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The American College of the Mediterranean

EIN 82-2123116 · Tempe, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN IS TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, INSPIRE INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS, AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE STUDY OF EUROPEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN HISTORY, LANGUAGES, CULTURES, AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.

Income
$27.6 million
Spending
$26.0 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
34
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$333,463, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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

    18 of 18 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 July 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. $18.6 million spent. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ("ACM") IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OFFERING AMERICAN-STYLE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES TO STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT ITS MAIN CAMPUS LOCATED IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE FRANCE. ACM IS THE SUCCESSOR ORGANIZATION FROM THE MERGER OF ACM AND THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES ("IAU"), A NEW YORK NOT-FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION, WHICH HAS PROVIDED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE FOR AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SPENDING AN ACADEMIC YEAR OR SEMESTER ABROAD SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1957. ACM HOSTED 2,565 TOTAL STUDENTS AND 46 DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS IN 2024. ACM WAS ESTABLISHED TO EXPAND UPON A LONG HISTORY OF AMERICAN-STYLE HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN FRANCE BY LEVERAGING THE TALENTS OF AN EXISTING FACULTY, THE FACILITIES OF AN HISTORIC CAMPUS, AND THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF ITS MEDITERRANEAN LOCATION THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF SEVERAL BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S PROGRAMS IN THE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND BUSINESS.THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES ("IAU") WAS THE SOLE CORPORATE MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.IAU AND ACM MERGED EFFECTIVE JULY 31, 2021.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 April 2019.

    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.

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