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California Baptist University

EIN 95-1890710 · Riverside, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OFFERING BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE COURSES TO STUDENTS.

Income
$482.7 million
Spending
$471.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
4,233
Volunteers
239
Highest pay
$2.3 million, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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 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 (5)
  1. $114.8 million spent. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BELIEVES EACH PERSON HAS BEEN CREATED FOR A PURPOSE AND STRIVES TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND AND ENGAGE THIS PURPOSE BY PROVIDING A CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT INTEGRATES ACADEMIC WITH SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE UNIVERSITY CONSISTS OF TEN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND A DIVISION OF ONLINE EDUCATION, SERVING A TOTAL OF 11,931 STUDENTS. CBU OFFERS OVER 100 UNDERGRADUATE BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS, 2 UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, OVER 40 GRADUATE-LEVEL MASTER PROGRAMS AND 9 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $187.2 million spent. CBU OFFERS A MULTITUDE OF SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE COST OF ATTENDANCE MORE AFFORDABLE. THIS INCLUDES INSTITUTIONAL AND PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS, FROM FUNDS WITH AND WITHOUT DONOR RESTRICTIONS, IN THE FORM OF GRANTS THAT MAY BE BASED ON MERIT, PERFORMANCE, NEED, OR SOME OTHER SPECIFIC CRITERIA.
  3. $69.2 million spent. CBU SEEKS TO AID THE STUDENT BODY WITH EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND PROVIDES INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDE ADMISSIONS, CAREER GUIDANCE, COUNSELING, CULTURAL EVENTS, DISABILITY SERVICES, INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, NEW STUDENT PROGRAMS, RECREATION SPORTS, SAFETY SERVICES, SPIRITUAL LIFE, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION, STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE, STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $27.0 million spent. IN ADDITION TO QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT SERVICES, CBU PROVIDES FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY. THIS INCLUDES FOOD SERVICES, HOUSING FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, THE CAMPUS AND TEAM STORES, CONFERENCESAND EVENTS, AND TAHQUITZ PINES CAMP.
  5. $10.9 million spent. CBU PROVIDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE INSTITUTION'S PRIMARY PROGRAMS OF INSTRUCTION. IT INCLUDES ADVISING, LIBRARY, REGISTRAR, STUDENT SUCCESS, TECHNOLOGY LABS AND THE WRITING CENTER.

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? 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 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 February 1969.

    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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