North Park University 
The information on this page was last updated 12/2/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
NPU is located in Chicago's Albany Park and North Park neighborhoods, drawing upon the extraordinary educational assets of a world-class city. As a student at NPU, you can choose from 120+ programs housed in seven colleges and schools, and benefit from a core curriculum designed to forge new and meaningful connections across the sciences, humanities, business, and the arts.
Contact information
Mailing address:
North Park University
3225 West Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625-4895
Website: northpark.edu
Phone: 773-244-6200
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 361557840
CEO/President: Mary K. Surridge
Chairman: David Otfinoski
Board size: 30
Founder: Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)
Ruling year: 1942
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Building on our core institutional identity-Christian, city-centered, intercultural-our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.
Aspiration:
North Park University will be distinguished as the nation's leading city-centered Christian university during the coming decade and beyond.
The University's learning community is differentiated by adopting the city as both subject and place of learning as a foundation for academic excellence. Within this framework, the University educates students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and prior academic experiences, practicing Christian hospitality with students of all faith traditions while centering in the Affirmations of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
The University will be known through its graduates who are equipped in their respective careers to advance the vitality of the world's people and their cities, prepared to cross cultures, and formed in Christian community for leadership and service in the church and the world.
Mission statement
The mission of North Park University, as the university of the Evangelical Covenant Church, is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.
Statement of faith
North Park University was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), a rapidly growing, multi-ethnic denomination with over 800 congregations in the United States and Canada and ministries on five continents.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 650 of 1123 | 91 of 128 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 772 of 1124 | 103 of 128 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 175 of 1124 | 13 of 128 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 875 of 1123 | 113 of 128 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $953,592 in government grants in 2023.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 24% | 10% | 6% | 6% | 9% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 16% | 9% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 16% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 84% | 91% | 83% | 84% | 82% | 84% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 91% | 94% | 88% | 87% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 104% | 112% | 98% | 105% | 104% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 94% | 105% | 87% | 92% | 95% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -4% | -12% | 2% | -5% | -4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -2% | -4% | 1% | -2% | -2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 7% | 5% | 11% | 12% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.29 | 0.28 | 0.27 | 0.32 | 0.31 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.66 | 3.34 | 2.83 | 1.84 | 1.96 | 1.98 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 0.98 | 0.79 | 0.50 | 0.62 | 0.60 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.81 | 13.00 | 16.95 | 18.89 | 21.42 | 21.26 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.31 | 11.28 | 14.26 | 22.74 | 18.38 | 18.94 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 26% | 27% | 28% | 31% | 30% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 23% | 24% | 24% | 27% | 26% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 151% | 250% | 261% | 267% | 219% | 229% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $7,850,975 | $8,092,648 | $8,855,178 | $15,059,515 | $14,393,018 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,561,281 | $10,525,393 | $13,225,825 | $10,048,039 | $8,749,782 |
| Short-term investments | $87,744,910 | $96,962,104 | $163,882,513 | $131,715,986 | $134,844,412 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $97,157,166 | $115,580,145 | $185,963,516 | $156,823,540 | $157,987,212 |
| Long-term investments | $113,600,440 | $99,539,251 | $40,174,295 | $30,131,840 | $30,982,844 |
| Fixed assets | $107,846,767 | $109,890,921 | $114,502,297 | $118,890,598 | $122,151,497 |
| Other long-term assets | $5,468,372 | $1,932,160 | $1,694,466 | $1,554,969 | $1,533,702 |
| Total long-term assets | $226,915,579 | $211,362,332 | $156,371,058 | $150,577,407 | $154,668,043 |
| Total assets | $324,072,745 | $326,942,477 | $342,334,574 | $307,400,947 | $312,655,255 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $5,641,265 | $5,463,629 | $8,178,379 | $6,047,940 | $5,944,225 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,833,547 | $1,354,002 | $1,663,769 | $1,272,731 | $1,488,245 |
| Total current liabilities | $7,474,812 | $6,817,631 | $9,842,148 | $7,320,671 | $7,432,470 |
| Debt | $75,662,018 | $78,777,588 | $80,745,321 | $82,183,292 | $82,721,262 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $2,157,190 | $2,727,592 | $3,577,538 | $4,375,270 | $3,963,254 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $77,819,208 | $81,505,180 | $84,322,859 | $86,558,562 | $86,684,516 |
| Total liabilities | $85,294,020 | $88,322,811 | $94,165,007 | $93,879,233 | $94,116,986 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $143,897,812 | $146,718,305 | $161,023,499 | $141,133,054 | $144,394,388 |
| With donor restrictions | $94,880,913 | $91,901,361 | $87,146,068 | $72,388,660 | $74,143,881 |
| Net assets | $238,778,725 | $238,619,666 | $248,169,567 | $213,521,714 | $218,538,269 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $8,040,218 | $13,928,414 | $15,109,486 | $16,648,452 | $14,968,758 |
| Program service revenue | $73,901,768 | $73,388,195 | $69,624,286 | $73,011,062 | $71,606,384 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $9,806,498 | ($5,350,331) | $9,580,959 | $2,692,098 | $4,808,586 |
| Other revenue | $17,573 | $0 | $179,928 | $182,737 | $281,322 |
| Total other revenue | $83,725,839 | $68,037,864 | $79,385,173 | $75,885,897 | $76,696,292 |
| Total revenue | $91,766,057 | $81,966,278 | $94,494,659 | $92,534,349 | $91,665,050 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $86,410,727 | $85,875,922 | $82,189,063 | $85,237,410 | $86,692,146 |
| Management and general | $7,089,523 | $4,253,944 | $9,892,787 | $11,393,547 | $7,317,106 |
| Fundraising | $1,913,456 | $1,386,313 | $864,369 | $981,531 | $1,399,113 |
| Total expenses | $95,413,706 | $91,516,179 | $92,946,219 | $97,612,488 | $95,408,365 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($3,647,649) | ($9,549,901) | $1,548,440 | ($5,078,139) | ($3,743,315) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($3,647,649) | ($9,549,901) | $1,548,440 | ($5,078,139) | ($3,743,315) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Mary Surridge | President Ex Officio | $362,171 |
| John Wenrich | ECC President Ex Officio | $315,140 |
| Scott Stenmark | Executive VP CFO | $237,454 |
| Anthony Scola | VP Enrollment Mgt | $228,283 |
| Michael Carr | Provost | $220,269 |
| Francisco X Gaytan | VP for Student Engagement | $186,574 |
| Cynthia M Hudson | Dean of SONHS | $159,928 |
| Melissa Velez-Luce | Chief of Staff (part year) | $151,826 |
| Debbie Wilburn | Director of Finance (part year) | $110,977 |
| Reginald Walker | Director of Finance | $7,670 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 12/2/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
North Park University's history and heritage reach back to a Minneapolis church basement in 1891, where classes in language and business gave Swedish immigrants the skills needed to prosper in America. With an offer of land in Chicago, the school moved to the North Park neighborhood which was then just beyond the city limits. Old Main, the first building on campus, was completed in 1894. Its cupola became a landmark for pilots to locate Orchard Field (now O'Hare International Airport). The cupola was the tallest point on the city's north side. At various points in its history, North Park was an academy, a junior college, and a four-year liberal arts college. We became a university, with a theological seminary, in 1997.
Now, North Park is Chicago's city-centered Christian University. It serves nearly 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students from around the country and the world. Within a diverse, close-knit community, it offers a values-based education to students through more than 40 undergraduate majors, as well as graduate and continuing education in business, nonprofit management, nursing, education, music, and theology. Campus facilities have been extensively renovated, including the LEED-certified Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, the Helwig Recreation Center, the Holmgren Athletic Complex, and the Brandel Library.
Program accomplishments
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1
Students Enrolled 2,631
Year Established 1891
Acres of Chicago 30
Students of Color 56.4%