Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Accreditation Commission AARTS

Overview

The Accreditation Commission of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS) is a specialized, faith‑based accreditor headquartered in New York City. It evaluates and grants accreditation to post‑secondary Rabbi‑training institutes in the United States and Canada that offer advanced Rabbinic and Talmudic degree programs. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since the early 1970s and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, its mandate includes continuous monitoring of approximately 78 member institutions serving over 25,000 students. According to uniRank, AARTS accreditation signifies compliance with federal financial aid standards and academic rigor.

History and Legal Framework

AARTS traces its origins to an informal council of yeshivas in New York during the mid‑20th century; its formal incorporation as a non‑profit educational organization occurred in the 1940s. The Accreditation Commission itself gained recognition from the U.S. Department of Education in the early 1970s and from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) by 2000. While AARTS operates independently of federal or state government, its legal authority to accredit post‑secondary religious institutions comes from federal recognition—allowing accredited schools to participate in Title IV federal student aid programs.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

The Accreditation Commission’s mission is to assure the public and the Jewish community that Rabbinical and Talmudic schools meet high academic, moral and institutional standards. Its vision is to safeguard tradition‑based education while ensuring continuous improvement, transparency and public accountability.
Its primary objectives are:

• to establish and enforce accreditation standards equivalent in rigor to those used by regional accreditors;
• to conduct peer‑review evaluations that include self‑studies, site visits and follow‑up;
• to ensure financial stability, qualified faculty, clear student outcomes and ethical institutional governance; and
• to make accreditation statuses publicly available and to require ongoing data reporting by accredited schools.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The Accreditation Commission functions as an independent body under the umbrella of AARTS. Its members typically include senior Roshei yeshiva (heads of yeshivas), a public or lay member and individuals from the general academic community with expertise in higher education. Decisions on accreditation are made by the Commission alone, without involvement from governmental or sectarian authorities. The association’s bylaws guarantee that institutional accreditation decisions are based solely on demonstrated compliance with accreditation standards.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

The Accreditation Commission is the recognized accreditor for institutions that award degrees including Associate, Baccalaureate, Master’s, Doctorate, First Rabbinic, First Talmudic and Intermediary Talmudic credentials. Its evaluation process features:

1. initial self‑study by the institution;
2. a peer‑review site visit conducted by panels of experts in Rabbinic and Talmudic studies;
3. comprehensive review of academic quality, governance, resources and financial health;
4. accreditation decisions that may include full accreditation, accreditation with conditionsor denial;
5. mandatory periodic monitoring reports and reaccreditation reviews every several years.

The Commission’s decisions are documented via publicly accessible accreditation notices on its website, reinforcing transparency and public trust.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

While the Accreditation Commission accredits institutions only in the U.S. and Canada, it is affiliated with the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), which connects professional accreditors across disciplines. These external affiliations support the sharing of best practices and benchmarking against national quality assurance standards. AARTS-accredited schools may also engage in global religious education networks, but the Commission itself does not accredit institutions outside North America.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

AARTS accreditation plays a critical role in ensuring that Rabbinical and Talmudic educational institutions meet federal accountability requirements, enabling student access to national financial aid programs. Its mandate encourages institutions to modernize administrative practices, clarify graduation outcomes and become more broadly transparent. Looking forward, the Commission is increasingly focused on ensuring data on student success, faculty credentials and financial sustainability, as well as exploring the accreditation of hybrid or online program delivery within traditional curricula.

Summary — National Accreditor of Rabbinic and Talmudic Education

The Accreditation Commission of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools serves as the sole nationally recognized accreditor for traditional Jewish Rabbinical and Talmudic degree‑granting institutions in North America. Based on peer review and data‑driven standards aligned with federal expectations, the Commission fosters institutional accountability while preserving the integrity of religious and educational tradition. Its public notices, structured oversight and federal recognition firmly anchor its role in higher education quality assurance.

FAQs

1. What is AARTS accreditation?
   It is accreditation granted by the Commission to Rabbinical and Talmudic schools that award post‑secondary degrees including Rabbinic and Talmudic postgraduate programs.
2. Is AARTS recognized by the U.S. Department of Education?
   Yes. AARTS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, enabling accredited schools to participate in federal financial aid programs.
3. How many institutions does the Commission accredit?
   The Commission currently accredits around 78 member institutions in the U.S. and Canada, enrolling about 25,000 students.
4. What types of degrees are covered under AARTS accreditation?
   Accreditation includes Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, First Rabbinic, First Talmudic and Intermediary Talmudic degree programs.
5. How does one find an accredited AARTS school?
   The Commission publishes a Directory of accredited institutions and a list of recent accreditation decisions on its official website.
6. Does AARTS accreditation replace regional accreditation?
   No. AARTS accreditation is specific to Rabbinical and Talmudic programs and does not confer regional institutional accreditation; institutions may hold both.

Organization Name

Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Accreditation Commission

Acronym

AARTS

Year of Establishment

1/01/1942

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

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

Affiliations or Memberships

Association for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

71

Address

11 Broadway, Suite 405
New York City
10004 New York United States

Phone

+1 (212) 363 1991

Fax

+1 (212) 533 5335

List of universities offering programs accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Accreditation Commission (AARTS):

California

1. Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon - Chabad/West Coast Talmudical Seminary - Los Angeles, CA

Florida

1. Talmudic College of Florida - Miami Beach, FL
2. Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College - Miami Beach, FL

Illinois

1. Telshe Yeshiva – Chicago - Chicago, IL

Maryland

1. Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - Baltimore, MD
2. Ner Israel Rabbinical College - Baltimore, MD
3. Yeshiva College of the Nations Capital - Silver Spring, MD

Michigan

1. Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit - Oak Park, MI

New Jersey

1. Bais Medrash Toras Chesed - Lakewood, NJ
2. Bais Medrash Zichron Meir - Lakewood, NJ
3. Beth Medrash Govoha - Lakewood, NJ
4. Rabbi Jacob Joseph School - Edison, NJ
5. Rabbinical College of America - Morristown, NJ
6. Talmudical Academy of New Jersey - Adelphia, NJ
7. Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood - Keyport, NJ
8. Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel - Lakewood, NJ
9. Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Leyma - Union, NJ
10. Yeshiva Toras Chaim-Lakewood - Lakewood, NJ
11. Yeshiva Yesodei HaTorah - Lakewood, NJ

New York

1. Bais Binyomin Academy - Monsey, NY
2. Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary - Spring Valley, NY
3. Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid - Far Rockaway, NY
4. Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah - Brooklyn, NY
5. Beth HaMedrash Shaarei Yosher - Brooklyn, NY
6. Beth Medrash Meor Yitzchok - Monsey, NY
7. Central Yeshiva Beth Joseph - Brooklyn, NY
8. Congregation Talmidei Mesivta Tiferes Shmiel Aleksander - Brooklyn, NY
9. Derech Ayson Rabbinical Seminary - Far Rockaway, NY
10. Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary - Brooklyn, NY
11. Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College - Brooklyn, NY
12. Mesivta of Eastern Parkway Rabbinical Seminary - Brooklyn, NY
13. Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem of America - New York, NY
14. Mesivta Torah Vodaath Seminary - Brooklyn, NY
15. Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute - Brooklyn, NY
16. Ohr HaMeir Theological Seminary - Cortland Manor, NY
17. Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Chaim Berlin - Brooklyn, NY
18. Rabbinical College Beth Shraga - Monsey, NY
19. Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion - Brooklyn, NY
20. Rabbinical College of Long Island - Long Beach, NY
21. Rabbinical College of Ohr Shimon Yisroel - Brooklyn, NY
22. Rabbinical College Ohr Yisroel - Brooklyn, NY
23. Rabbinical Seminary of America - Flushing, NY
24. Shor Yoshuv Rabbinical College - Lawrence, NY
25. Talmudical Seminary of Bobov - Brooklyn, NY
26. Talmudical Seminary of Oholei Torah - Brooklyn, NY
27. Torah Temimah Talmudical Seminary - Brooklyn, NY
28. U.T.A. Mesivta of Kiryas Joel - Monroe, NY
29. United Talmudical Seminary - Brooklyn, NY
30. Yeshiva D'Monsey Rabbinical College - Monsey, NY
31. Yeshiva Derech Chaim - Brooklyn, NY
32. Yeshiva Gedola Ohr Yisrael - Brooklyn, NY
33. Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef D'Spinka - Brooklyn, NY
34. Yeshiva Gedolah Kesser Torah - Monsey, NY
35. Yeshiva Karlin Stolin - Brooklyn, NY
36. Yeshiva Kollel Tifereth Elizer - Brooklyn, NY
37. Yeshiva of Machzikai Hadas - Brooklyn, NY
38. Yeshiva of Nitra/Yeshiva Farm Settlement - Mt. Kisco, NY
39. Yeshiva of the Telshe Alumni - Riverdale, NY
40. Yeshiva Shaar Ephraim - Monsey, NY
41. Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah - Richmond Hill, NY
42. Yeshiva Sholom Shachna - Brooklyn, NY
43. Yeshiva Yesoda HaTorah - Brooklyn, NY
44. Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh - Far Rockaway, NY
45. Yeshivas Maharit D'Satmar - Monroe, NY
46. Yeshivas Novominsk - Brooklyn, NY
47. Yeshivath Viznitz - Monsey, NY

Ohio

1. Rabbinical College of Telshe - Wickliffe, OH

Pennsylvania

1. Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
2. Yeshiva Beth Moshe - Scranton, PA

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Wikipedia Article

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