National University
Only 43% goes to programs $6 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
National University is a 501(c)(3) organization based in San Diego, California, registered in 1972, with $544,171,192 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it C+, and it directs about 43% of spending to programs.
9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA, 92123 EIN 23-7172306 Since 1972
Revenue (FY2023)
$544.2M
▲ 36.0% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$609.4M
Net assets
$932.0M
Employees
4,248
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
C+
DProgram efficiency40% of the rating43% to programs · $6 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For National University: 43% to programs · $6 to raise $100 earns a D on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
C+Financial health25% of the rating18 mo reserves · -12% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For National University: 18 mo reserves · -12% margin earns a C+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For National University: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For National University: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
National university is a post secondary level educational institution.
Contact & location
- Address
- 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA, 92123
- City
- San Diego
- State
- California
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Colleges & Universities
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $247.5M (FY2013) to $544.2M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $306.1MNet assets $932.0M
Operating margin
-12.0%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.2B
Total liabilities
$306.1M
Net assets
$932.0M
Salaries & benefits
$275.7M
45% of expenses
Board members
17
16 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $544,171,192▲36.0% | $609,351,264▲13.7% | $932,014,908▼8.7% | $1,238,112,709▼5.7% | 990 |
| 2022 | $400,167,179▲13.4% | $535,882,865▲42.8% | $1,020,622,296▼13.8% | $1,312,305,943▼0.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $352,936,286▼9.9% | $375,144,846▼12.4% | $1,183,586,021▼16.9% | $1,323,083,804▼16.2% | 990 |
| 2020 | $391,699,793▼28.8% | $428,475,327▲77.3% | $1,424,080,149▲25.0% | $1,578,654,080▲24.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $550,478,609▲113% | $241,601,300▼3.1% | $1,139,557,290▲38.6% | $1,273,278,667▲30.2% | 990 |
| 2018 | $259,021,429▲1.7% | $249,240,733▼12.1% | $822,170,954▲3.1% | $977,804,219▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2017 | $254,658,255▼5.7% | $283,411,961▲17.2% | $797,310,493▲0.2% | $907,296,672▲6.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $270,180,322▲12.9% | $241,772,622▲7.4% | $795,620,876▲9.8% | $855,136,223▲8.2% | 990 |
| 2015 | $239,285,400▼9.3% | $225,129,743▼1.5% | $724,530,560▼1.2% | $790,688,144▼1.6% | 990 |
| 2014 | $263,789,508▲6.6% | $228,462,051▲3.2% | $733,179,888▲1.0% | $803,661,194▲1.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $247,485,142 | $221,324,057▲7.6% | $726,145,132▲13.4% | $793,567,211▲12.1% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $205,641,195▲7.7% | $640,446,271▲7.8% | $708,193,817▲5.6% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $190,946,664▲7.2% | $594,203,018▲1.1% | $670,493,862▲4.5% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $178,065,302▲11.2% | $587,870,834▲17.1% | $641,906,974▲15.2% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $160,088,653 | $502,059,670 | $557,095,491 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Dr Michael Cunningham — $1,006,882 (0.17% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Michael Cunningham | Former Chancellor | 0 | $1,006,882 |
| Dr Mark Milliron | President & Ceo | 45 | $983,556 |
| Jay Goin | Former, Evp, Student Operations | 45 | $714,888 |
| Carey Hilderbrand | Evp, Chief Marketing Officer | 45 | $429,630 |
| Karen Whitney | Evp, Sss & Admin/cfo (as of 05/24) | 45 | $419,956 |
| Dave C Lawrence | Evp, Admin, Finance (thru 4/2024) | 45 | $409,308 |
| Thomas Stewart | Evp, Executive Director, Cri | 45 | $383,495 |
| John Cicero | Provost | 45 | $363,952 |
| Alex Chimon | Former, Vp Data | 45 | $361,468 |
| Christopher Russo | Chief of Staff | 45 | $348,306 |
| Patrick Pendleton | Chief Information Officer | 45 | $347,035 |
| Michelle Bello | Svp, Admin, Finance | 45 | $335,396 |
| Sandra Best | Svp, Chief Human Resources Officer | 45 | $319,266 |
| Scott Page | Svp, Academies | 45 | $316,406 |
| Nancy Rohland | Evp, Communication and Community Engagement | 45 | $310,108 |
| Christopher Graham | Evp, Workforce Education Solutions | 45 | $288,375 |
| Donna Arias | Former, Svp Chg Mgmnt | 45 | $287,805 |
| Steven Johnson | Exec Dir, Strategic Partnerships - (former) | 45 | $276,480 |
| John Hoey | Vice Provost of Academic Affairs | 45 | $261,956 |
| Angela Baldasare | Vp, Strategic Instit Research and Planning | 45 | $251,633 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Google Inc | Social Media Advertising | $30,877,349 |
| Armed Forces Communications Inc | Marketing | $24,133,442 |
| Baru Advertising Inc | Advertising | $14,840,992 |
| Meta Platforms Inc | Social Media Advertising | $11,717,168 |
| Linkedin Corporation | Social Media Advertising | $6,914,128 |
Grants received · $13.3M total
30 grants to National University totaling $13.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecmc Foundation | General support | 2024 | $7,500 |
| Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago | Payments for research study related activities | 2023 | $649,810 |
| The San Diego Foundation | For general support | 2023 | $18,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $15,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $7,750 |
| Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego | General | 2023 | $7,000 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | Inclusive excellence 3 learning community | 2022 | $1,135,812 |
| Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago | Payments for research study related activities | 2022 | $540,213 |
| The San Diego Foundation | General support | 2022 | $10,250 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2022 | $10,000 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2022 | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Scholarships | 2022 | $8,541 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $8,250 |
| The San Diego Foundation | To provide low-income and students from underrepresented communities freshman basic needs start up fund wraparound case management services | 2021 | $51,125 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2021 | $12,500 |
Grants made · $138K in FY2023
2 grants totaling $138K in FY2023. All grants made by National University →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National University Foundation | General operating | $112,680 |
| Founders First Community Development Corporation Inc | General operating | $25,000 |
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Compare National University
Frequently asked questions
- Is National University a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. National University is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 23-7172306, based in San Diego, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is National University's EIN?
- National University's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 23-7172306.
- How much revenue does National University report?
- National University reported $544,171,192 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of National University's spending goes to programs?
- National University spends about 43% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does National University have?
- CharityIndex grades National University C+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does National University's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on National University's latest Form 990 is $1,006,882, paid to Dr Michael Cunningham (Former Chancellor).
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Data for National University (EIN 23-7172306) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.