Nova Southeastern University, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Nova Southeastern University 401(k) Plan
Fort Lauderdale, FLEducational Services5,064 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$5,046Employer $ per active participant
$4,165Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$560.5MNet plan assets, end of year
$83,769Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity48.5 / 5097th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost15.3 / 2561th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.5 / 1564th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
Total score83 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Educational Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (34 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 97th |
| Lower admin cost | 61th |
| Employee saving | 64th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 65% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Nova Southeastern University put in about $5,046 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,155). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $25,554,904 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $21,089,212 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $2,225,804 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $456,392 |
| Contract administrator fees | $233,330 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $76,315 |
| Benefits paid out | $22,814,350 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $478.8M / $560.5M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 5,343 / 4,785 |
| Participants with account balances | 6,691 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Ernst & Young LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Tiaa-Teachers Insurance Association | $276,954 reported compensation |
| Nova Southeastern University, Inc. | $104,687 reported compensation |
| Captrust Financial Partners LLC | $42,054 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013142836NAL0001422321003, received 2025-10-13, EIN 59-1083502, plan #004, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.