Accreditation

Princeton Theological Seminary’s Accreditors

Princeton Theological Seminary is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 and by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110 (412-788-6505). Princeton Seminary is also licensed by the State of New Jersey. Princeton Theological Seminary has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

The following degree programs are approved:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Theology (ThM)
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation (MACEF)
Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation Dual-degree (DUAL)
Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
Master of Arts in Theology and Ecology MTE Master of Arts-Hybrid (MAH)

To file a complaint with Princeton Seminary’s Accreditors and/or with its State Licensing Entity (New Jersey Association of Colleges and Universities), refer to this link (pdf).

Fall 2027 Accreditation Visits

In the fall of 2027, Princeton Theological Seminary is hosting comprehensive evaluation visits for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE). The purpose of these visits is to verify that the school meets all applicable Standards of Accreditation and to reaffirm accreditation for another period of 8-10 years.

In preparation for these visits, individuals may contact our accrediting bodies regarding how well the school meets accreditors’ standards and/or generally demonstrates educational quality.

To contact ATS with comments regarding ATS Standards and/or how Princeton Seminary generally demonstrates educational quality please email accrediting@ats.edu or call the ATS offices at 412-788-6505. Individuals may also share comments with the Seminary’s Accreditation Liaison by email at Academic.Accreditation@ptsem.edu Comments must be received by August 3, 2027 to be shared with the onsite evaluation committee.

To contact MSCHE with comments regarding MSCHE Standards and/or how Princeton Seminary generally demonstrates educational quality may be sent to MSCHE Vice President Suzan Harkness sharkness@msche.org. Individuals may also share comments with the Seminary’s Accreditation Liaison by email at Academic.Accreditation@ptsem.edu Comments must be received by October 15, 2027 to be shared with the onsite evaluation committee.

Statement of Educational Effectiveness

Princeton Theological Seminary is a school dedicated to forming people in service to Jesus Christ for leadership in changing churches and to serving as an unsurpassed resource for Reformed theology worldwide.

The Seminary engages in ongoing evaluation of its educational effectiveness which measured in part through: 1) graduation rates, 2) time to degree completion 3) PC(USA) ordination exam pass rates, 4) ATS Graduating Student Questionnaires and 5) placement rates (post-graduation employment or further study).

1. Graduation Rates:

The graduation rate for most degrees is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time to complete the degree while continually enrolled at a full-time or equivalent status (e.g. part-time intensives for the online Hybrid MA). The PhD program has a maximum time of eight years to complete the degree. Princeton Seminary seeks to have a graduation rate of 95% or higher in each residential degree and 80% in online degrees.

May 2025 Graduation Rates

Degree Program	Entry Year	Graduation Rate at 150% of Time to Degree
PhD	2017	100%
ThM	2023	100%
Dual MDiv/MACEF	2019	92%
MDiv	2021	96%
MACEF	2022	N/A for this entry year
MTS	2022	94%
Hybrid MA	2022	N/A for this entry year
MTE	2023	100%

2. Time to Completion:

Time to completion is the number of years a student takes to complete their degree. Princeton Seminary seeks to have an average time to completion for each degree less than 6 months (0.5 years) beyond the published time required to complete the degree through full time study. Note: For PhD students enrolled during Covid, the anticipated time to completion was extended by one year.

Degree Program	Average Time to Completion for May 2025 Graduates	Benchmark
PhD	6.14 Years	6.50 Years
ThM	1.00 Year	1.50 Years
Dual MDiv/MACEF	4.07 Years	4.50 Years
MDiv	3.02 Years	3.50 Years
MACEF	2.00 Years	2.50 Years
MTS	2.00 Years	2.50 Years
Hybrid MA	2.00 Years	2.50 Years
MTE	1.50 Years	2.0 Years

3. PC(USA) Ordination Exam Pass Rates for Princeton Theological Seminary students:

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) administers ordination examinations as a reasonably uniform (standard) process for assessing candidates’ readiness to begin service as ministers of the Word and Sacrament. Princeton Seminary students and graduates seeking ordained ministry in the PC(USA) church take the ordination exams.

2025 PC(USA) ordination exam pass rates for Princeton Theological Seminary students:

Biblical Exegesis: 86% (national average: 84%)
Theological Competence: 95% (national average: 79%)
Worship and Sacraments: 88% (national average: 83%)
Polity: 87% (national average: 69%)

4. ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire:

Each year, the Association of Theological Schools administers a questionnaire to students graduating from association member schools. As a measure of educational effectiveness, graduating students are asked about their perception of their preparation for pastoral in areas of preparation common to ministerial practice. For each skill area below, students are asked to provide a rating regarding the Seminary’s MDiv program’s success in preparing students. Ats returns the average rating based on average rating based on a 5-point scale: 1-Not at all effective, 2-Not very effective, 3-Somewhat effective, 4-Effective, 5-Very effective ranging from one (not at all effective) to five (very effective). Princeton Seminary strives to have average ratings of 3.5 or higher.

Average Ratings by 2024-2025 Graduates

Skill Area	MDiv Student Rating
Ability to preach well	4.4
Ability to use and interpret Scripture	4.4
Knowledge of church polity/canon law	3.9
Ability to teach well	3.6
Knowledge of church doctrine and history	3.7
Ability to lead others	3.8
Ability to conduct worship/liturgy	3.9
Ability to interact effectively with those of religious traditions other than my own	3.7
Ability to work effectively within my own religious tradition	4.1
Ability to interact effectively with those from cultural and racial/ethnic contexts other than my own	4.0
Awareness and appreciation of the globalized context in which ministry is practiced	4.2
Ability to relate social issues to faith	4.3
Ability in pastoral counseling	3.5
Ability to administer a parish/congregation	3.3
Knowledge of Christian ethics	3.6
Ability to think theologically	4.3

5. Placement information for various graduating classes:

MDiv, Dual, MA(TS), and MACEF Graduates

Placement rates are the percentage of a graduating class that secured post-graduation employment or begins additional study within six months of graduation. Princeton Seminary seeks to collect placement data on a minimum of 80% of graduating students (this is the placement tracking rate) with the goal of a 90% placement rate.
- Church ministry – pastor (senior/associate/youth/campus), Christian education director
- Non-church ministry – chaplain (college/hospital/military), teacher at a ChristPlacement Rate: 98%
  Placement Tracking Rate: 94%

PhD Graduates

Busan Presbyterian University (Korea), California Lutheran Theological Seminary, Canadian Mennonite University, Candler School of Theology, China Graduate School of Theology, Drew University, Duke Divinity School, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Evangelical Theological Seminary (Cairo, Egypt), Fuller Theological Seminary, George Fox University, Hartford International University, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Louisville Institute, Oklahoma State University, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Reed College, Seattle Pacific University, Seigakuin University (Japan), The Stevenson School for Ministry, Taiwan Theological Seminary, Tokyo Christian University, Torch Trinity Graduate University (Korea), Union Presbyterian Seminary, United Lutheran Seminary, University of Greenland, University of Texas, Villanova University, Wartburg College, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, Yale Divinity School, and others.