Accreditation
Affiliate Institution of the Association for Biblical Higher Education
The Washington Student Achievement Council has determined that Columbia Evangelical Seminary qualifies for religious exempt status from the Degree-Granting Institutions Act for the following programs: Bachelor of Theology (Th.B.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), and Doctor of Theology (Th.D.). The Council makes no evaluation of the administration, faculty, business practices, financial condition or quality of the offerings by this institution. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov.
Learning about Accreditation
If you have questions concerning accreditation, good for you. If more questions were asked, fewer people would be ripped off. Schools that deceive or mislead people with their false claims of accreditation are depending on you not to ask questions.
Two Kinds of Accrediting Associations
There are two kinds of accrediting associations: Recognized and Unrecognized. The Recognized associations are those that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Unrecognized ones are not really accrediting associations at all, and are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the term "Recognized" means Real, and the term "Unrecognized" means Not Real. However, the problem is not whether a school is accredited or not. The problem is that some schools claim to be accredited when they are not. These schools deceive students and take their money. In short, they lie.
Therefore, even if you don't need an accredited degree, still, be very cautious about schools that claim to be accredited when they are not. Also, be cautious of schools that are accredited by organizations that are Unrecognized. Schools that lie or mislead students about accreditation are not legitimate schools. Many non-traditional colleges, universities, and seminaries claim to have accreditation and, well, they might, but accreditation with whom? Is it by a Recognized association or an Unrecognized one? Renowned educator and non-traditional education expert Dr. John Bear, co-author of Walston's Guide to Earning Religious Degrees Non-Traditionally, explains what accreditation is. He says, "Quite simply, it is a validation - a statement by a group of persons who are, theoretically, impartial experts in higher education - that a given school, or department within a school, has been thoroughly investigated and found worthy of approval." But real accreditation comes from those "impartial experts in higher education" who represent a Recognized accrediting association. Furthermore, since accreditation is a completely voluntary process, operated by private non-governmental agencies, "there have evolved good accrediting agencies and bad ones, recognized ones and unrecognized ones, legitimate ones and phony ones" explains John Bear. "So," Dr. Bear goes on to say, "when a school says,'We are accredited,' that statement alone means nothing." A prospective student must always ask, "Accredited by whom?" Is it by a Recognized agency?
Important Note
If you desire a degree from only an accredited school, you should check the accreditation status of every school that you are considering by calling the United States Department of Education and asking about the schools in question.
Can a seminary, college, or university that offers their degrees by non-residential study be accredited by a Recognized accrediting association? Until very recently, there had never been a legitimately accredited American school that offered doctoral degrees entirely by correspondence. Today, however, there are some that are legitimately accredited that do offer doctoral degrees entirely off campus (no, we do not have a list of them). However, until more schools do this, it is still a good rule of thumb that will help you to be aware of what is out there. So, generally speaking, in spite of their claims of accreditation, if they are offering their doctoral degrees entirely by correspondence (or off-campus), it is a red flag that their claimed accreditation might Not be Recognized, and you need to double-check it. On the other hand, just because a school requires some time on campus does not mean that it is accredited. There are many non-accredited (and even bad) schools that require some time on campus (in classes or in seminars).
Accreditation Alone is Not the Final Word
Accreditation alone, or lack of it, does not determine the legitimacy or credibility of a school. But, schools that lie about accreditation are neither legitimate nor credible. However, there are some very good non-traditional schools that are fully legal and well regarded but simply not accredited by one of the Recognized accrediting associations. However, the good ones will be open and honest about their lack of accreditation.
Accreditation is Good for the Right Purpose
Accreditation is great for the right purpose. For instance, if your employer said, "You can get a job promotion and pay raise if you get your degree from an accredited school," then under those circumstances, it would be important to get an accredited degree. Or, if you are going to work for the government, or if you are going to be a teacher in a public school, or if you are going to be a medical doctor, you must have a degree from an accredited school. However, if you are working for an employer who does not require an accredited degree, why spend the extra money earning one? Traditionally, the tuition of accredited schools is much higher than non-accredited schools. Also, many employers do not know what accreditation is, nor do they care. Each student must determine how important accreditation is to his or her educational and occupational goals. This is generally done by learning what one's employer will accept. Many people have degrees from non-accredited but fully legal and well regarded schools and are employed as businessmen, pastors, educators, journalists, counselors, police, missionaries, and more. Some who hold non-traditional, non-accredited doctoral degrees are professors in accredited colleges, universities, and seminaries. In many denominations and fellowships, accreditation is simply not necessary. What is important to many of them is that they receive solid biblical/theological training. So, for many people, accreditation is simply a question of occupational acceptance.
Unless Truly Accredited
Claiming accreditation from an unrecognized agency (and not explaining that the agency is not recognized) only serves to confuse or deceive less-knowledgeable prospective students or employers who think that any kind of accreditation is Recognized and acceptable. Of the many schools who have unrecognized accreditation, very few clearly state in their catalogs (or in their advertisements) that the accrediting association with whom they are accredited is not a Recognized association. Unless truly accredited by a Recognized association, such schools should openly and honestly explain that they are not accredited. Or, at the very least, they should carefully and clearly explain that the accrediting association with whom they are "accredited" is not a Recognized association. So, in conclusion, ask yourself this question: "How necessary is it to my educational and occupational goals for me to have a degree from only an accredited school?" Once you settle that question, you can pursue an education that will be rewarding and enriching. But, remember, if you decide that your degree absolutely must be from an accredited school, then check on the accreditation status of each school under your consideration. Do not simply take their word for it.
Affiliate Status: Columbia Evangelical Seminary is an affiliate institution of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the association. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ABHE accredited status at present or in the future.
Two Kinds of Accrediting Associations
There are two kinds of accrediting associations: Recognized and Unrecognized. The Recognized associations are those that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Unrecognized ones are not really accrediting associations at all, and are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the term "Recognized" means Real, and the term "Unrecognized" means Not Real. However, the problem is not whether a school is accredited or not. The problem is that some schools claim to be accredited when they are not. These schools deceive students and take their money. In short, they lie.
Therefore, even if you don't need an accredited degree, still, be very cautious about schools that claim to be accredited when they are not. Also, be cautious of schools that are accredited by organizations that are Unrecognized. Schools that lie or mislead students about accreditation are not legitimate schools. Many non-traditional colleges, universities, and seminaries claim to have accreditation and, well, they might, but accreditation with whom? Is it by a Recognized association or an Unrecognized one? Renowned educator and non-traditional education expert Dr. John Bear, co-author of Walston's Guide to Earning Religious Degrees Non-Traditionally, explains what accreditation is. He says, "Quite simply, it is a validation - a statement by a group of persons who are, theoretically, impartial experts in higher education - that a given school, or department within a school, has been thoroughly investigated and found worthy of approval." But real accreditation comes from those "impartial experts in higher education" who represent a Recognized accrediting association. Furthermore, since accreditation is a completely voluntary process, operated by private non-governmental agencies, "there have evolved good accrediting agencies and bad ones, recognized ones and unrecognized ones, legitimate ones and phony ones" explains John Bear. "So," Dr. Bear goes on to say, "when a school says,'We are accredited,' that statement alone means nothing." A prospective student must always ask, "Accredited by whom?" Is it by a Recognized agency?
Important Note
If you desire a degree from only an accredited school, you should check the accreditation status of every school that you are considering by calling the United States Department of Education and asking about the schools in question.
Can a seminary, college, or university that offers their degrees by non-residential study be accredited by a Recognized accrediting association? Until very recently, there had never been a legitimately accredited American school that offered doctoral degrees entirely by correspondence. Today, however, there are some that are legitimately accredited that do offer doctoral degrees entirely off campus (no, we do not have a list of them). However, until more schools do this, it is still a good rule of thumb that will help you to be aware of what is out there. So, generally speaking, in spite of their claims of accreditation, if they are offering their doctoral degrees entirely by correspondence (or off-campus), it is a red flag that their claimed accreditation might Not be Recognized, and you need to double-check it. On the other hand, just because a school requires some time on campus does not mean that it is accredited. There are many non-accredited (and even bad) schools that require some time on campus (in classes or in seminars).
Accreditation Alone is Not the Final Word
Accreditation alone, or lack of it, does not determine the legitimacy or credibility of a school. But, schools that lie about accreditation are neither legitimate nor credible. However, there are some very good non-traditional schools that are fully legal and well regarded but simply not accredited by one of the Recognized accrediting associations. However, the good ones will be open and honest about their lack of accreditation.
Accreditation is Good for the Right Purpose
Accreditation is great for the right purpose. For instance, if your employer said, "You can get a job promotion and pay raise if you get your degree from an accredited school," then under those circumstances, it would be important to get an accredited degree. Or, if you are going to work for the government, or if you are going to be a teacher in a public school, or if you are going to be a medical doctor, you must have a degree from an accredited school. However, if you are working for an employer who does not require an accredited degree, why spend the extra money earning one? Traditionally, the tuition of accredited schools is much higher than non-accredited schools. Also, many employers do not know what accreditation is, nor do they care. Each student must determine how important accreditation is to his or her educational and occupational goals. This is generally done by learning what one's employer will accept. Many people have degrees from non-accredited but fully legal and well regarded schools and are employed as businessmen, pastors, educators, journalists, counselors, police, missionaries, and more. Some who hold non-traditional, non-accredited doctoral degrees are professors in accredited colleges, universities, and seminaries. In many denominations and fellowships, accreditation is simply not necessary. What is important to many of them is that they receive solid biblical/theological training. So, for many people, accreditation is simply a question of occupational acceptance.
Unless Truly Accredited
Claiming accreditation from an unrecognized agency (and not explaining that the agency is not recognized) only serves to confuse or deceive less-knowledgeable prospective students or employers who think that any kind of accreditation is Recognized and acceptable. Of the many schools who have unrecognized accreditation, very few clearly state in their catalogs (or in their advertisements) that the accrediting association with whom they are accredited is not a Recognized association. Unless truly accredited by a Recognized association, such schools should openly and honestly explain that they are not accredited. Or, at the very least, they should carefully and clearly explain that the accrediting association with whom they are "accredited" is not a Recognized association. So, in conclusion, ask yourself this question: "How necessary is it to my educational and occupational goals for me to have a degree from only an accredited school?" Once you settle that question, you can pursue an education that will be rewarding and enriching. But, remember, if you decide that your degree absolutely must be from an accredited school, then check on the accreditation status of each school under your consideration. Do not simply take their word for it.
Affiliate Status: Columbia Evangelical Seminary is an affiliate institution of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the association. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ABHE accredited status at present or in the future.