Stetson University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION AT STETSON UNIVERSITY IS TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION IN A CREATIVE COMMUNITY WHERE LEARNING AND VALUES MEET, AND TO FOSTER IN STUDENTS THE QUALITIES OF MIND AND HEART THAT WILL PREPARE THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS INFORMED CITIZENS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $263.8 million
- Spending
- $281.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 2,537
- Volunteers
- 87
- Highest pay
- $677,663, president/trustee
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% 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 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 2536 of 37 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 (2)
- $230.7 million spent. EDUCATIONAL: THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS ON THREE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, SERVING MORE THAN 2,450 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND APPROXIMATELY 1,630 GRADUATE AND POST-BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS. THE UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO ITS STRONG LIBERAL ARTS HERITAGE, OFFERING OVER 80 MAJOR AND MINOR PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS FIELDS OF STUDY. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS NUMEROUS GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH JURIS DOCTOR, MASTER OF LAWS, AND MASTER OF JURISPRUDENCE DEGREES. THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO IS 10:1; THE DELAND CAMPUS HAS 218 FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS, 90 PERCENT OF WHOM HOLD A PH.D. OR OTHER TERMINAL DEGREES. THE COLLEGE OF LAW CAMPUS HAS 48 FULL-TIME PROFESSORS AND IS SUPPLEMENTED BY OVER 67 EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS IN SPECIALIZED AREAS. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS BASED ON TALENT, ACADEMIC, AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FINANCIAL NEED.
- $26.9 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: THE UNIVERSITY AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE FOR THE CONVENIENCE AND BENEFIT OF ITS STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF STUDENT HOUSING OPTIONS, INCLUDING DORMITORIES AND APARTMENT-STYLE ACCOMMODATIONS. IN ADDITION, THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS FULL ARRAY OF DINING SERVICES, STUDENT CONVENIENCE STORE, AND CAMPUS BOOKSTORE.
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 May 1943.
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.