William Jessup University 
The information on this page was last updated 2/17/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
As a nationally-ranked Christian university, William Jessup University seeks to develop the whole person by developing skills in communication, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and by exposing students to a broad cross-section of knowledge in science, social science, and the humanities.
Jessup has more than 70 programs on campus and online. We maintain high academic standards while guiding students towards fulfilling careers and authentic relationships with Christ.
Jessup is a member of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
Contact information
Mailing address:
William Jessup University
2121 University Avenue
Rocklin, CA 95765
Website: jessup.edu
Phone: 916-577-2200
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 941279803
CEO/President: John Jackson, Ph.D.
Chairman: Clifford Daugherty
Board size: 11
Founder: Dr. Eugene Sanderson and Dr. William L. Jessup
Ruling year: 1947
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
The William Jessup University vision is that our graduates will be transformed and will help redeem world culture by providing notable servant leadership; by enriching family, church and community life; and by serving with distinction in their chosen career. We are committed to helping students Thrive Spiritually, receive a Quality Liberal Arts Education, and be Exceptionally Employable.
William Jessup University desires that its graduates will exemplify transformational leadership in church and society through the integration of their faith, learning, and critical thought in the arenas of Christian literacy, communication and intellectual skills, professional competence, and global citizenship.
Mission statement
In partnership with the Church, the purpose of William Jessup University is to educate transformational leaders for the glory of God.
Statement of faith
We believe in one God, the maker of heaven and earth: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as revealed in the Holy Bible and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord;
We believe that Jesus the divine Son became human, was born of a virgin, ministered in word and miracle, died for our sin, was raised bodily from the dead, ascended to God's right hand and is coming again for His people;
We believe that the Holy Spirit is presently ministering through the Christian community, empowering lives of godliness and service;
We believe that the Holy Bible is completely God breathed, true in all its teaching, and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice;
We believe that Jesus Christ established His church on earth to carry out His saving mission among all ethnic groups and formed her to be one holy people;
We believe in God's saving grace that calls forth from all people: faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and new life and ministry through the Spirit; and
We commit ourselves to the teachings, practice and defense of these truths until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Articles
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
C
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 631 of 1420 | 65 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1240 of 1420 | 141 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 576 of 1420 | 52 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 189 of 1421 | 16 of 155 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $728,285 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% | 27% | 8% | 21% | 30% | 18% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 7% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 16% | 38% | 21% | 24% | 21% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 84% | 62% | 79% | 76% | 79% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 86% | 88% | 87% | 84% | 86% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 138% | 82% | 101% | 101% | 90% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 119% | 73% | 87% | 84% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | -38% | 18% | -1% | -1% | 10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -105% | 30% | -2% | -1% | 15% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.66 | 0.41 | 0.42 | 0.51 | 0.44 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.73 | 12.85 | 7.70 | 6.85 | 6.47 | 5.08 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 8.44 | 3.17 | 2.89 | 3.27 | 2.25 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.18 | 0.93 | 1.60 | 2.00 | 1.99 | 3.15 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 1.07 | 0.62 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.32 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.96 | -0.10 | 1.42 | 2.08 | 1.82 | 3.63 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 83% | 71% | 76% | 72% | 69% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 74% | 61% | 67% | 64% | 62% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 26% | 72% | 57% | 55% | 71% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $5,594,755 | $14,498,363 | $12,068,658 | $7,228,078 | $12,402,885 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $4,042,044 | $5,562,057 | $1,982,273 | $5,951,217 | $6,466,638 |
| Short-term investments | $471,785 | $251,304 | $5,971,461 | $5,290,818 | $5,330,427 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $10,108,584 | $20,311,724 | $20,022,392 | $18,470,113 | $24,199,950 |
| Long-term investments | $628,517 | $537,197 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $113,631,172 | $131,166,334 | $113,654,076 | $99,985,137 | $97,983,917 |
| Other long-term assets | $5,535,767 | $4,340,288 | $3,481,726 | $1,055,015 | $710,595 |
| Total long-term assets | $119,795,456 | $136,043,819 | $117,135,802 | $101,040,152 | $98,694,512 |
| Total assets | $129,904,040 | $156,355,543 | $137,158,194 | $119,510,265 | $122,894,462 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $6,255,925 | $6,664,199 | $3,899,967 | $4,945,857 | $5,119,802 |
| Other current liabilities | $4,557,345 | $6,023,365 | $6,117,656 | $4,354,922 | $2,574,815 |
| Total current liabilities | $10,813,270 | $12,687,564 | $10,017,623 | $9,300,779 | $7,694,617 |
| Debt | $95,677,527 | $96,052,682 | $92,135,364 | $77,023,752 | $76,744,641 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $893,327 | $1,585,167 | $2,193,327 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $96,570,854 | $97,637,849 | $94,328,691 | $77,023,752 | $76,744,641 |
| Total liabilities | $107,384,124 | $110,325,413 | $104,346,314 | $86,324,531 | $84,439,258 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $11,460,435 | $36,822,254 | $23,792,027 | $26,483,859 | $31,685,408 |
| With donor restrictions | $11,059,481 | $9,207,876 | $9,019,853 | $6,701,875 | $6,769,796 |
| Net assets | $22,519,916 | $46,030,130 | $32,811,880 | $33,185,734 | $38,455,204 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $10,092,374 | $29,806,266 | $12,245,745 | $14,403,713 | $12,507,621 |
| Program service revenue | $55,610,250 | $47,125,031 | $44,591,004 | $45,504,108 | $47,208,606 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($4,782,945) | $1,220,129 | $398,630 | $210,584 | $611,851 |
| Other revenue | $840,981 | ($179,392) | ($11,094) | $4,894 | ($13,294) |
| Total other revenue | $51,668,286 | $48,165,768 | $44,978,540 | $45,719,586 | $47,807,163 |
| Total revenue | $61,760,660 | $77,972,034 | $57,224,285 | $60,123,299 | $60,314,784 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $73,569,265 | $56,548,878 | $50,053,365 | $50,516,663 | $46,650,787 |
| Management and general | $8,981,045 | $5,471,681 | $5,219,994 | $5,574,829 | $5,605,208 |
| Fundraising | $2,762,309 | $2,284,224 | $2,551,682 | $4,342,886 | $2,258,969 |
| Total expenses | $85,312,619 | $64,304,783 | $57,825,041 | $60,434,378 | $54,514,964 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($23,551,959) | $13,667,251 | ($600,756) | ($311,079) | $5,799,820 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($23,551,959) | $13,667,251 | ($600,756) | ($311,079) | $5,799,820 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| John Jackson | President/Trustee | $395,627 |
| Judith Rentz | VP For Operations/COO | $227,072 |
| Kay Llovio | VP Educational Effectiveness | $181,495 |
| George Stubblefield | Professor/Dean School of Nat & Applied Science | $171,805 |
| Lance von Vogt | VP of Athletics | $168,026 |
| Ahmad Shaar | Mba & Mscs Program Director, Associate Professor | $155,164 |
| Jennifer Millar | Nursing Program Director | $147,116 |
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 2/17/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
William Jessup University began during the Great Depression of the 1930's. Dr. Eugene Sanderson, who had already started three other colleges, saw the need for a Bible college in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. He purchased two large houses on adjacent lots at Fifth and San Carlos Streets in San Jose, across from the campus of San Jose Teachers College (now San Jose State University). Over the course of several years, he improved the property and built a chapel for the faculty and student body yet to come.
In January of 1939, Sanderson asked William L. Jessup to carry on the vision and start the College. Bill and his wife, Carrie, moved from Visalia to San Jose to open the College. On September 20, 1939, classes at San Jose Bible College began with fourteen students. The curriculum focused on the study of the Bible and preparation for church vocations.
During the next few years, growth at San Jose Bible College created the need for a new and larger campus. Seven and one-half acres were purchased at Twelfth and Virginia Streets in San Jose. The first three buildings were erected and put into use by February 1951. The first on-campus housing, Beach Memorial Hall, a dormitory for women, was dedicated in 1960.
During the 1960s and 1970s new buildings included a second dormitory, a new cafeteria, the Memorial Library, the Tiffin Center, a multipurpose gymnasium, and a classroom building. The College received accreditation with the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (now the Association of Biblical Higher Education) in 1962 and is currently an active member.
Dr. Bryce Jessup, the son of the founder and the Colleges fifth president began his leadership in 1984. He has led the University to its greatest growth in enrollment, facilities, and curriculum. Multicultural programs focusing on leadership training were added to the curriculum for students from various cultural heritages in and around San Jose. Students from more than thirty different birth countries enrolled. The School of Professional Studies (formerly Degree Completion Program) for working adults was added in 1996 to meet the educational needs of adult learners and now comprises nearly one-third of the student population.
The 125-acre property purchased in Rocklin included a striking, award winning office and warehouse facility for the Herman Miller Corporation, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. The renovation for campus use received the Best Rebuild/Renovation Award from the Sacramento Business Journal in March 2005.
When William Jessup University started classes in Rocklin, it did so as the first private four-year university in the greater Sacramento area and the first evangelical Christian College between Fresno and Redding.
William Jessup University received accreditation in 2002 as San Jose Christian College. The name was changed to William Jessup University in 2003, and the campus was moved to Rocklin, California, in 2004. Since arriving in Rocklin in 2004, the 130 acre campus has become host to over 20 degree majors and over 50 programs. In 2014 we had close to 1400 people take classes at our campuses in Rocklin and San Jose (evening classes). The University has doubled in the past three years and we believe our best days are just ahead!