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John Brown University

EIN 71-0239576 · Siloam Spgs, AR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY (JBU) PROVIDES CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO HONOR GOD AND SERVE OTHERS BY DEVELOPING THEIR INTELLECTUAL, SPIRITUAL, AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)JBU SERVES TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ON ITS RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS IN SILOAM SPRINGS, ARKANSAS. JBU ALSO OFFERS NON-TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES THROUGH ITS ONLINE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE GRADUATE SCHOOL AT JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY SERVES GRADUATE STUDENTS.

Income
$94.6 million
Spending
$81.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
1,555
Volunteers
177
Highest pay
$521,804, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

    28 of 28 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 (5)
  1. $43.8 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES - JBU CURRENTLY ENROLLS MORE THAN 2,300 STUDENTS IN ITS THREE PRIMARY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE, ONLINE UNDERGRADUATE, AND GRADUATE. THROUGH ITS INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, JBU OFFERS MORE THAN 50 TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS, 64 UNDERGRADUATE MINORS, 12 GRADUATE DEGREES, AND 9 UNDERGRADUATE ONLINE PROGRAMS. THE FACULTY TO STUDENT RATIO IS 14:1. THE TOP TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS OF STUDY BY MAJOR ENROLLMENT ARE: NURSING, PSYCHOLOGY, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, GRAPHIC DESIGN, FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, KINESIOLOGY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, FILM, AND ART & ILLUSTRATION. THE JBU ONLINE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES IN BUSINESS, INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, AND PSYCHOLOGY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OFFERS DEGREES IN BUSINESS, COUNSELING, CYBERSECURITY, AND TEACHER EDUCATION. THE GRADUATION RATE IS CONSISTENTLY ABOVE 65% AND TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE RETENTION IS ABOVE 80%. IN ADDITION TO MAJOR LEVEL COURSES, UNDERGRADUATES ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES THAT EMPHASIZE THE INTEGRATION OF INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $9.7 million spent. AUXILIARY- JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY OFFERS A TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT ITS SILOAM SPRINGS CAMPUS, A FORMATIONAL PART OF THE JBU EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THE UNIVERSITY REQUIRES NON-LOCAL TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE SENIOR STATUS TO LIVE ON CAMPUS. JBU HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF CAMPUS HOUSING, INCLUDING FOUR RESIDENTIAL HALLS, TOWN HOMES, APARTMENTS, AND DUPLEXES. DURING THE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC YEAR, JBU PROVIDES FULL CAFETERIA SERVICE TO STUDENTS.
  3. $9.5 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY OFFERS SPIRITUAL FORMATION, WELLNESS, COUNSELING, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE, ONLINE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND, ON A LIMITED BASIS, TO THE BROADER JBU COMMUNITY. JBU ALSO OFFERS TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE IN NAIA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC COMPETITION. STUDENT SERVICES COVERS A BROAD VARIETY OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHICH HELP STUDENTS IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  4. $5.6 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT - JBU ENRICHES THE STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF LIBRARY SERVICES, REGISTRAR SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, AND FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  5. $1.7 million spent. PUBLIC SERVICE- THE UNIVERSITY IS HOME TO THE CENTER FOR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OWNS AND OPERATES KLRC RADIO, A 100,000 WATT FM RADIO STATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1936.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.