During the 2024-2025 academic year Winebrenner hosted visit teams from both the Association for Theological Schools (ATS) and, more recently, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) – you can read about the fall visit by clicking here.
Back in 2019, Dr. Kathryn Helleman wrote a post for InDepth focused on accreditation; you can access that post by clicking here. The following is a summary of her post, which is as true in 2025 as it was six years ago!
When I travel, I rely heavily on reviews from apps like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google Maps to guide where I eat or visit with the aim to avoid poor experiences and even unsafe situations. The same principle applies when choosing a school for a degree: reviews matter. But in education, the most reliable “reviews” come from accrediting agencies.
In the U.S., accreditation is managed by regional and specialized accrediting bodies recognized by the Department of Education. These agencies assess institutions for academic quality, faculty qualifications, ethical business practices, financial stability, and student outcomes.
Winebrenner Theological Seminary holds accreditation from three key agencies:
- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) – a regional accreditor
- The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) – for theological alignment
- The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) – for our counseling program
Specialized accreditation is especially important, as it ensures programs meet national standards, facilitates credit transfer, and is often required for professional licensing or employment. For instance, many denominations require M.Div. degrees from ATS-accredited schools, and many states mandate CACREP accreditation for mental health counselor licensure.
Just like a five-star restaurant, an accredited school gives you confidence in the value and quality of your investment. These accrediting agencies conduct regular, thorough evaluations and require schools to publish verified data on their performance.
In short: accreditation is your assurance of educational quality. Before enrolling, check the reviews—your future depends on it.
We will be hearing from our HLC visit team in the coming weeks. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who participated in the visit and assists in helping Winebrenner maintain strong relationships with our accrediting bodies.