A category of their own
Religious postsecondary institutions — seminaries, Bible colleges, theological schools, and rabbinical yeshivas — are often accredited by national faith-related accreditors. CHEA formally distinguishes these from ordinary institutional accreditors, and recognizes four of them, all also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The four recognized faith-related accreditors
- ATS — Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological SchoolsThe main accreditor of graduate theological schools and seminaries in the U.S. and Canada — around 250 schools. Focused on graduate divinity and theology. Recognized by USDE and CHEA.
- ABHE — Association for Biblical Higher EducationFormerly the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges; accredits Bible colleges (certificate through doctoral, largely undergraduate and master’s) in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico — around 170 institutions. Recognized by USDE and CHEA.
- TRACS — Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and SchoolsFounded 1979; accredits evangelical Protestant postsecondary institutions (certificate through graduate, including distance education). Recognized by USDE since 1991 and CHEA since 2001.
- AARTS — Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic SchoolsAccredits rabbinical and Talmudic (Jewish) institutions and yeshivas offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Recognized by USDE and CHEA.
A few narrower bodies also exist — the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS), CHEA-recognized but not USDE-recognized, and the Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies (AIJS), USDE-recognized — which is why checking the recognition of the specific accreditor matters.
Dual accreditation with a regional body
Many faith-based colleges hold both a faith-related accreditation and a former-regional (institutional) one. Of ATS’s member schools, well over half are also regionally accredited. Schools do this for transfer, prestige, and doctoral pathways — a regional credential travels more easily into secular graduate programs. A seminary embedded in a university, or one offering undergraduate programs, especially tends to carry a regional accreditation too.
Recognized bodies vs. “approval” boards
What it means for you
- Federal aidA USDE-recognized faith-related accreditor makes a school eligible for federal aid.
- Ministry vs. secular pathsFor ministry roles, faith-related accreditation is often exactly what’s expected; for secular graduate school or licensure, check whether a regional credential is needed.
- TransferCredits from faith-only-accredited schools may transfer less easily to secular institutions — dual-accredited schools avoid this.
- Verify the accreditorConfirm the school’s accreditor is USDE- or CHEA-recognized, not an unrecognized approval board.
Verify a college
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
- Who accredits seminaries and Bible colleges? Mainly four recognized national faith-related accreditors: ATS (graduate theological schools), ABHE (Bible colleges), TRACS (evangelical Protestant institutions), and AARTS (rabbinical and Talmudic schools).
- Are faith-related accreditors legitimate? The four recognized ones — ATS, ABHE, TRACS, AARTS — are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA. Many religious ‘approval’ boards, however, are unrecognized and confer nothing.
- Do faith-accredited schools qualify for federal aid? Yes, if accredited by a USDE-recognized faith-related accreditor. That is the federal aid gate.
- What is dual accreditation? When a faith-based college holds both a faith-related accreditation and a former-regional one. Most ATS schools are also regionally accredited, which helps with transfer and graduate admission.
- Will credits from a Bible college transfer? Sometimes not easily into secular schools if the college is faith-only accredited. Dual-accredited schools transfer more readily; confirm with the destination school.
- How do I spot a religious accreditation mill? If the school's accreditor is not listed by USDE or CHEA, treat the credential as unaccredited. Genuine faith-related accreditors appear in those registries.
- What's the difference between AARTS and ARTS? AARTS accredits rabbinical and Talmudic (Jewish) schools and is recognized by USDE and CHEA. ARTS is the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries, CHEA-recognized but not USDE-recognized.
- How do I verify a faith-based school's accreditation? Confirm its accreditor is one of the recognized faith-related bodies via the CHEA directory or USDE DAPIP, then confirm the school's status with that accreditor.