BJU / Bob Jones University 
The information on this page was last updated 4/11/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
BJU equips students to impact the world as they live for truth, seize opportunities and embrace life experiences.
Contact information
Mailing address:
BJU
1700 Wade Hampton Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29614
Website: www.bju.edu
Phone: 864-770-1311
Organization details
EIN: 571088101
CEO/President: Josh Crockett
Chairman: Sam Dawson
Board size: 16
Founder: Bob Jones
Ruling year: 2003
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
As a Christian liberal arts higher education institution we:
-educate regenerate men and women of varying educational backgrounds and proficiencies from across the nation and around the world.
-educate the whole person through a biblically integrated liberal arts curriculum.
-equip individuals with a biblical worldview and with the ability to defend that worldview.
offer programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees in a range of disciplines both in a residential environment and via distance learning and professional development opportunities.
-foster spiritual, intellectual, social and physical development and cultural expansion of the individual.
-are committed to excellence in teaching by a godly, competent and professional faculty who are dedicated to furthering the University's mission.
Mission statement
Within the cultural and academic soil of liberal arts higher education, Bob Jones University exists to grow Christ-like character that is scripturally disciplined, others-serving, God-loving, Christ-proclaiming and focused above.
Statement of faith
We believe in the inspiration of the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments); the creation of man by the direct act of God; the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; His identification as the Son of God; His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross; the resurrection of His body from the tomb; His power to save men from sin; the new birth through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and the gift of eternal life by the grace of God.
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 | | 298 of 1115 | 37 of 127 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 559 of 1116 | 70 of 127 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 586 of 1116 | 70 of 127 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 104 of 1115 | 8 of 127 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $217,590 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% | 15% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 16% | 8% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 9% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 84% | 92% | 86% | 88% | 90% | 91% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 84% | 80% | 80% | 79% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 102% | 97% | 97% | 98% | 101% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 86% | 77% | 77% | 78% | 79% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | -1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 15% | 19% | 19% | 20% | 21% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 1.01 | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.44 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.64 | 4.14 | 5.49 | 6.18 | 9.62 | 8.08 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.44 | 4.16 | 2.69 | 2.79 | 4.29 | 3.53 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.92 | 2.67 | 4.06 | 3.94 | 3.63 | 4.03 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.37 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.28 | 0.25 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.38 | 1.80 | 3.36 | 3.21 | 2.03 | 2.55 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 26% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 6% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 151% | 74% | 193% | 212% | 217% | 216% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $5,086,838 | $15,944,307 | $11,037,875 | $3,108,309 | $6,207,568 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,803,221 | $4,694,762 | $2,858,900 | $1,892,046 | $3,302,386 |
| Short-term investments | $17,839,350 | $18,156,366 | $20,144,877 | $15,835,316 | $15,720,599 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $25,729,409 | $38,795,435 | $34,041,652 | $20,835,671 | $25,230,553 |
| Long-term investments | $7,163,786 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $56,200,466 | $146,865,408 | $149,680,613 | $154,178,730 | $153,144,890 |
| Other long-term assets | $17,364,373 | $27,144,329 | $26,822,520 | $25,371,741 | $25,440,604 |
| Total long-term assets | $80,728,625 | $174,009,737 | $176,503,133 | $179,550,471 | $178,585,494 |
| Total assets | $106,458,034 | $212,805,172 | $210,544,785 | $200,386,142 | $203,816,047 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $7,115,806 | $7,534,596 | $6,791,842 | $4,460,328 | $5,141,088 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,510,126 | $2,009,853 | $1,848,724 | $1,276,812 | $1,123,015 |
| Total current liabilities | $9,625,932 | $9,544,449 | $8,640,566 | $5,737,140 | $6,264,103 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $47,284 | $4,841,187 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $17,692,199 | $1,314,637 | $771,574 | $659,000 | $282,241 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $17,692,199 | $1,314,637 | $771,574 | $706,284 | $5,123,428 |
| Total liabilities | $27,318,131 | $10,859,086 | $9,412,140 | $6,443,424 | $11,387,531 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $55,920,178 | $177,925,860 | $178,104,718 | $175,596,656 | $172,664,459 |
| With donor restrictions | $23,219,725 | $24,020,226 | $23,027,927 | $18,346,062 | $19,764,057 |
| Net assets | $79,139,903 | $201,946,086 | $201,132,645 | $193,942,718 | $192,428,516 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $8,010,863 | $14,674,831 | $11,409,520 | $8,790,818 | $7,831,430 |
| Program service revenue | $75,926,059 | $75,096,780 | $70,134,293 | $67,271,674 | $63,387,284 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $784,391 | ($68,118) | $598,042 | $152,623 | $1,908,336 |
| Other revenue | $20,203,170 | $18,112,875 | $16,030,480 | $14,586,340 | $15,164,276 |
| Total other revenue | $96,913,620 | $93,141,537 | $86,762,815 | $82,010,637 | $80,459,896 |
| Total revenue | $104,924,483 | $107,816,368 | $98,172,335 | $90,801,455 | $88,291,326 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $89,727,347 | $83,253,118 | $75,627,176 | $70,920,092 | $69,737,223 |
| Management and general | $16,231,140 | $19,821,586 | $18,386,595 | $17,587,794 | $18,486,333 |
| Fundraising | $1,168,309 | $1,339,393 | $1,009,379 | $919,815 | $889,950 |
| Total expenses | $107,126,796 | $104,414,097 | $95,023,150 | $89,427,701 | $89,113,506 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($2,202,313) | $3,402,271 | $3,149,185 | $1,373,754 | ($822,180) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($2,202,313) | $3,402,271 | $3,149,185 | $1,373,754 | ($822,180) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Steve Pettit | Chief Executive Officer and Trustee | $199,896 |
| Bobby Wood | Chief Enrollment Officer | $145,307 |
| Alan Benson | VP Student Development and Discipleship/CEO | $142,505 |
| Gary Weier | EVP Academic Affairs | $125,972 |
| John Matthews | VP Advancement/Alumni Relations | $116,333 |
| Steve Dickinson | VP Business and Finance | $97,758 |
| Kevin Taylor | Chief HR Officer | $97,117 |
| Brian Burch | Chief Information Officer | $73,102 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2023
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 4/11/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1927, evangelist Bob Jones established Bob Jones College to help Christian students strengthen their faith while empowering them to impact the world for Christ. Distinguished by its academic excellence, expectations and opportunities to appreciate the fine arts, the College opened in Bay County, Florida, with 88 students in its first academic year.
Bob Jones College relocated to Tennessee in 1933 where daily chapel-the heart of campus life-continued encouraging students to deepen their relationship with God. The growing student body also enjoyed playing sports, attending Artist Series and meeting in their literary societies.
As the College attracted large numbers of students and faculty to its new home, it added degrees for every level of study and several minors. BJC also began offering a work scholarship program to help students pay for school.
To accommodate substantial growth after World War II, BJC relocated to Greenville and became Bob Jones University, opening in 1947 with over 2,500 students. Adding six academic schools and expanding the campus footprint, BJU continued to prepare students from around the country to follow Christ.
Under the leadership of Bob Jones Jr. (president 1947-71), the University increased its fine arts opportunities for students and the public. Shakespearean plays, large-scale operas with visiting guest artists and concerts enhanced the social and cultural scene on campus. Campus guests and students also had access to the vast selection of artwork displayed in the renowned Museum & Gallery which opened in 1951.
BJU's renewed emphasis on outreach and missions under Bob Jones III (1971-2005) spread the Gospel around the world. New scholarships also enabled international students to attend BJU and receive a Bible-centered education developing their abilities to share the Gospel and plant churches in their communities.
Quality education became readily accessible to schools and families in new ways through the founding of BJU Press in 1974. Today the Press offers educational curriculum and material to Christian schools and homeschool families around the world through print and online offerings.
Under the leadership of Stephen Jones (2005-2014), the University increased its focus on mentoring students and investing in their lives through academic excellence, an encouraging culture and the spiritual atmosphere on campus.
In 2006, BJU received national accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, which unlocked greater financial aid for students and affirmed the high quality of its academics. BJU also reinstated intercollegiate athletics, replacing its 1927 mascot the Swamp Angels with the Bruins.
With a new ROTC program and the new School of Health Professions, key programs expanded to meet growing career demand under Steve Pettit's leadership (2014-2023). Several enhanced academic and student life initiatives, such as discipleship groups and experiential learning, developed students spiritually and academically, preparing them for success during and after college.
BJU achieved regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2017, affirming the academic quality of the University's programs and its commitment to ongoing progress and improvement. Students also received further opportunities to pursue grad degrees around the country or obtain specific licensures required for their careers.
In 2024, Josh Crockett became BJU's sixth president. As the University approaches its 100th year, its unwavering commitment to the truth of God's Word and to providing excellent academics continues to prepare students for their lives and careers.