Trinity University

What it reported doing in 2024

Trinity University, one of the nation's top private undergraduate institutions, is known for its superior academic quality, personalized attention with outstanding faculty, exceptional resources, real-world preparation, and vibrant campus life. Trinity is a community that encourages students to discover, grow, and become passionate, productive individuals. The University's principal focus is on undergraduate education, but it also offers selected graduate programs in professional fields. In addition, the University provides various research and other sponsored projects as well as public service programs of continuing education, intellectual enlightenment, and cultural enrichment. The University attracts talented and highly motivated students to its predominantly full-time, residential student body. Enrollment was 2,595 annual students for FY25 which represents the full-time equivalent of undergraduate and graduate students; 4.8% of these students come from outside the United States and 78% are from within Texas. The University received 12,506 first-year undergraduate applications for fall 2025 with an acceptance rate of 26%. The University's yield was 20%, generating enrollment of 650 first-year students. Student charges (net tuition, fees, room and board) were $88 million. Total scholarships and grants were $82.6 million. The source of funding for these scholarships includes operating funds, endowment funds and external grants and contribution revenue. Scholarship and student aid expenses continue to grow, reflecting the University's commitment to providing access to a broad spectrum of students and increased market competition in recent years. Although student tuition continues to increase, net student revenues are growing at a significantly slower pace in recent years due to the increased number of students receiving financial aid and the increase in the average aid package per student. Trinity University completed another strong year in pursuit of its mission to educate and mold the leaders of the future in a residential liberal arts environment. The University is well positioned to complete its robust strategic vision of defining the liberal arts experience for the 21st century.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.5%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 79.9%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.1 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 36; 36th 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: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • 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: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th 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: 16.6%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.36; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.11; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.2%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.1% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings