Admission Categories

Persons who wish to study at Northeastern Seminary will apply for admission in one of the following categories:

Regular: The student holds an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a 2.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale and is pursuing a graduate degree in the Seminary. (Note: A student who otherwise qualifies for regular admission but whose academic credentials are not strong may be admitted on probation. However, probationary status may not be extended beyond one semester.) In certain cases, and as space permits, a student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university and within six (6) semester hours of completing the baccalaureate degree may be accepted as a provisional regular student. The student must complete the baccalaureate degree within one semester of starting at the Seminary, since this classification is temporary and cannot be renewed. If the student fails to complete the baccalaureate degree within the first semester of enrollment, the student may be eligible to continue as a non-baccalaureate student if space permits. Students in the MA Theological Studies degree will not be permitted to continue as non-baccalaureate students.
Non-Baccalaureate: A limited number of students who do not hold baccalaureate degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities may be admitted to pursue the M.Div. degree or professional M.A. degrees (M.A. in Theology and Social Justice and M.A. in Transformational Leadership) in the Seminary. No more than 15% of M.Div. or professional M.A. students enrolled by the Seminary can be in this category. Applicants who do not possess an earned Bachelor's degree must submit a typed writing sample of 1,000-1,500 words that demonstrates an understanding of academic writing (including a thesis statement and citations). This essay will be evaluated by the faculty as further evidence of readiness to do graduate-level work. Because the Seminary has limited space available for non-baccalaureate students, applicants may be placed on a waiting list and ranked on the following considerations:
- an earned baccalaureate degree from non-accredited colleges or Bible colleges
- the number and quality of years of collegiate education
- the student's theological writing sample
- the quality and longevity of ministry experiences and achievements
- letters of recommendation
Visiting: A visiting student at Northeastern Seminary is any student taking courses in a program in which they have not matriculated. This may include doctor of ministry students taking courses at the master’s level. Matriculated students at institutions with cross-registration agreements (United Theological Seminary—Dayton, Ohio, schools in the Rochester Consortium of Theological Schools) are not considered visiting students at Northeastern Seminary. In order to serve this population and maintain the academic standards of the Seminary, students are limited to 12 credit hours of coursework as visiting students. After 12 credit hours, students must matriculate into a program to continue taking courses.
Certificate: Students may register to take courses in an approved certificate program through the seminary. Certificate programs are considered non-matriculated, and students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. Seminary scholarships are not available to non-matriculated students; however, some partner organizations do provide student aid. Contact the admissions office for more information on non-degree credentials.
Cross-Registered: A person who met the admission requirements for Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, or United Theological Seminary will, under the terms of the cross-registration program, be considered as admitted to Northeastern Seminary for enrollment.
Audit: A person who qualifies for regular admission may audit one or more courses at the rate of $150 per course. (Note: Auditing is limited in some courses and available at the discretion of the dean's office and the instructors.)