Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness

Andover Newton is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)

Andover Newton is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the following degree programs are approved:

  • Master of Divinity - MDiv
  • Master of Arts in Religious Education - MARE
  • Master of Arts in Theological Research - MA(TR)
  • Master of Arts in Theological Studies - MA(TS)
  • Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies - MAPS
  • Master of Arts in Global Interreligious Leadership - MAGIL
  • Doctor of Ministry - DMin
  • Approved for a Comprehensive Distance Education Program

The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is a membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines.

Accreditation is conducted by the Board of Commissioners on behalf of the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The Commission accredits institutions and approves degree programs offered by accredited schools. The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the nongovernmental Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for the accreditation of graduate, professional theological schools in the United States. The Commission, through its Board, works cooperatively with regional accrediting associations in the U.S., other professional associations, state departments of education, and other allied organizations in Canada and the United States.

Inquiries regarding any institution’s ATS accreditation status should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
Telephone: (412) 788-6505
Fax: (412) 788-6510
Website: http://www.ats.edu

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Founded in 1885, the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC), is the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association whose mission is the establishment and maintenance of high standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to the doctoral level.
 
NEASC serves more than 2,000 public and independent schools, colleges and universities in the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and American/international schools in more than seventy nations worldwide.

Inquiries regarding an institution’s NEASC accreditation status should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact: 

Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
3 Burlington Woods #100
Burlington, MA 01803
(855) 886-3272 
www.neasc.org
cihe@neasc.org

Statement of Institutional Effectiveness

Andover Newton Theological School conferred degrees on 84 students and 8 certificates at the spring 2018 commencement. The graduating class was 50 women, 34 men, and 8 LGBTQ, from the United States and abroad, with 42 earning the Master of Divinity; 20 receiving one of four varieties of Master of Arts (Pastoral Studies, Theological Research, Global Interreligious Leadership, or Theological Studies); and 21 receiving the Doctor of Ministry. Represented in the class were graduates from the denominations of the United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist Association, African Methodist Episcopal Church, American Baptist Churches (USA), Muslim, Roman Catholic and several other faith traditions.
 
In the 2018 class,  27 graduates (29.3%) identified as members of an ethnic/racial minority and 3 (3.2%) were international students.
Andover Newton provides multiple paths to degrees and is known regionally for its effectiveness with part-time students managing life commitments beyond seminary. 
 
  • Master of Divinity median time of completion of degree: 3.5 years
  • Master of Arts median time of completion of degree: 3 years
  • Doctor of Ministry median time of completion of degree: 3 years