Abilene Christian University 
The information on this page was last updated 1/22/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Abilene Christian University is the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, global leaders, offering an exceptional education to about 5,300 students annually from nearly every state and 45 nations. This private, comprehensive university, founded in 1906 in Abilene, Texas, offers 79 baccalaureate majors in more than 164 areas of undergraduate study, 35 master's degree programs and three doctoral programs. Abilene is a friendly city of 123,000 people, located about 150 miles west of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and a hub for cultural, educational, medical, shopping and dining for a large region known as The Big Country.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Abilene Christian University
ACU Box 29120
Abilene, TX 79699
Website: acu.edu
Phone: 325-674-2000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 750851900
CEO/President: Dr. Phil Schubert
Chairman: Barry Packer
Board size: 32
Founder: A.B. Barrett
Ruling year: 1941
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We achieve our mission through exemplary teaching, offered by an innovative and caring community of Christian scholars, that inspires a commitment to lifelong learning; significant research, grounded in the university's disciplinary strengths, that informs and impacts issues of global importance to the academy, church, and society; and meaningful service as a divine calling that enriches our global society, academic disciplines, the university, and the church to God's glory.
Mission statement
The mission of Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.
Statement of faith
Jesus Christ is the focal point of all Scripture. Because he is Lord and Savior, every dimension of our lives is affected by that belief. The example of Christ should motivate all our behaviors and decisions and be a guide in every relationship. It is through the revelation of Jesus that we know God and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the teachings and example of Jesus as revealed in Scripture should inform everything we believe and do as an institution of Christian higher education. Our aim is a lofty one - to make the priorities of Jesus our priorities. PRINCIPLE: ACU will keep Christ at the center of the university, informing the curriculum and co-curriculum, undergirding policies and decisions, and calling everyone to be shaped by His life, death and resurrection.
The Bible is God's inspired Word. "is tenet has been an invariable commitment of Churches of Christ from the beginning. The combination of the high value of reason, along with a fervent belief in Scripture's authority, created an environment in which the study of the Bible was honored and encouraged - publicly and privatelyACU will always emphasize Scripture as the inspired Word of God, through which believers may see and follow the God to whom Scripture points - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ACU will have the teaching of the Bible as a significant component of its curriculum and will help students integrate faith and learning throughout all disciplines and university experiences, in preparation for their life and ministry through their careers.
Churches of Christ have an unusual commitment to the life of the church. Congregational life is the center of Christian fellowship and practice. Each congregation is responsible for its own practices and belief, ideally overseen and shepherded by godly elders. All members are expected to engage in ministry and in worship. ACU is committed to the life of the church through nurturing worship and community, by a commitment to unity and appreciation for diverse people and viewpoints, and as a faithful partner to churches around the world. To that end, ACU will serve the body of Christ by being an authentic and distinctively Christian institution.
ACU is committed to the integration of faith and learning, grounded in the liberal arts, nurtured in a context of innovation, focused on professional preparation, and undergirded by rigorous scholarship at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Out of such a context will come graduates who will make responsible and informed choices within a Christian context as they serve and lead throughout the world.
ACU encourages the passionate search for all of God's truth, where every subject is open to scrutiny, where dissenting voices are respected, and where conversations on any topic may be engaged with kindness and compassion. At the heart of the search for truth are the Scriptures themselves, where each generation can and must grapple with the eternal truths within its precepts.
ACU prizes Christian unity as a high value articulating the Christian commitments that emerge from its heritage, yet welcoming the diversity inherent in that unity, respecting others who hold differing opinions, extending and receiving hospitality, and engaging all people with grace and humility. All will be done under the lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture.
ACU will produce Christian leaders and servants who love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and who love their neighbors as themselves. rough teaching, example and prayer, students will be taught Christian virtues such as generosity, stewardship of all things, and concern for the marginalized of society - in the spirit of Jesus - as their lives are transformed into His likeness and fitted for eternity.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 870 of 1123 | 112 of 128 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 284 of 1124 | 35 of 128 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 952 of 1124 | 101 of 128 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1001 of 1123 | 124 of 128 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $6,547,953 in government grants in 2024.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 17% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 16% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 24% | 12% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 84% | 84% | 82% | 81% | 76% | 88% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 72% | 72% | 73% | 72% | 74% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 76% | 81% | 73% | 61% | 84% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 55% | 58% | 53% | 44% | 63% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 24% | 19% | 27% | 39% | 16% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 9% | 6% | 10% | 17% | 7% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 26% | 26% | 26% | 26% | 23% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.21 | 0.27 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.66 | 3.87 | 4.50 | 3.58 | 3.73 | 4.31 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 0.80 | 0.93 | 0.71 | 0.78 | 1.19 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.81 | 21.84 | 14.33 | 14.01 | 12.68 | 13.28 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.31 | 14.32 | 12.03 | 15.62 | 14.25 | 9.36 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 25% | 26% | 27% | 22% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 15% | 19% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 151% | 363% | 361% | 366% | 375% | 266% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $24,098,248 | $41,738,435 | $108,013,214 | $45,333,681 | $25,884,226 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $63,035,074 | $48,831,387 | $57,903,438 | $55,238,515 | $44,105,642 |
| Short-term investments | $254,917,846 | $185,156,911 | $170,910,463 | $177,008,082 | $109,428,419 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $342,051,168 | $275,726,733 | $336,827,115 | $277,580,278 | $179,418,287 |
| Long-term investments | $394,048,409 | $396,066,935 | $362,203,148 | $334,472,685 | $244,775,734 |
| Fixed assets | $478,709,928 | $463,360,238 | $401,723,855 | $330,322,608 | $285,576,984 |
| Other long-term assets | $108,713,817 | $106,814,799 | $106,763,977 | $92,659,734 | $64,189,213 |
| Total long-term assets | $981,472,154 | $966,241,972 | $870,690,980 | $757,455,027 | $594,541,931 |
| Total assets | $1,323,523,322 | $1,241,968,705 | $1,207,518,095 | $1,035,035,305 | $773,960,218 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $15,663,540 | $19,241,313 | $24,049,251 | $21,894,968 | $13,510,423 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $15,663,540 | $19,241,313 | $24,049,251 | $21,894,968 | $13,510,423 |
| Debt | $250,473,329 | $252,499,470 | $254,512,627 | $158,012,420 | $147,185,000 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $64,680,951 | $45,782,025 | $50,091,999 | $48,172,713 | $48,115,043 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $315,154,280 | $298,281,495 | $304,604,626 | $206,185,133 | $195,300,043 |
| Total liabilities | $330,817,820 | $317,522,808 | $328,653,877 | $228,080,101 | $208,810,466 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $540,258,365 | $506,830,012 | $468,078,861 | $389,199,950 | $305,808,991 |
| With donor restrictions | $452,447,137 | $417,615,885 | $410,785,357 | $417,755,254 | $259,340,761 |
| Net assets | $992,705,502 | $924,445,897 | $878,864,218 | $806,955,204 | $565,149,752 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $59,430,211 | $57,110,167 | $62,175,916 | $84,263,194 | $30,866,737 |
| Program service revenue | $212,059,388 | $197,436,022 | $182,596,890 | $173,347,216 | $166,928,823 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $69,154,447 | $33,816,396 | $57,904,587 | $76,433,316 | $39,468,423 |
| Other revenue | $20,970,720 | $26,448,301 | $27,436,412 | $20,792,853 | $15,732,689 |
| Total other revenue | $302,184,555 | $257,700,719 | $267,937,889 | $270,573,385 | $222,129,935 |
| Total revenue | $361,614,766 | $314,810,886 | $330,113,805 | $354,836,579 | $252,996,672 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $197,323,278 | $183,605,942 | $174,355,833 | $155,457,846 | $158,217,972 |
| Management and general | $71,641,724 | $67,626,545 | $61,365,508 | $55,542,454 | $49,303,806 |
| Fundraising | $4,462,541 | $4,676,187 | $4,595,587 | $4,348,726 | $5,188,369 |
| Total expenses | $273,427,543 | $255,908,674 | $240,316,928 | $215,349,026 | $212,710,147 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $88,187,223 | $58,902,212 | $89,796,877 | $139,487,553 | $40,286,525 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $88,187,223 | $58,902,212 | $89,796,877 | $139,487,553 | $40,286,525 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Philip Schubert | President | $679,007 |
| Jack Rich | President - Acimco | $580,402 |
| Joe Lee | CIO | $555,191 |
| Keith Patterson | Head Football Coach | $446,563 |
| Brette Tanner | Head Basketball Coach | $358,490 |
| Rusty Towell | Director of Next | $351,435 |
| Daniel Macaluso | VP of Advancement | $323,955 |
| Kevin Campbell | SVP of Operations | $321,270 |
| Stephen Johnson | VP and Chief Admin Officer | $319,187 |
| Robert Rhodes | Provost | $309,435 |
| Timothy Head | Asst Director of Next | $299,984 |
| Zachary Lassiter | VP of Athletics | $293,043 |
| Rusty Kruzelock | VP of Research | $247,113 |
| Slade Sullivan | VP & General Counsel | $241,052 |
| Tamera Long | VP of Enrollment | $232,599 |
| Kim Pamplin | Professor | $232,249 |
| Blair Schroeder | Chief Planning Officer | $203,010 |
| Anthony Williams | Chief Diversity Officer | $199,642 |
| Lori Herrick | CFO | $190,476 |
| James Orr | Exec Dir Office of Planned Giving | $190,121 |
| William Beasley | Chief of Staff | $183,031 |
| Wendy Jones | Chief HR Officer | $155,671 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2024
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 1/22/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Visit: acu.edu/about/history
Since 1906, Abilene Christian University has pursued purposeful learning and enthusiastic devotion to Christ. Over the past century, our campus has moved and expanded, and our academic offerings, athletic fortitude and student accomplishments have flourished along with our growth. We pursue excellence today just as we always have-through our commitment to our mission, values and traditions.