UNIVERSITY SERVES OF 9,000 DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS IN THE 12 COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS. THE UNIVERSITY BESTOWED OVER 2,600 DEGREES FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THE PEACE CORPS IS ONE OF MANY INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED AT MERCER. MERCER CURRENTLY RANKS 4TH NATIONALLY AMONG PEACE CORPS PREP CERTIFICATE ISSUING INSTITUTIONS. THE UNIVERSITY'S INSTRUCTION ALSO PROVIDES A FOCUS ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH BY PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR EDUCATION. THE RESEARCH CAN BE INCLUDED IN THEIR COURSE BASED IN LAB WORK OR FACULTY LED RESEARCH. OVER 26 STUDENTS MADE RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AT THE GEORGIA UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE. ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR EDUCATION IS MERCER'S GO BABY GO PROGRAM. SINCE 2016 THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED KIDS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY BY HELPING THEM GAIN MORE INDEPENDENCE THROUGH THE USE OF BATTERY POWERED TOY CARS. MERCER ENGINEERING HONOR STUDENTS MODIFY THE CARS TO MEET EACH CHILD'S SPECIFIC NEEDS. AS THE CARS ARE BEING MODIFIED, ABOUT 40 STUDENTS FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INTERACT WITH THE FAMILIES. THE GO BABY GO PROGRAM HAS MODIFIED OVER 150 CARS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. (Expenses $ 45,721,288 including grants of $ 353,023)(Revenue $ 47,334,014) RESEARCH (Expenses $ 37,549,897 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,188,554) ACADEMIC SUPPORT (Expenses $ 32,718,846 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) STUDENT SERVICES (Expenses $ 4,307,226 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC SERVICES (Expenses $- 4,763,689 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
- $108.1 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THESE EXPENSES ARE RELATED TO THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS BASED ON DONOR STIPULATION, NEED, AND MERIT. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP AID WITHIN 4 CATEGORIES. MERCER BASED AID SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BASED ON ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE RENEWABLE UP TO 4 YEARS. TALENT BASED AID SCHOLARSHIPS ARE EITHER ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS OR MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS. NEED BASED AID SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BASED ON ECONOMIC NEED. COMPETITIVE AID SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BASED ON MERIT. OVER 90% OF THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS.
- $80.0 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: THE UNIVERSITY'S AUXILIARY SERVICES FACILITATES THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY, EXTENDS THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF CAMPUS LIFE THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES INCLUDING RESIDENCE, DINING SERVICES, CLINIC OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS ATHLETIC AND RETAIL OPERATIONS FOR OVER 9,000 STUDENTS. AUXILIARY SERVICES MAINTAIN THE BEAR CARD SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DINING OPTIONS AND EASIER ACCESS FOR STUDENTS TO PAY FOR THOSE OPTIONS. AUXILIARY SERVICES ALSO PROVIDES MAIL AND DOCUMENT SERVICES AS WELL AS CABLE ACCESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT RESIDENCES. (Expenses $ 45,721,288 including grants of $ 353,023)(Revenue $ 47,334,014) RESEARCH (Expenses $ 37,549,897 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 3,188,554) ACADEMIC SUPPORT (Expenses $ 32,718,846 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) STUDENT SERVICES (Expenses $ 4,307,226 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC SERVICES (Expenses $- 4,763,689 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
- $45.7 million spent. RESEARCH
- $37.5 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT
- $32.7 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES
- $4.3 million spent. PUBLIC SERVICES
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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