Lagrange College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EDUCATION - LAGRANGE COLLEGE CHALLENGES THE MINDS AND INSPIRES THE SOULS OF ITS STUDENTS. FOUNDED IN 1831 AND COMMITTED TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND ITS WESLEYAN AND LIBERAL ARTS TRADITIONS, THE COLLEGE SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR TRUTH IN AN ETHICAL AND CARING COMMUNITY VALUING CIVILITY, DIVERSITY, SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE. LAGRANGE COLLEGE PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO ASPIRE TO LIVE LIVES OF INTEGRITY AND MORAL COURAGE.
- Income
- $44.0 million
- Spending
- $39.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 478
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $298,952, 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 2533 of 35 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 (1)
- $32.9 million spent. LaGrange College offers an Associate of Science degree with 1 major program, an Associate of Arts degree with 1 major program, a Bachelor of Arts degree with 17 major programs, a Bachelor of Science degree with 5 major programs, a Bachelor of Business Administration with 2 major programs, a Bachelor of Music with 1 major program, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. At the Graduate level, the college offers the Master of Arts in Teaching with 1 major program, the Master of Education with 2 major programs, the Master of Science with 1 major program, the Educational Specialist with 1 major program, the Master of Arts with 1 major program, a Doctor of Education with 1 major program, and 2 Certificates. In addition, during the 2024-2025 academic year, there were 681 undergraduate and 242 graduate students enrolled at the college. Of that number 475 were residential. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the college awarded 219 degrees and 9 certificates. During the year, there were 391 students who participated in at least one of the college's NCAA division iii athletic programs.
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 October 13, 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 1942.
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 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.