Commission on Accreditation
ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation accredits institutions and programs of biblical higher education in Canada, the United States, and U.S. Territories based on standards of quality that reflect both higher education and spiritual contexts — where the Bible is central and the development of Christian life and ministry is essential.
QUICK LINKS
For more information on the ABHE accreditation process, please contact coa@abhe.org or 407.207.0808, EXT. 2
Join Us at the ABHE Annual Meeting
Looking for even more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow? The ABHE Annual Meeting brings together leaders from across biblical higher education for inspiring plenary sessions, practical workshops, meaningful fellowship, and leadership development designed to strengthen your institution and mission.
About the ABHE Commission on Accreditation
The ABHE Commission on Accreditation serves and supports the interests of biblical higher education and the public by providing specialized institutional and programmatic accreditation for all levels of biblical higher education. The agency’s purpose is to assure quality and integrity among biblical higher education institutions through accreditation services empowered by peer review. The ABHE Commission on Accreditation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, and participation in its accreditation process is voluntary.
The ABHE Commission on Accreditation is recognized as an accrediting body by the U.S. Department of Education (DE) and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). (See the agency’s specific DE and CHEA scopes of recognition below.) The ABHE Commission accredits biblical higher education institutions offering certificates, diplomas, and degrees at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. The agency is recognized by CHEA for all of the educational levels noted. ABHE’s scope of recognition with the U.S. Department of Education does not include doctoral education.
U.S. Department of Education Recognition
The ABHE Commission on Accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national, specialized institutional accrediting agency. ABHE recognition by the U.S. Department of Education has been continuous since 1952, when the federal government first began recognizing accrediting agencies. The agency’s scope of recognition (i.e., for the purpose of participation in U.S. Higher Education Act financial aid programs) includes the accreditation and pre‐accreditation (“Candidate Status”) of institutions of biblical higher education offering undergraduate certificates, associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, graduate certificates, and master’s degrees, including the accreditation of educational programs offered via distance education and direct assessment. The agency’s scope of recognition with the U.S. Department of Education does not include doctoral education, correspondence education, or programmatic accreditation.
CHEA Recognition
The ABHE Commission on Accreditation Is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a national, faith-related accrediting agency. ABHE is one of only four recognized national, faith-related accrediting agencies, and was a charter member of the Council on Postsecondary Education (COPA) and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA), the predecessors to CHEA. ABHE’s scope of recognition under CHEA extends to institutions and programs in the United States, Canada, and related territories that offer certificates, diplomas, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees aimed at preparing students for Christian ministries through Biblical, church-vocational and general studies.
CHEA Podcast Series
An important aspect of our strategic plan is championing biblical higher education by telling our story. Recently, Dr. Lisa Beatty was featured on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation – Advisory Council Podcast Series. Take a listen as Lisa outlines the Accreditation Journey with ABHE.