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East Texas Baptist University

EIN 75-0859801 · Marshall, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (ETBU) WAS FOUNDED IN 1912 AS A FULLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. AFFILIATED WITH THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS, ETBU EDUCATES STUDENTS BY INTEGRATING BIBLICAL FAITH AND LEARNING TO DEVELOP MIND, BODY AND SOUL THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO PREPARE GRADUATES TO BE CHRISTIAN SERVANT LEADERS IN THEIR CALLING TO GOD AND HUMANITY. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON QUALITY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN THE HUMANITIES, NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, FINE ARTS, AND BUSINESS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP AND TO PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SERVING STUDENTS OF VARIED AGES AND OF DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC, GEOGRAPHIC, CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS. WE AFFIRM THAT THE LIBERAL ARTS FORM THE SUREST FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH PROVIDES THE SUREST FOUNDATION FOR LIFE.

Income
$60.0 million
Spending
$62.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
902
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$622,298, 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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 31% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    33 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

    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 (1)
  1. $53.7 million spent. EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY IS A FULLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND ITS SERVICE IS THE INSTRUCTION OF STUDENTS. THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS BY INTEGRATING BIBLICAL FAITH AND LEARNING TO DEVELOP MIND, BODY, AND SOUL THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO PREPARE GRADUATES TO BE CHRISTIAN SERVANT LEADERS IN THEIR CALLING TO GOD AND HUMANITY. FOR THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER, THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLED 1,663 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 281 GRADUATE STUDENTS. ETBU STUDENTS HAVE THE CHOICE OF MULTIPLE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS, AND TWO DOCTORAL PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS, CHRISTIAN STUDIES, COMMUNICATION AND PERFORMING ARTS, HUMANITIES, EDUCATION, NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, NURSING, PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, AND B.H. CARROLL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. WITH A STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO OF 15:1 AND AN AVERAGE CLASS SIZE OF 20, STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION TAUGHT THROUGH A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW AND VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY COURSE CONTENT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. DEDICATED FACULTY AND STAFF ARE HOLISTICALLY SHAPING ETBU TIGERS INTO CHRISTIAN SCHOLARS AND SERVANT LEADERS, EQUIPPING THE NEXT GENERATION TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN THEIR FUTURE VOCATIONS.

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 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 November 6, 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 May 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 December 1964.

    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 November 4, 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.