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Oklahoma Baptist University

EIN 73-0579264 · Shawnee, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TRANSFORMS LIVES BY EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, INTEGRATE FAITH WITH ALL AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE, ENGAGE A DIVERSE WORLD, AND LIVE WORTHY OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST.

Income
$76.0 million
Spending
$78.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
1,016
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$276,982, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 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 (4)
  1. $46.3 million spent. ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION: OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OFFERS OVER 80 UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY, WITH PRE-PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE ACADEMIC OFFERINGS ARE OPERATED THROUGH SCHOOLS AND DIVISIONS: THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY, SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, EXERCISE SCIENCE, SPORTS AND RECREATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, NURSING, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PLUS SEVERAL GRADUATE, ONLINE AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY'S CORE CURRICULUM INTEGRATES ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES TO PROVIDE A RIGOROUS LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. MASTERS' DEGREES ARE OFFERED IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MULTIPLE THEOLOGY DISCIPLINES, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, AND TEACHING. THE UNIVERSITY'S FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE AND REGION.
  2. $12.5 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES TO STUDENTS, INCLUDING HEALTH SERVICES, CAREER PLANNING AND PLACEMENT, COUNSELING, FINANCIAL AID, ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH 13 SPORTING TEAMS, AN EXTENSIVE INTRAMURAL AND CLUB SPORTS PROGRAM, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES, A UNIVERSITY CONCERT SERIES, AND AN ARRAY OF CAMPUS MINISTRY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EIGHT LOCAL MINISTRY TEAMS, AND YEAR-ROUND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND SERVICE EXPERIENCES. THESE SERVICES ARE TIED TO OBU'S MISSION STATEMENT: AS A CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY, OBU TRANSFORMS LIVES BY EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, INTEGRATE FAITH WITH ALL AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE, ENGAGE A DIVERSE WORLD, AND LIVE WORTHY OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST.
  3. $10.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OPERATES RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 960 OF THE UNIVERSITY'S APPROXIMATELY 1,600 ENROLLED STUDENTS. CAMPUS DINING, INCLUDING CATERING SERVICES, IS PROVIDED THROUGH CHARTWELL'S, A COMPASS GROUP COMPANY. THE UNIVERSITY'S BOOKSTORE IS OPERATED BY SLINGSHOT.
  4. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE GENERATED FROM EDUCATIONAL SALES/SERVICES/EVENTS.

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

  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 May 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 1956.

    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.