Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation ABHE-COA

Overview

The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation (commonly known as ABHE COA) is a national, faith‑based accrediting organization in the United States and Canada. It operates under the umbrella of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), providing institutional and programmatic accreditation to postsecondary institutions focused on biblical studies, ministry and Christian leadership. The Commission is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, ensuring that accredited institutions meet standards of academic quality, financial stability, spiritual integrity and public accountability.

History and Legal Framework

The accrediting branch of ABHE traces its roots to 1947 when it was founded as the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges. Subsequent name changes reflected expanding scope: in 1957 it became the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, in 1973 the American Association of Bible Colleges and finally in 2004 it adopted the current name to reflect inclusion of graduate education and international candidate and affiliate institutions.

ABHE COA became a nonprofit corporation in the State of Illinois (501(c)(3)) and has been continuously recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1952. As a charter member of key accrediting umbrella groups (including COPA and CORPA, predecessors of CHEA), ABHE COA aligns its accreditation standards with federal criteria governing access to Title IV financial aid and broader expectations for institutional integrity and effectiveness.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

ABHE COA’s core mission is to ensure the quality, integrity and improvement of biblical higher education through a rigorous, voluntary peer‑review accreditation process. It seeks to partner with member institutions in developing biblically centered educational programs that serve both faith communities and the wider public.

• Establish and maintain accreditation standards that integrate academic excellence with spiritual formation.
• Conduct impartial evaluations of institutional mission, governance, faculty qualifications, curricula and student outcomes.
• Foster continuous improvement through self‑study, peer review and structured follow‑up.
• Support institutions’ eligibility for federal student aid and greater academic credibility in wider higher education.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The Commission on Accreditation consists of 12–18 elected commissioners drawn from ABHE‑accredited institutions—encompassing both administrators and faculty—and 3–4 public representatives, one of whom may be a student. Public members come from outside member institutions, reinforcing accountability and impartiality.

Commissioners serve on a volunteer basis, while a full‑time Executive Director and staff coordinate the application, evaluation, policy and monitoring processes. Accreditation decisions—including action on applications, reaffirmations, eligibility requirements and sanctions—are made solely by the Commission, without interference from ABHE’s board of directors, in order to preserve procedural fairness and independence.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

As one of only four nationally recognized faith‑related institutional accreditors in the U.S., ABHE COA plays a key role in quality assurance for evangelical Christian education:

• It accredits institutions offering certificates, diplomas, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as some programmatic representation.
• Under U.S. Department of Education recognition, its scope includes federal aid‑eligible programs (except doctoral degrees and direct assessment programs), while CHEA recognition extends to doctoral level, CBE and distance education offerings.
• Its process follows core principles of voluntary participation, self‑study, peer evaluation, site visits and ongoing compliance monitoring.

Between cycles, institutions submit required reports and, when deficiencies are found, COA works with them toward resolution—thus affirming a high standard of academic and institutional integrity for programs oriented toward ministry and mission, but that also meet general higher education norms.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

ABHE is an active member of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), a global quality‑assurance network endorsed by the World Evangelical Alliance. Through ICETE’s Global Partner Network, ABHE engages with continental evangelicals theological education associations across eight regions with nearly 1,000 institutions in over 100 countries.

ABHE also collaborates with peer organizations such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Association of Christian Librarians, AACRAO and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, promoting shared standards and professional development among evangelical higher education institutions.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

By providing recognized accreditation, ABHE COA enables many Bible colleges and institutions—some small, remote or newly formed—to access federal student aid, attract faculty and students and position themselves within the broader higher education landscape. This enhances institutional credibility and sustainability.

Looking ahead, ABHE plans to continue refining its standards to address contemporary educational trends—such as competency‑based education, digital delivery, inter‑institutional partnerships—and to expand leadership development, governance training and public transparency among accredited institutions.

Summary

The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation serves as a nationally recognized accreditor for evangelical Christian postsecondary institutions in North America. With a history of over 75 years, it blends biblical distinctiveness with peer‑reviewed higher education standards. Governed by an independent commission, it supports institutions in upholding academic quality, institutional integrity and spiritual effectiveness, while enabling access to federal funding and international credibility. Through its involvement in global networks like ICETE and ongoing strategic initiatives, ABHE COA continues to shape the future of biblical higher education in a global context.

FAQs

• What is the ABHE Commission on Accreditation? It is the accrediting arm of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, overseeing institutional and programmatic accreditation for faith‑based colleges and seminaries in the U.S. and Canada.
• When was ABHE COA founded? It began in 1947 as the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges and adopted its current name in 2004 to reflect expanded scope.
• How many institutions are accredited? According to uniRank research, ABHE COA accredits or serves over 150 institutions, enrolling more than 63,000 students across diverse locations and time zones.
• Is ABHE accreditation recognized professionally? Yes—ABHE COA is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (for federal aid eligibility) and by CHEA, guaranteeing compliance with higher education standards and serving as a benchmark for religious character integration.
• What role does the Commission on Accreditation play? It conducts peer review, sets policies, makes accreditation decisions, monitors compliance and provides guidance for institutional improvement.
• Does ABHE accredit doctoral programs? Under CHEA recognition, yes; but U.S. Department of Education recognition does not currently extend to doctoral degrees for federal financial aid purposes.
• How does ABHE work internationally? Through its membership in the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), ABHE cooperates with global networks to shape standards and support theological education worldwide.

Organization Name

Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation

Acronym

ABHE-COA

Year of Establishment

1/01/1947

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); U.S. Department of Education

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

150

Address

5575 S. Semoran Boulevard, Suite 26
Orlando
32822 Florida United States

Phone

+1 (407) 207 0808

Fax

+1 (407) 207 0840

List of universities offering programs accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation (ABHE-COA):

Fully Accredited
1) Alaska Bible College, 248 East Elmwood Avenue, Palmer, AK, United States 99645
2) Alaska Christian College, 35109 Royal Place, Soldotna, AK, United States 99669
3) Alberta Bible College, 635 Northmount Drive Northwest, Calgary, AB, Canada T2K 3J6
4) Allegheny Wesleyan College, 2161 Woodsdale Road, Salem, OH, United States 44460
5) America Evangelical University, 1204 West 163rd Street, Gardena, CA, United States 90247
6) American Baptist College, 1800 Baptist World Center Drive, Nashville, TN, United States 37207
7) Appalachian Bible College, 161 College Drive, Mount Hope, WV, United States 25880
8) Arlington Baptist University, 3001 West Division Street, Arlington, TX, United States 76012
9) Arlington Baptist University, 3001 West Division Street, Arlington, TX, United States 76012
10) Ascent College, 14525 John Marshall Highway, Gainesville, VA, United States 20155
11) B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary, 6500 North Belt Line Road, Irving, TX, United States 75063
12) Baptist Bible College and Graduate School of Theology, 628 East Kearney Street, Springfield, MO, United States 65803
13) Baptist University of the Americas, 2418 West Ansley Boulevard, San Antonio, TX, United States 78224
14) Barclay College, 607 Kingman, Haviland, KS, United States 67059
15) Bethany Global University, 6820 Auto Club Road, Bloomington, MN, United States 55438
16) Bethlehem College and Seminary, 720 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, United States 55415
17) Beulah Heights University, 892 Berne Street Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United States 30316
18) Boise Bible College, 8695 West Marigold Street, Boise, ID, United States 83714
19) Bridges Christian College, 2524 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA, United States 70115
20) Briercrest College and Seminary, 510 College Drive, Caronport, SK, Canada S0H 0S0
21) Brookes Bible College, 4111 Von Talge Road, St. Louis, MO, United States 63128
22) Calvary University, 15800 Calvary Road, Kansas City, MO, United States 64147
23) Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College, 200 Seminary View, Cochrane, AB, Canada T4C 2G1
24) Carolina Christian College, 4209 Indiana Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC, United States 27105
25) Carolina College of Biblical Studies, 817 South McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC, United States 28303
26) Central Christian College of the Bible, 911 East Urbandale Drive, Moberly, MO, United States 65270
27) Christ Mission College, 10822 Farm to Market Road 1560, San Antonio, TX, United States 78254
28) Clarks Summit University, 538 Venard Road, Clarks Summit, PA, United States 18411
29) Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, 300 Clear Creek Road, Pineville, KY, United States 40977
30) College of Biblical Studies - Houston, 7000 Regency Square Boulevard, Houston, TX, United States 77036
31) Columbia Bible College, 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC, Canada V2T 2Z8
32) Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC, United States 29203
33) Dallas Christian College, 2700 Christian Parkway, Dallas, TX, United States 75234
34) Davis College, 1 Chrisfield Avenue, Johnson City, NY, United States 13790
35) Ecclesia College, 9653 Nations Drive, Springdale, AR, United States 72762
36) Emmaus Bible College, 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA, United States 52001
37) Eston College, 730 1 Street East, Eston, SK, Canada S0L 1A0
38) Eternity Bible College, 2136 Winifred Street, Simi Valley, CA, United States 93063
39) Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, 1900 Northwest 4th Street, Ankeny, IA, United States 50023
40) Faith Bible College, 6330 Newtown Road, Norfolk, VA, United States 23502
41) Faith Bible Seminary, 2000 Elmwood Avenue, Lafayette, IN, United States 47904
42) Family of Faith Christian University, 30 Kin-Ville Road, Shawnee, OK, United States 74804
43) God's Bible School and College, 1810 Young Street, Cincinnati, OH, United States 45202
44) Grace Christian University, 1011 Aldon Street Southwest, Wyoming, MI, United States 49509
45) Grace Mission University, 1645 West Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA, United States 92833
46) Heartland Christian College, 321 Mercy Street, Bethel, MO, United States 63434
47) Henry Appenzeller University, 1325 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA, United States 91711
48) Heritage Christian University, 3625 Helton Drive, Florence, AL, United States 35630
49) Heritage College and Seminary, 175 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge, ON, Canada N3C 3T2
50) Highlands College, 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham, AL, United States 35243
51) Hobe Sound Bible College, 11298 Southeast Gomez Avenue, Hobe Sound, FL, United States 33455
52) Horizon College and Seminary, 604 Webster Street, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 3G6
53) Horizon University, 7700 Indian Lake Road, Indianapolis, IN, United States 46236
54) Huntsville Bible College, 906 Oakwood Avenue Northwest, Huntsville, AL, United States 35811
55) Indian Bible College, 2237 East Cedar Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ, United States 86004
56) Institute of Lutheran Theology, 910 4th Street, Brookings, SD, United States 57006
57) International Reformed University and Seminary, 125 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, United States 90004
58) Kansas Christian College, 7401 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS, United States 66204
59) Kentucky Mountain Bible College, 855 Hwy 541, Jackson, KY, United States 41339
60) Kingswood University, 26 Western Street, Sussex, NB, Canada E4E 1R3
61) Kuyper College, 3333 East Beltline Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI, United States 49525
62) LABI College, 14209 Lomitas Avenue, La Puente, CA, United States 91746
63) Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA, United States 17601
64) Life Pacific University, 1100 West Covina Boulevard, San Dimas, CA, United States 91773
65) Lumbee River Christian College, 355 Albert Currie Road, Shannon, NC, United States 28386
66) Luther Rice College and Seminary, 3038 Evans Mill Road, Stonecrest, GA, United States 30038
67) Manhattan Christian College, 1415 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS, United States 66502
68) Manna University, 5117 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville, NC, United States 28314
69) Master's College and Seminary, 780 Argyle Street, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9H 5T2
70) Mid-South Christian College, 3097 Knight Road, Memphis, TN, United States 38118
71) Midwest University, 851 Parr Road, Wentzville, MO, United States 63385
72) Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 5001 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, United States 64118
73) Montana Bible College, 20 Cornerstone Way, Bozeman, MT, United States 59718
74) Moody Bible Institute, 820 North La Salle Street, Chicago, IL, United States 60610
75) Nazarene Bible College, 1465 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO, United States 80920
76) New Hope Christian College, 2155 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, United States 97405
77) Northpoint Bible College, 320 South Main Street, Haverhill, MA, United States 01835
78) Northpoint Bible College - Grand Rapids, 2100 44th Street Southwest, Wyoming, MI, United States 49519
79) Oak Hills Christian College, 1600 Oak Hills Road Southwest, Bemidji, MN, United States 56601
80) Ozark Christian College, 1111 North Main Street Road, Joplin, MO, United States 64801
81) Pacific Bible College, 28 South Fir Street, Medford, OR, United States 97501
82) Pacific Life Bible College, 15030 66A Avenue, Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 2A5
83) Pacific Rim Christian University, 2223 Hoonee Place, Honolulu, HI, United States 96819
84) Penn View Bible Institute, 125 Penn View Drive, Middleburg, PA, United States 17842
85) Prairie College, 350 5 Avenue East, Three Hills, AB, Canada T0M 2N0
86) Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America, 15605 Carmenita Road, Santa Fe Springs, CA, United States 90670
87) Rio Grande Bible Institute, 4300 South Business Highway 281, Edinburg, TX, United States 78539
88) Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, 4001 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL, United States 32207
89) Rocky Mountain College, 4039 Brentwood Road Northwest, Calgary, AB, Canada T2L 1L1
90) Rosedale Bible College, 2270 Rosedale Road, Irwin, OH, United States 43029
91) Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary, 510 Collier Way, Etna, CA, United States 96027
92) Selma University, 1501 Boynton Street, Selma, AL, United States 36701
93) Simmons College of Kentucky, 1018 South 7th Street, Louisville, KY, United States 40203
94) South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary, 2200 Southwest 10th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL, United States 33442
95) Southeastern Baptist College, 4229 Mississippi 15, Laurel, MS, United States 39440
96) Southern Bible Institute and College, 7200 South Hampton Road, Dallas, TX, United States 75232
97) Stark College and Seminary, 7000 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX, United States 78412
98) Steinbach Bible College, 50 Manitoba 12, Blumenort, MB, Canada R0A 0C0
99) SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary, 1101 Investment Boulevard, El Dorado Hills, CA, United States 95762
100) Summit Christian College, 2025 21st Street, Gering, NE, United States 69341
101) Summit Pacific College, 35235 Straiton Road, Abbotsford, BC, Canada V2S 7Z1
102) Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary, 1300 Longview Drive, Henderson, TX, United States 75652
103) The King's University, 2121 East Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, TX, United States 76092
104) Theological University of the Caribbean, PR-848 Km 0.5 Entrada Pablo Marquez, Saint Just, PR, Puerto Rico 00978
105) Tri-State Bible College, 506 Margaret Street, South Point, OH, United States 45680
106) Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, 50 6th Avenue South, Ellendale, ND, United States 58436
107) Trinity College of Florida, 2430 Welbilt Boulevard, Trinity, FL, United States 34655
108) Union Bible College, 434 South Union Street, Westfield, IN, United States 46074
109) Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa, San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00928
110) Valor Christian College, 4595 Gender Road, Canal Winchester, OH, United States 43110
111) Vanguard College, 12140 103 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5G 2J9
112) Veritas College International Graduate School, 708 West Summit Avenue, San Antonio, TX, United States 78212
113) Virginia Christian University, 14012 Sullyfield Circle, Chantilly, VA, United States 20151
114) Welch College, 1045 Bison Trail, Gallatin, TN, United States 37066
115) Wesley Biblical Seminary, 1880 East County Line Road, Ridgeland, MS, United States 39157
116) Williamson College, 274 Mallory Station Road, Franklin, TN, United States 37067
117) World Mission University, 500 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA, United States 90020

Programmatic Accreditation
118) Ambrose University, 150 Ambrose Circle Southwest, Calgary, AB, Canada T3H 0N9
119) Bethesda University, 730 North Euclid Street, Anaheim, CA, United States 92801
120) Cairn University, 200 Manor Avenue, Langhorne, PA, United States 19047
121) Hope International University, 2500 Nutwood Avenue, Fullerton, CA, United States 92831
122) Johnson University, 7900 Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States 37998

Accredited Institutions on Probation
123) Emmanuel Bible College, 100 Fergus Avenue, Kitchener, ON, Canada N2A 2H2
124) Montana Christian College, 1605 Danielson Road, Kalispell, MT, United States 59901

Accredited - Other
125) Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary, 3134 East Medicine Lake Boulevard, Plymouth, MN, United States 55441
126) Pillar College, 60 Park Plaza, Newark, NJ, United States 07102
127) Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Boulevard, Lakeland, FL, United States 33801

Accredited Institution on Warning
128) Olivet University, 36401 Tripp Flats Road, Anza, CA, United States 92539
129) Providence University College and Theological Seminary, 10 College Crescent, Otterburne, MB, Canada R0A 1G0

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