Nova Southeastern University

What it reported doing in 2024

Instructional Services: Nova Southeastern University (NSU) offers undergraduate degrees, graduate and first professional degrees, and certificate programs to more than 20,000 full-time and part-time students in a wide range of academic programs. In addition to the main Fort Lauderdale/Davie and Oceanographic Campuses in South Florida, courses are taught at 9 regional campuses located across Florida, in Puerto Rico, and Colorado; and at limited sites in other states and foreign countries. The NSU University School offers innovative primary and secondary education to children from preschool through grade 12.(continued on Schedule O)NSU has 15 colleges and schools (fiscal 2025): Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice; College of Dental Medicine; College of Computing and Engineering; College of Optometry; Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy; College of Psychology; Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine; Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences; Farquhar Honors College; H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship; Halmos College of Arts and Sciences; Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing; Shepard Broad College of Law; and the NSU University School. NSU has over 130 academic degree programs, with approximately 65 percent graduate and professional students and 35 percent undergraduate students. Courses are offered in multiple locations and modalities. As part of the university's strategic initiatives, it has continued to invest in high-demand and industry-relevant programs with growth potential, such as expansion within healthcare programs. NSU is the largest educator of physicians in Florida and 5th in the nation. With eight healthcare-related colleges offering a broad array of programs, NSU is the top producer of healthcare providers in the state and nationally, meeting critical needs in the industry. NSU is one of only three universities in the United States to offer both a D.O. and M.D. program. In fiscal 2025, NSU graduated 445 physicians (D.O. and M.D. graduates combined).NSU has leveraged and supported its strengths in graduate and professional education while growing its undergraduate population. For example, the university's distinctive Dual Admission Program provides highly motivated undergraduate students with the opportunity to reserve a seat in selective graduate/professional programs while earning their bachelor's degree. This unique program has continued to attract academically highly qualified students, supporting strategic goals for enhanced student quality, experience, and outcomes. Other examples include innovative accelerated tracks that provide a faster path to earning both a bachelor's and advanced degree.In April 2025, NSU earned a Carnegie Classification as an Opportunity College and University, a first-time designation that recognizes institutions that foster student success by examining whether they enroll students who reflect their communities and whether graduates go on to earn competitive wages compared to peers in their area. Only 16 percent of U.S. colleges and universities received this designation.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.2%; rating input score 81
• Program expense ratio: 84.5%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $19.34 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th 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: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.8%; rating input score 96; 49th 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: 6%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.2; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.39; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.8%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.3% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings