Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

University of St Thomas

EIN 74-1277664 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We are the University of St. Thomas, the Catholic University in the heart of Houston. We are committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. By pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship and service, we embody and instill in our students the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers: goodness, discipline and knowledge. We foster engagement in a diverse, collaborative community. The University of St. Thomas is a comprehensive university, grounded in the liberal arts. Committed to the unity of all knowledge, we offer programs in the traditional liberal arts, professional, and skill-based disciplines. Graduates of the University of St. Thomas think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically.

Income
$154.9 million
Spending
$144.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
1,591
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$688,163, vice president of academic affairs (through 10/15/24)

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $63.6 million spent. THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS (THE "UNIVERSITY"), LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WAS FOUNDED BY THE BASILIANS FATHERS IN 1947. THE UNIVERSITY, ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES, IS AN INDEPENDENT, CO-EDUCATIONAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OFFERING BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN 43 SUBJECT AREAS, MASTER'S DEGREES IN 33 SUBJECT AREAS AND DOCTORATE DEGREES IN TWO SUBJECT AREAS. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO 3,395 UNDERGRADUATE AND 958 GRADUATE STUDENTS.
  2. $46.7 million spent. THE UNIVERSITY HAS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ASSIST QUALIFIED STUDENTS THROUGH A PROGRAM OF SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS-IN-AID, LOANS AND PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT. ADMINISTERED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, ACCORDING TO THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH APPLICANT, THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE A GENUINE NEED. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID EITHER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OR THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES.
  3. $5.7 million spent. AUXILIARY OPERATIONS: STUDENT HOUSING, DINING SERVICES, PARKING GARAGE, AND BOOKSTORE SERVICES
  4. ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWED DEPARTMENTAL CHAIRS, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, ENDOWED LECTURES, AND MAINTENANCE OF CAMPUS FACILITIES.
  5. (Expenses $ 0 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 7,291,057) ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWED DEPARTMENTAL CHAIRS, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, ENDOWED LECTURES, AND MAINTENANCE OF CAMPUS FACILITIES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.