Lee University 
The information on this page was last updated 1/28/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Lee University is a private, comprehensive university located in Cleveland, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The university's growing reputation as a quality institution can be seen in the high caliber of faculty, students, and friends who are drawn to the campus. This marks the 30th straight year of increased enrollment under the leadership of president, Dr. Paul Conn (no longer President). Over the past two decades, Lee has become one of the largest Christ-centered private institutions in Tennessee and the largest in the Appalachian College Association.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lee University
PO Box 3450
Cleveland, TN 37320
Website: leeuniversity.edu
Phone: 800-533-9930
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 620502739
CEO/President: Dr. Paul Conn
Chairman: Wade Lombard
Board size: 24
Founder: Nora Chambers
Ruling year: 1951
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
The learning experience at Lee University includes the development of critical thinking skills and the challenge of creative thought issuing from and empowered by a Christ-centered approach to education. Working in partnership with faculty who are grounded in the integration of faith and learning, students are empowered and encouraged to discover and investigate the facets of their disciplines as they learn to adapt to a constantly changing landscape. Each student is regarded as a product of God's design, distinctively gifted to learn and to grow. The faculty's role is to help students, God's workmanship, to understand the call that God has placed on them and to challenge them to examine and to use their gifts in discharging those callings.
Mission statement
Lee is a Christian institution which offers liberal arts and professional education on both the baccalaureate and graduate levels through residential and distance programs. We seek to provide education that integrates biblical truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures with truth discovered through the study of arts and sciences and in the practice of various professions.
Statement of faith
For your reference, following is the Declaration of Faith as provided by the Church of God, Lee University's sponsoring denomination. Faculty members at Lee University agree in their contracts not to propagate any religious doctrines, teach or publish anything contrary to the Declaration of Faith. We believe:
In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary.
That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of
Jesus Christ.
In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ,
through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
That divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
In the pre-millennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Donor confidence score
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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 | | 688 of 1423 | 98 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 63 of 1423 | 16 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 910 of 1423 | 102 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1135 of 1424 | 139 of 155 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $1,830,277 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 20% | 7% | 12% | 15% | 12% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 80% | 93% | 88% | 85% | 88% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 81% | 82% | 82% | 81% | 82% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 84% | 100% | 96% | 97% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 68% | 82% | 79% | 79% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 16% | 0% | 4% | 3% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 10% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 19% | 18% | 18% | 19% | 18% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.52 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.47 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.73 | 11.79 | 12.25 | 12.15 | 11.80 | 6.26 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 5.27 | 5.63 | 5.77 | 6.23 | 2.92 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.18 | 1.82 | 1.71 | 1.63 | 1.52 | 2.33 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.55 | 0.59 | 0.61 | 0.66 | 0.43 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.99 | 1.03 | 0.88 | 0.80 | 0.66 | 2.35 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 10% | 15% | 16% | 20% | 25% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 9% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 201% | 185% | 178% | 152% | 161% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $4,681,214 | $9,122,664 | $10,985,421 | $6,600,350 | $15,394,029 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $12,999,294 | $7,107,180 | $5,219,353 | $10,387,669 | $19,347,777 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $17,680,508 | $16,229,844 | $16,204,774 | $16,988,019 | $34,741,806 |
| Long-term investments | $42,593,329 | $34,268,209 | $30,946,403 | $32,018,540 | $29,813,115 |
| Fixed assets | $147,438,600 | $147,622,329 | $148,399,998 | $150,660,689 | $152,149,691 |
| Other long-term assets | $661,870 | $709,125 | $1,408,526 | $738,741 | $942,172 |
| Total long-term assets | $190,693,799 | $182,599,663 | $180,754,927 | $183,417,970 | $182,904,978 |
| Total assets | $208,374,307 | $198,829,507 | $196,959,701 | $200,405,989 | $217,646,784 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $7,889,392 | $7,917,317 | $8,262,144 | $8,966,095 | $12,168,295 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,810,073 | $1,588,262 | $1,703,189 | $2,184,337 | $2,737,444 |
| Total current liabilities | $9,699,465 | $9,505,579 | $9,965,333 | $11,150,432 | $14,905,739 |
| Debt | $4,754,179 | $8,625,405 | $12,411,741 | $16,394,147 | $20,430,423 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $6,687,890 | $11,267,317 | $8,414,709 | $12,069,951 | $18,793,282 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $11,442,069 | $19,892,722 | $20,826,450 | $28,464,098 | $39,223,705 |
| Total liabilities | $21,141,534 | $29,398,301 | $30,791,783 | $39,614,530 | $54,129,444 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $142,784,685 | $140,680,737 | $139,243,724 | $136,394,166 | $136,142,218 |
| With donor restrictions | $44,448,088 | $28,750,469 | $26,924,194 | $24,397,293 | $27,375,122 |
| Net assets | $187,232,773 | $169,431,206 | $166,167,918 | $160,791,459 | $163,517,340 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $21,782,477 | $6,252,245 | $11,424,448 | $16,312,235 | $12,923,425 |
| Program service revenue | $85,850,367 | $85,249,950 | $84,314,088 | $91,186,449 | $93,570,165 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $3,615,307 | $283,019 | $1,401,405 | $1,591,566 | $1,369,331 |
| Other revenue | $21,433 | ($224,574) | $114,890 | ($336,819) | $98,786 |
| Total other revenue | $89,487,107 | $85,308,395 | $85,830,383 | $92,441,196 | $95,038,282 |
| Total revenue | $111,269,584 | $91,560,640 | $97,254,831 | $108,753,431 | $107,961,707 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $75,231,844 | $75,177,979 | $76,576,834 | $85,828,194 | $82,945,646 |
| Management and general | $17,994,620 | $16,174,007 | $16,885,772 | $20,086,593 | $18,360,725 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $93,226,464 | $91,351,986 | $93,462,606 | $105,914,787 | $101,306,371 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $18,043,120 | $208,654 | $3,792,225 | $2,838,644 | $6,655,336 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $18,043,120 | $208,654 | $3,792,225 | $2,838,644 | $6,655,336 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Charles Paul Conn | President and Chancellor | $242,578 |
| Mark Walker | Former President | $239,366 |
| Chris Conine | Vice President For Business & Finance | $173,014 |
| Andrea Dismukes | Professor of Voice | $166,707 |
| Paul Delaluz | Chair, Department of Natural Sciences | $137,787 |
| Deborah Murray | Provost | $135,770 |
| William Estes | Dean, College of Education | $128,216 |
| Xiaoqing Yu | Associate Professor of Violin | $121,013 |
| John Hisey | Associate Professor of Biology | $117,036 |
| Kevin McGlamery | Director | $2,000 |
| Jeremy Isaacs | Director | $1,000 |
| Mark Williams | Director | $1,000 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
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 1/28/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Founded as the Bible Training School in 1918 by the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee, the institution was renamed in 1947 to honor its second president, the Reverend F. J. Lee, and attained university status in 1997. The original purpose was to provide both general and biblical training for those persons entering the Christian ministry, and through the years Lee University has continued this purpose of "ministry," ever more broadly defined to include both church and non-church vocations. Many of the students are affiliated with the Church of God; however, numerous students come from other denominations.
Program accomplishments
Enrollment: 3,500+
Majors Offered: 50+