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Mount Saint Marys University

EIN 95-1641455 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OFFERS A DYNAMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES TO A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY. AS A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDED PRIMARILY FOR WOMEN, WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUPERIOR EDUCATION ENHANCED BY BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND FOSTERING A SPIRIT OF SERVICE, SO OUR GRADUATES WILL USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO BETTER THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR WORLD.

Income
$132.4 million
Spending
$146.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
1,776
Volunteers
202
Highest pay
$696,169, president

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% 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

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 24 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $107.3 million spent. INSTRUCTION: MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY PROVIDES VALUES BASED TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION FOR WOMEN, AS WELL AS, INNOVATIVE NON-TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND MEN. THE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS PLACE A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL AND ETHICAL VALUES CONSISTENT WITH A VIEW OF COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE UNIVERSITY HAS GRANTED MORE THAN 30,000 DEGREES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE UNIVERSITY ENROLLED APPROXIMATELY 1,511 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS (FTE) TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS; 184 FTE NON-TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS; AND 725 FTE GRADUATE STUDENTS.
  2. $16.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE COMPRISED OF RESIDENCE AND DINING HALLS, AND PARKING FACILITIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, RESIDENCE HALL OCCUPANCY WAS APPROXIMATELY 570 STUDENTS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 March 1946.

    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.

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