Strongest operating margins — private nonprofit universities

These 50 private nonprofit universities rank highest by operating margin, drawn from 1334 institutions with reported data in the most recent U.S. Department of Education release (2024-25). McPherson College (McPherson, KS) leads at 96.2%.

#	Institution	Operating margin
1	McPherson CollegeKS	96.2%
2	Dongguk University Los AngelesCA	80.2%
3	Spertus CollegeIL	79.3%
4	Phillips Theological SeminaryOK	67%
5	Selma UniversityAL	64.1%
6	Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular MedicineNY	63.7%
7	Aquinas Institute of TheologyMO	59.5%
8	Kairos UniversitySD	59.3%
9	Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoIL	58.7%
10	Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-OverbrookPA	58.4%
11	Talladega CollegeAL	57.1%
12	Life Chiropractic College WestCA	53.6%
13	St. John's CollegeMD	53.2%
14	San Francisco Conservatory of MusicCA	52.7%
15	Concordia SeminaryMO	51.9%
16	Hampden-Sydney CollegeVA	50.2%
17	MCPHS UniversityMA	48%
18	Bethany Theological SeminaryIN	47.7%
19	Wesley Biblical SeminaryMS	47%
20	Davis & Elkins CollegeWV	46.8%
21	Calvin Theological SeminaryMI	45.9%
22	Curtis Institute of MusicPA	45.9%
23	Howard Payne UniversityTX	45.6%
24	Berea CollegeKY	45.5%
25	Allegheny Wesleyan CollegeOH	44.6%
26	Seminario Evangelico de Puerto RicoPR	44.2%
27	Eden Theological SeminaryMO	42.4%
28	Trine UniversityIN	41.1%
29	Princeton Theological SeminaryNJ	40.7%
30	Minerva UniversityCA	40.4%
31	Alice Lloyd CollegeKY	38.9%
32	Pacific School of ReligionCA	38.7%
33	Whitman CollegeWA	38.7%
34	Reformed UniversityGA	37.7%
35	Northwood UniversityMI	37.6%
36	Austin Presbyterian Theological SeminaryTX	37.5%
37	Austin CollegeTX	37.1%
38	Hillsdale CollegeMI	36.8%
39	Union Theological Seminary in the City of New YorkNY	36.2%
40	Westminster Theological Seminary in CaliforniaCA	35.9%
41	Oklahoma City UniversityOK	35.9%
42	University of the CumberlandsKY	35.2%
43	Savannah College of Art and DesignGA	35%
44	Yeshivas Emek HatorahNJ	34.9%
45	Christian Theological SeminaryIN	34.8%
46	Saint Louis UniversityMO	34.2%
47	Erikson InstituteIL	34.2%
48	Ripon CollegeWI	33.8%
49	Catawba CollegeNC	33.6%
50	Grove City CollegePA	33.5%

A data ranking — not an Ibex endorsement or quality rating. Ranked solely on the metric named above using the most recent College Scorecard & IPEDS release, which lags the current academic year by 2–3 years. Institutions that do not report this metric are excluded. Figures and peer context appear on each institution’s profile.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25), with Census ACS, BLS Employment Projections, WICHE & the FSA Direct Loan Dashboard. Compiled by Ibex Insights. For informational benchmarking only — not financial, investment, or accreditation advice. See the methodology.