South University Member Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $305.4 million
- Spending
- $277.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 2,362
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $645,460, chancellor & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $251.9 million spent. SOUTH UNIVERSITY IS AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION. SOUTH UNIVERSITY IS RECOGNIZED AS A 501(C)(3) ENTITY BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. SOUTH UNIVERSITY IS ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES TO AWARD ASSOCIATE, BACCALAUREATE, MASTERS AND DOCTORATE DEGREES. WITH 11 LOCATIONS IN ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA,SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, AND VIRGINIA,SOUTH UNIVERSITY'S APPROACH TO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE RESULTING VARIED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES, PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE PRAGMATIC APPROACH NECESSARY TO CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL FULFILLMENT. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, BOTH ON-CAMPUS AND ONLINE, THAT HELPS STUDENTS IDENTIFY GOALS AND THE MEANS TO ACHIEVE THEM. WITH THIS PHILOSOPHY IN MIND, STUDENTS CAN LEARN BY INTERACTING WITH A COMMUNITY OF FACULTY, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION DEDICATED TO SOUTH UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC PURPOSE. SOUTH UNIVERSITY OFFERS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ACROSS ITS 11 CAMPUSES AND THROUGH ONLINE PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMICS ARE ORGANIZED ACROSS FIVE COLLEGES: ARTS AND SCIENCES, BUSINESS, HEALTH PROFESSIONS, NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH, THEOLOGY - AND A SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.IN FALL 2024, A TOTAL OF 12,528 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT SOUTH UNIVERSITYCAMPUSES AND ONLINE WITH 84% WHO ATTEND FULLY ONLINE. MORE THAN 29% OFSTUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS. 71% OF STUDENTSARE FROM DIVERSE POPULATIONS - AND 75% OF STUDENTS ARE FEMALE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.