University of Tulsa
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA IS A STUDENT-CENTERED RESEARCH UNIVERSITY THAT CULTIVATES INTERCONNECTED LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO EXPLORE COMPLEX IDEAS AND CREATE NEW KNOWLEDGE IN A SPIRIT OF FREE INQUIRY. GUIDED BY OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND SERVICE, WE PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CAMPUS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR WORLD.
- Income
- $339.4 million
- Spending
- $378.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 3,047
- Volunteers
- 121
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, football head coach
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 29% 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
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 2524 of 25 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 (3)
- $295.0 million spent. INSTRUCTION - THE UNIVERSITY SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,487 UNDERGRADUATE AND 1,074 GRADUATE STUDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2024. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES DIRECT INSTRUCTION COSTS AS WELL AS HOUSING, DINING, STUDENT SERVICES, ATHLETICS, AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES, AND STUDENT AID. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE PORTION OF PLANT MAINTENANCE RELATED TO EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
- $33.5 million spent. RESEARCH - THE INSTITUTION RECEIVES GRANTS FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES AS WELL AS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE INSTITUTION'S RESEARCH IS IN THE FIELDS OF PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PORTION OF PLANT AND MAINTENANCE RELATED TO RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
- $17.7 million spent. PUBLIC SERVICE - THIS ITEM INCLUDES 2 PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, A SPEECH AND HEARING CLINIC, AND SEVERAL ACADEMIC JOURNALS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PORTION OF PLANT MAINTENANCE RELATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.