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Samuel Merritt University

EIN 94-2992642 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAMUEL MERRITT UNIVERSITY EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BECOME HIGHLY SKILLED AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO POSITIVELY TRANSFORM THE EXPERIENCE OF CARE IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$134.8 million
Spending
$109.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
1,051
Volunteers
62
Highest pay
$989,785, president

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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 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)
  1. $82.9 million spent. SAMUEL MERRITT UNIVERSITY, ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 1909, IS A FULLY ACCREDITED HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTION LOCATED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA WITH CAMPUSES IN SACRAMENTO, SAN MATEO, AND FRESNO. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS SELECT DEGREES ONLINE. VALUES: A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES AND OUR STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY, SEEK MASTERY AND ACT COMPASSIONATELY. A COLLEGIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE ARE FAIR, RESPECTFUL AND BEHAVE WITH INTEGRITY. A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE PARTNER WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. AN INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE TAKE REASONED RISKS AND MOVE NIMBLY. A RESULTS-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE PROVIDE AND EXPECT EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE. PROGRAMS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM: THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN). IN ADDITION, SMU OFFERS AN ACCELERATED BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (ABSN) AND AN RN TO BSN BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE. GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS - MASTER'S LEVEL: SMU OFFERS SEVERAL MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS: MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING - FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING - CASE MANAGEMENT, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING - CLINICAL LEADERSHIP EDUCATION, MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK, MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, AND MASTER PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO OFFERS TWO ENTRY-LEVEL MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS. POST-PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE DEGREES IN NURSING INCLUDE PROGRAMS IN NURSE ANESTHESIA (CRNA), CASE MANAGEMENT (CM), AND FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER (FNP). GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS - DOCTORAL LEVEL: THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS SEVERAL DOCTORAL DEGREES: DOCTOR OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE, DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE, AND DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY. ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS: SMU OFFERS SEVERAL OF ITS DEGREES IN THE ONLINE MODALITY: MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (POST-PROFESSIONAL FNP), RN TO BSN BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE, AND DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE. FACULTY AND STUDENTS (FALL 2024) NUMBER OF FULL-TIME FACULTY: 170 STUDENT/FACULTY CLINICAL RATIO: 8.0 TO 1 SAMUEL MERRITT STUDENTS: TOTAL STUDENTS: 1,926 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: 735 GRADUATE STUDENTS: 1,191 MEN: 23 % / WOMEN: 77% ACCREDITATION: REGIONAL ACCREDITATION: WASC SENIOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COMMISSION (WSCUC). SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION: ACCREDITATION REVIEW COMMISSION ON EDUCATION FOR THE PHYSICIAN. FACILITIES: INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES 250-SEAT FONTAINE AUDITORIUM (NOT LOCATED IN FRESNO FACILITIES); JOHN A. GRAZIANO MEMORIAL LIBRARY INCLUDING STUDY ROOMS AND COMPUTER LABS (NOT LOCATED IN FRESNO FACILITIES); MOTION ANALYSIS RESOURCE CENTER (MARC) (NOT LOCATED IN FRESNO FACILITIES). OTHER LABORATORIES INCLUDE THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, ANATOMY, NURSING, PODIATRIC MEDICINE, BIOMECHANICS, PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS, AND HEALTH SCIENCES SIMULATION CENTER (HSSC). OTHER FACILITIES STUDENT LOUNGES, STUDY SPACE, AND EXERCISE FACILITIES (NOT LOCATED IN FRESNO FACILITIES).

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 May 1986.

    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.