Southeastern University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S DEDICATION TO STUDENTS' SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR CHRIST CENTERED LIVING BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
- Income
- $158.8 million
- Spending
- $138.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 2,015
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $682,341, 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% 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
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 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
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 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 (2)
- $115.8 million spent. SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITED TO AWARD ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, MASTERS AND DOCTORATE DEGREES BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES. FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2025 THE UNIVERSITY AWARDED 820 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES AND 337 GRADUATE DEGREES. TOTAL STUDENT HEADCOUNT FOR FALL OF 2025 WAS 13,636. ITS PICTURESQUE CAMPUS LOCATED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IS HOME TO 2,221 STUDENTS, BUT ITS OUTREACH IS GLOBAL, WITH STUDENTS IN EVERY US STATE, WASHINGTON D.C, AND 4 U.S. TERRITORIES. INTERNATIONALLY, THE UNIVERSITY IS REPRESENTED IN 55 COUNTRIES WITH 315 TOTAL STUDENTS. FOUNDED BY AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION, THE UNIVERSITY SERVES A CULTURALLY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY COMPRISED OF 39.4% ETHNIC MINORITIES AND VARIOUS RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.
- $5.8 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: AN IMPORTANT PART OF SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S SERVICE TO ITS STUDENTS IS THE PROVISION OF CONVENIENT, NUTRITIONAL MEALS AND SAFE, COMFORTABLE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, SEU PROVIDED ITS 1,561 RESIDENTIAL AND 660 COMMUTER STUDENTS A VARIETY OF MEAL PLAN OPTIONS AND CAMPUS DINING FACILITIES INCLUDING TUSCANA RISTORANTE, MI CASA CAFE, CHICK-FIL-A, PORTICO COFFEEHOUSE, BACKYARD BURGERS, EINSTEIN BROS. BAGELS AND PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA. RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AMENITIES INCLUDED USE OF WASHERS & DRYERS, WI-FI AND PHONE HOOK-UP, STREAMING SERVICES, AND COMMON AREAS FOR STUDYING AND RECREATION. FULL-TIME, ON-CAMPUS RESIDENT DIRECTORS PROVIDED SUPPORT AND CONNECTION WITH NEEDED RESOURCES.
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 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 May 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 July 1947.
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.
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