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Temple University

Website:

www.temple.edu/
Location:

Philadelphia, PA
Tax ID:

23-1365971
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $1,538,162,000
Expenses: $1,479,634,000
Assets: $3,926,300,000
Type:

University
President:

John Fry

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Temple University is a major university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in the 1880s as a private Baptist college, it today operates under a public-private partnership model unique to Pennsylvania in which it receives some state appropriations but is otherwise privately controlled and operated as a nonprofit organization rather than an instrumentality of the state government.  1

Governance and Leadership

State Partnership

Technically known as ‘Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education,’ Temple is a “state-related” university, which is a public-private partnership model of higher education governance unique to Pennsylvania. 2 Under Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth System of Higher Education, the university receives some state appropriations but is governed by an independent board and its assets are privately owned. 1  Temple’s board of trustees has 36 voting members, 12 of whom are appointed by the state.  3 The governor, the Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, and the Mayor of Philadelphia all sit on the board as ex-officio trustees. 3

Temple is subject to public records requests under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. 4

State government appropriations for Temple must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the legislature rather than the majority vote required of appropriations for state-run colleges and universities. 1 In return, Temple gives every in-state undergraduate student a tuition discount of at least $15,600 as of 2025-2026. 5

Leadership

The president of Temple is John Fry, who took that position in late 2024. 6

In September 2023, interim president JoAnne Epps collapsed and died suddenly while speaking at a university event. 7 She had replaced Jason Wingard, who had been president of Temple for fewer than two years when he resigned in March 2023.  8 At the time of Wingard’s resignation, the university’s affiliate of the American Association of University Professors was planning on holding a vote of no confidence in him.  8 In May 2025, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Wingard had received $1.1 million in compensation from Temple in 2023, despite his resignation less than a quarter of the way into the year. 8

Controversies

Emergency Contraception

In 2026, Temple University allowed Planned Parenthood Generation Action to install vending machines dispensing “morning-after” emergency contraception pills in the university’s “Essential Needs Hub.” 9

Public Safety

Temple’s campus is located in a predominantly low-income, high-crime neighborhood in North Philadelphia, and has had persistent issues for years with public safety. 10 In a 2022 poll by the student-run Temple News, almost half of student respondents said they had considered transferring to another school because of safety concerns. 11

In February 2023, Temple Police Sergeant David Fitzgerald was shot and killed by a would-be carjacker while on duty. 12 His killer was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. 13

Handling of Pro-Palestinian Activism

Temple University students participated in protests against Israeli military action in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel. 14 In Philadelphia, anti-Israel protests were generally joint actions by students at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple, as well as non-student activists.  14

Some students at Temple were reportedly disciplined by the university under the Student Code for offenses related to their participation in illegal pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Pennsylvania, including failure to comply with law enforcement instructions, disorderly conduct, and damage to property. 15

Members of Temple’s affiliate of the American Association of University Professors also held a pro-Palestine picket at the university’s main administration building.  16

A week after the October 7 attacks, then-interim university president Richard Englert posted a message to the university community that angered many pro-Palestinian activists for taking a strong stance opposing Hamas’s terrorism.  17 “While we know that the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza is complex and has a deep history, there is never any excuse for the despicable acts of terroristic violence that we have witnessed,” Englert wrote. “The Temple community will continue to hold dear our institution s values. We unequivocally condemn terrorism, violence, hate speech that disparages any person or persons based on religion, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or identity.”  18

In August 2024, Temple students and other activists affiliated with Students for Justice in Palestine held a pro-Palestinian march that ended at the university’s Hillel Center for Jewish Life. 17 Englert condemned the marchers’ apparent targeting of Temple’s Jewish community in this manner, calling it “harassment and intimidation tactics” and saying that any student or student group found to be a part of the march would be subject to discipline.  17

After this protest, Temple amended its on-campus demonstration rules to prohibit the use of megaphones inside university buildings or outside during class hours, to prohibit blocking roads or sidewalks, and to prohibit harm to people or property. 16

In October 2024, Temple’s administration temporarily banned Students for Justice in Palestine from operating on the campus for its role in organizing a protest that disrupted an on-campus career fair, as well as the August 2024 protest outside the Hillel Center. 19

Finances

Since the mid-2010s, Temple University has struggled with fiscal challenges caused in part by declining enrollment. 20 Its original 2025 budget included an $85 million structural deficit that was eventually reduced to $19 million through cost reductions.  20 A $60 million deficit in Temple’s fiscal year 2026 budget led university president John Fry to request each department to reduce compensation by 5%, whether through layoffs or not filling open positions. 20

In March 2026, Fry asked the Pennsylvania legislature for a 16% funding increase, which he characterized as keeping up with inflation after seven years of flat state appropriations. 5

References

  1. “What Is a State-Related School.” Temple Association of University Professionals. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://taup.org/what-is-a-state-related-school/.
  2. “Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education @ Center City.” Global Philadelphia. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://globalphiladelphia.org/organizations/pennsylvanias-state-system-higher-education-center-city.
  3. Temple University-Commonwealth Act CL. 24. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://secretary.temple.edu/sites/secretary/files/policies/01.31.00.pdf.
  4. “Public Information.” Temple University. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.temple.edu/about/public-information.
  5. Orbanek, Steve. “President Fry Makes the Case for Temple during Harrisburg Visit.” Temple Now, March 13, 2026. https://now.temple.edu/news/2026-03-13/president-fry-makes-case-temple-during-harrisburg-visit.
  6. “About President John Fry.” Office of the President. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://president.temple.edu/about-president-john-fry.
  7. Sabo, Oliver. “Joanne Epps Dies after Collapsing at University Event.” The Temple News, September 19, 2023. https://temple-news.com/joanne-epps-dies-after-collapsing-at-university-event/.
  8. Snyder, Susan. “Former Temple President Jason Wingard Received More than $1.1 Million in Compensation the Year He Resigned.” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 29, 2025. https://www.inquirer.com/education/jason-wingard-temple-contract-compensation-20250529.html.
  9. “Temple University to Provide Emergency Contraceptives via Vending.” Vending Times, February 23, 2026. https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/temple-university-to-provide-emergency-contraceptives-via-vending/.
  10. McGirl, Siobhan. “Temple University’s New President John Fry Talks Safety, Funding and More.” NBC10 Philadelphia, April 11, 2025. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-university-president-john-fry-north-philadelphia-safety-funding-enrollment/4158978/.
  11. O’Neal, Samuel, and Molly Fiske. “How Safety Concerns Forced These Temple Students to Transfer.” The Temple News, June 6, 2024. https://temple-news.com/how-safety-concerns-forced-these-temple-students-to-transfer/.
  12. “Honoring Our Fallen Hero.” Temple University. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.temple.edu/honoring-our-fallen-hero.
  13. Mitman, Hayden, Brian Sheehan, and David Chang. “Man Found Guilty of Murdering Temple University Police Sergeant.” NBC10 Philadelphia, June 25, 2025. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/miles-pfeffer-christopher-fitzgerald-temple-police-officer-philadelphia/4219099/.
  14. Marin, Max, and Beatrice Forman. “Penn, Drexel, and Temple Students Demand Recognition of Gaza from Universities amid Fears of Doxing and Retaliation.” Inquirer.com, October 26, 2023. https://www.inquirer.com/news/penn-temple-drexel-israel-gaza-protest-palestine-20231025.html.
  15. Rochnik, Sidney. “Temple Students Face Charges for Participating in Penn Encampment Protests.” The Temple News, June 28, 2024. https://temple-news.com/temple-students-face-charges-for-participating-in-penn-encampment-protests/.
  16. Sahin, Nurbanu. “Temple Amends Campus Policies as Protests End in Violations.” The Temple News, September 10, 2024. https://temple-news.com/temple-amends-campus-policies-as-protests-end-in-violations/.
  17. Nair, Navya, and Bayleh Alexander. “‘We Want Our Freedom’: Palestine Protesters March at Hillel Center, Charles Library.” The Temple News, August 30, 2024. https://temple-news.com/we-want-our-freedom-palestine-protesters-march-at-hillel-center-charles-library/.
  18. “A Message from the President.” Temple Now, October 13, 2023. https://now.temple.edu/announcements/2023-10-13/message-president.
  19. Marin, Max, and Robert Moran. “Temple Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Group; Muslim Advocates Call to Investigate Police over Alleged Hijab Removal during Campus Protest.” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2, 2024. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/temple-university-police-palestinian-group-suspended-protests-20241002.html
  20. Unglesbee, Ben. “Temple University Eyes Job Reductions amid $60m Deficit for FY26.” Higher Ed Dive, June 20, 2025. https://www.highereddive.com/news/temple-university-job-reductions-60m-structural-deficit-john-fry/751241/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1926

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2023 Jun Form 990 $1,538,162,000 $1,479,634,000 $3,926,300,000 $959,109,000 Y $333,102,000 $1,139,574,000 $67,348,000 $8,219,000
    2022 Jun Form 990 $1,586,269,000 $1,472,762,000 $3,835,400,000 $947,918,000 Y $409,915,000 $1,127,549,000 $42,581,000 $8,447,000 PDF
    2021 Jun Form 990 $1,529,470,000 $1,364,025,000 $3,873,437,000 $970,499,000 N $346,844,000 $1,086,424,000 $41,215,000 $5,915,000 PDF
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,562,417,000 $1,475,281,000 $3,627,877,000 $1,049,833,000 Y $335,234,000 $1,174,274,000 $43,241,000 $7,654,000 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,766,269,000 $1,651,593,000 $3,570,158,000 $1,077,499,000 Y $363,656,000 $1,375,043,000 $22,221,000 $6,379,000 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,840,592,000 $1,592,266,000 $3,468,422,000 $1,107,979,000 Y $381,133,000 $1,339,032,000 $22,419,000 $8,053,000 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,708,212,000 $1,551,393,000 $3,268,114,000 $1,160,174,000 Y $369,732,000 $1,286,372,000 $18,344,000 $8,922,000
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,579,861,000 $1,489,539,000 $3,092,144,000 $1,216,855,000 Y $361,263,000 $1,194,525,000 $16,676,000 $8,088,000 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $1,511,305,000 $1,436,732,000 $2,944,852,000 $1,112,698,000 Y $356,367,000 $1,116,471,000 $14,350,000 $6,238,000 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,499,834,000 $1,396,164,000 $2,925,571,000 $1,132,131,000 Y $396,066,000 $1,068,332,000 $13,218,000 $5,587,000 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,404,695,000 $1,349,629,000 $2,817,820,000 $1,179,446,000 Y $357,630,000 $1,002,074,000 $15,027,000 $6,018,000 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,336,547,000 $1,279,361,000 $2,667,847,000 $1,113,859,000 Y $314,730,000 $978,019,000 $15,704,000 $5,150,000 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,320,993,000 $1,214,632,000 $2,561,736,000 $1,019,464,000 Y $373,732,000 $905,738,000 $15,734,000 $6,096,000 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Temple University

    1913 N BROAD ST MITTHALL 04354
    Philadelphia, PA 19122-6004