National University

Overview

Mission

To deliver accessible world-class student experiences by providing quality programs and services that ensure student success through meaningful learning. To be an inclusive and innovative university serving life-long learners who contribute to the positive transformation of society.

What it reported doing in 2024

National university ("nu") is a not-for-profit university, headquartered in san diego, ca, founded in 1971 to serve the needs of a diverse group of students. Nu provides innovative, challenging, accessible degree opportunities to non-traditional, working, and military students. Nu is accredited by the accrediting commission for senior colleges and universities of the western association of schools and colleges.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 94% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 79% for direct work, and 21% for grants.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237172306
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Headquarters
San Diego, CA, USA
Phone
8586428100
Rating
71
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
University or Technological Institute

Official website

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 57
  • Transparency & Controls: 73
  • Accountability: 97
  • Sustainability: 41
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 59.2%; rating input score 59
  • Program expense ratio: 49%; rating input score 49
  • Fundraising efficiency: $35.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Scored; rating input score 0

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 95%; rating input score 95; 46th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -3.3%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.06; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 1.3%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.1% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 59.2% of revenue deployed · 49% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 19 of 20 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $281.4M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $1.1M · 38 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $88.2M reported
  • Consistency: 39 of 39 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 12 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, executive pay, and related organizations
  • Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 22 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 8 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

38 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • MARK MILLIRON (PRESIDENT/CEO): $1,053,175 total reported compensation
  • CAREY HILDERBRAND (EVP, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER): $511,677 total reported compensation
  • KAREN WHITNEY (EVP, SSS&ADMIN/CFO): $510,378 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.