Vanguard University of Southern California 
The information on this page was last updated 6/15/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At VU, we've come up with the perfect mix: unbeatable academic training, a caring community where lifelong friendships are born and a beautiful campus located about four miles from Southern California beaches. We are a Hispanic-serving institution where 98% of our enrolled students receive financial aid. With outstanding faculty and small class sizes - 20 students on average - every diploma is backed by personalized instruction and a strong spiritual foundation that puts Christ at the center of it all. Our distinguished list of alumni include leading scientists, best-selling authors, network television and film studio producers, Broadway entertainers, top political analysts and world-changing ministers. We go beyond scholarship, beyond the classroom, and beyond the expected-equipping you to lead the story God has for you.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Vanguard University of Southern California
55 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Website: vanguard.edu
Phone: 714-556-3610
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 956002998
CEO/President: Michael J. Beals
Chairman: Martin John
Board size: 23
Founder: Harold K. Needham, D.W. Kerr, W.C. Pierce
Ruling year: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Vision: Vanguard University will be the premier source of Christian Higher Education in California.
Mission statement
The mission of Vanguard University is to pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith, and equip each student for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.
Statement of faith
As a Christian comprehensive university of liberal arts and sciences, informed by its evangelical persuasion and Pentecostal heritage, Vanguard University affirms the following confession of faith. We believe:
The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death, in his bodily resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal, future return to this earth in power and glory to rule over the nations.
That the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
That regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
That the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer.
That the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.
Articles
| 7/10/2026 | Leading the Way, Fellowship Christian School Resign from ECFA |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
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 | | 527 of 1420 | 50 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 545 of 1420 | 60 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1125 of 1420 | 117 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 172 of 1421 | 14 of 155 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $762,234 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% | 8% | 15% | 9% | 4% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 9% | 6% | 10% | 18% | 14% |
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 | 85% | 91% | 94% | 90% | 82% | 86% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 78% | 79% | 78% | 79% | 81% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 99% | 102% | 98% | 89% | 98% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 77% | 81% | 77% | 70% | 79% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 1% | -2% | 2% | 11% | 2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 2% | -3% | 3% | 22% | 5% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 20% | 18% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.81 | 0.82 | 0.87 | 0.89 | 1.00 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.73 | 6.62 | 7.69 | 4.96 | 4.78 | 17.44 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 5.36 | 6.31 | 4.33 | 4.27 | 17.37 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.18 | 2.61 | 1.62 | 2.86 | 2.87 | 0.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.38 | 0.62 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 1.63 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.96 | 1.38 | 0.73 | 1.80 | 1.83 | -0.44 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 56% | 55% | 50% | 49% | 56% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 50% | 44% | 40% | 40% | 45% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 54% | 54% | 57% | 57% | 44% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $4,020,708 | $3,220,752 | $7,643,068 | $9,837,565 | $1,453,443 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $9,886,978 | $9,866,944 | $12,116,311 | $11,039,386 | $3,234,259 |
| Short-term investments | $4,155,355 | $1,871,504 | $1,740,048 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $18,063,041 | $14,959,200 | $21,499,427 | $20,876,951 | $4,687,702 |
| Long-term investments | $739,386 | $1,199,356 | $1,329,803 | $2,372,048 | $5,155,789 |
| Fixed assets | $99,659,665 | $97,461,062 | $81,467,283 | $70,623,161 | $70,297,551 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,142,582 | $1,443,945 | $2,351,612 | $6,012,134 | $1,612,277 |
| Total long-term assets | $101,541,633 | $100,104,363 | $85,148,698 | $79,007,343 | $77,065,617 |
| Total assets | $119,604,674 | $115,063,563 | $106,648,125 | $99,884,294 | $81,753,319 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $4,371,446 | $6,628,894 | $4,695,773 | $4,075,697 | $3,945,745 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,537,988 | $2,625,435 | $2,833,076 | $3,186,189 | $3,699,355 |
| Total current liabilities | $6,909,434 | $9,254,329 | $7,528,849 | $7,261,886 | $7,645,100 |
| Debt | $59,738,869 | $50,100,468 | $42,541,451 | $40,102,090 | $36,892,302 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $923,115 | $4,416,010 | $3,665,733 | $1,444,703 | $1,638,111 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $60,661,984 | $54,516,478 | $46,207,184 | $41,546,793 | $38,530,413 |
| Total liabilities | $67,571,418 | $63,770,807 | $53,736,033 | $48,808,679 | $46,175,513 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $40,557,623 | $30,461,090 | $33,908,763 | $38,519,083 | $31,877,580 |
| With donor restrictions | $11,475,633 | $20,831,666 | $19,003,329 | $12,556,532 | $3,700,226 |
| Net assets | $52,033,256 | $51,292,756 | $52,912,092 | $51,075,615 | $35,577,806 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $8,587,136 | $5,737,065 | $9,705,186 | $18,506,647 | $11,627,384 |
| Program service revenue | $88,148,831 | $85,633,702 | $84,156,245 | $81,707,339 | $71,583,661 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $431,108 | $393,815 | $190,089 | ($290,034) | $136,896 |
| Other revenue | $478,661 | $837,625 | $757,434 | $285,368 | $3,360 |
| Total other revenue | $89,058,600 | $86,865,142 | $85,103,768 | $81,702,673 | $71,723,917 |
| Total revenue | $97,645,736 | $92,602,207 | $94,808,954 | $100,209,320 | $83,351,301 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $75,451,410 | $74,967,874 | $72,654,202 | $70,408,061 | $65,823,347 |
| Management and general | $20,637,552 | $18,574,975 | $19,603,356 | $18,096,789 | $14,840,101 |
| Fundraising | $729,154 | $844,062 | $850,393 | $710,971 | $759,556 |
| Total expenses | $96,818,116 | $94,386,911 | $93,107,951 | $89,215,821 | $81,423,004 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $827,620 | ($1,784,704) | $1,701,003 | $10,993,499 | $1,928,297 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $827,620 | ($1,784,704) | $1,701,003 | $10,993,499 | $1,928,297 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Beals Michael | President | $428,686 |
| McIntee Justin | VP For University Advancement | $257,487 |
| Hartwig Ryan | VP For Academic Affairs/Provost | $233,859 |
| Johnson Kimberly | VP For Enrollment Management | $230,147 |
| Espinoza Reginaldo | Dean of Strategy and Innovation | $185,692 |
| Shurance Michael Associate | VP For Gpe Strategy and Enrollment | $183,500 |
| Moser Jeremy | Chief Financial Officer (thru 8/24) | $181,290 |
| Pearlman Michael | Chief Financial Officer | $180,032 |
| Lebrecht Amanda | VP For Student Development | $178,324 |
| Bussell Jeffrey | Director of Athletics | $138,982 |
| De Leon Jr Daniel | Corporate/Board Secretary | $3,600 |
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 6/15/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
During the summer of 1920, Harold K. Needham, D. W. Kerr, and W. C. Peirce opened a school to prepare Christian workers for the various ministries of the church. The new institute, Southern California Bible School, moved from Los Angeles to Pasadena in 1927. In 1939 it was chartered by the State of California as a college eligible to grant degrees, and it became Southern California Bible College-the first four-year institution of the Assemblies of God. In 1943 the college received recognition by the government for the training of military chaplains. It moved to the present campus in 1950. The name was changed to Southern California College nine years later when majors in the liberal arts were added to the curriculum.
Regional accreditation and membership in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges were granted in 1964. In 1967 the college received recognition and approval of its teaching credential program from the California State Board of Education. In June 1983 the Graduate Studies Program received approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A Degree Completion Program was started in 1994 for adult learners. On July 1, 1999 university status was achieved when Southern California College registered with the Secretary of State's Office as Vanguard University of Southern California and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as several certificate programs.
In addition to its founding president, Harold K. Needham, Vanguard University of Southern California has had the able leadership of eight presidents: Daniel W. Kerr, Irvine J. Harrison, John B. Scott, O. Cope Budge, Emil A. Balliet, Wayne E. Kraiss, Murray W. Dempster and Carol Taylor. Vanguard inaugurated its tenth president, Dr. Michael J. Beals, on February 7, 2014.
For a century, Vanguard University has been a leader in educational innovation within its denomination, preparing students for all types of ministry. As a Christian university, Vanguard is constantly seeking to expand its influence and service through education that provides excellence without compromise for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Program accomplishments
98% of students receive financial aid
16:1 student-to-faculty ratio
60% of students live on campus
125 intramural sports teams and campus clubs
233 palm trees on campus
329 days of sunshine per year in California