Utility of a degree from unaccredited bible college

I would like to know what utility I would have from having a Bachelor degree in Bible from Louisiana Baptist University? Has anyone graduated from LBU and know what utility this degree would have? It is an unaccredited bible college and is recognized by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International.

I worked hard for the degree and so it would not be considered a diploma mill. However, it is not an accredited school, so it would IMHO, under "substandard." Please give me some direction on this one.

 

An unaccredited degree may have utility in some cases. Linda Vista Baptist mentioned below was not accredited. Yet it served me well.

LBU is more substantial than was Linda Vista. Certainly in the denomination LBU represents it is credible. I would not feel bad about your BA. I know of two members here whom I respect who did grad degrees at LBU.

However you may have some difficulty getting into an accredited master's program were that your ambition. But some seminaries might accept you conditionally. Best of " luck."

 

LBU

I have an M.A. from LBU and I like the school. I was interested in one of the local seminaries in my hometown and contacted them. They are ATS accredited. I informed them that I had gone to LBU which is unaccredited. They stated that they would be willing to look at my course work and determine if I could transfer any credits. Now perhaps they were just telling me that to get me interested in pursuing further education with them but it was interesting to know that they would consider transfers from an unaccredited institution. They also sent me a $500.00 "coupon" to use toward my first semester should I decide to go to their school. It could also be that seminary is not attracting as many students as it used to. I am finishhing my doctorate at LBU but thought perhaps I would get another degree at the ATS school when I finished with LBU. They have a five year dual degree program that is MDiv/MSW at its completion.

 

I wouldn't go to a school with no accreditations simply because of the hassle it causes with transferability, recognition, graduate degrees, etc.

That is not to say that it would not be useful though. Bob Jones University in South Carolina has no accreditations and is not even recognized by the USDE. It has a very good curriculum however, and people get a good education out of it. They simply choose not to be accredited. If you live in the Southern States, such a degree may be usefull, but if you tried to use it in the middle states like DC, Maryland, or the Northeast, you propbaly won't find much use.

So in the end, I would weigh out the long term effects of getting the degree. What will you do with it, and where will you live?

Good Luck and best wishes.

 

Unaccredited Bible College

I graduated from Ambassador College (now defunct). Although unaccredited, I never told anyone, and no-one ever asked.

I went on to build a portfolio of accredited degrees--finally culminating in a PhD.

My recommendation: Find a field you want to get into, and at least get some certification. My first job out of Ambassador College was with NEC. I had an unaccredited bible college degree, and a technician's diploma from Cleveland institute of Electronics. I passed the entrance exam at NEC, no one cared where I learned electronics. Also, they saw I had a college degree, and considered me "management material".

I built on that success with other degrees...butr to this day, not a soul (within the workplace) has ever even asked about my Ambassador Degree. (Now I have so many other ones, I just leave it off anyway--though I spent 4 years in a really nice brick and mortar environment there--and all my other degrees were earned via distance learning.

 

Wow. Great testimonial for DL. Thanks.

 

One of the VP's at previous employer had masters degree from Brighton University.

Brighton is unaccredited school that is a part of some church.
The school is out of business and on ODA list of mills.

 

This is a broad question with myriad nuances. I assume you imply the small number of unaccredited Bible colleges/seminaries which offer substantive programs of study, and not the less-than-wonderful "institution of higher religious education" that offers a degree for a brief paper and tuition check.

The utility of an academic degree from an unaccredited Bible college/seminary depends largely on one's intended purpose for earning the degree. Such a degree will, in academic circles, certainly have limitations. However, within particular ecclesiastical circles, parish ministry, or for personal enhancement and development, such a degree may well enjoy utility.

I hold both RA and non-RA degrees. The academic journey began with two years of community college, one year of RA Bible college and a final year at an unaccredited Bible college, where I earned a ThB degree ('89). Subsequently, I made application to and was accepted into an RA/ATS master's program, however, due to the unaccredited ThB I was placed on academic probation. After completing the first semester of study the academic probation was lifted and the graduate degree was earned ('92). I then made application to, was accepted and completed an RA/ATS DMin program ('96). After completing RA/ATS graduate & doctoral degrees, I completed 32 hours at the undergrad level earning an RA BA degree ('98). In May of this year I completed a PhD in practical theology program ('00--'04) from an unaccredited school. Each of my degrees, including the PhD, is in the area of practical theology/Christian ministry. Serving in parish ministry, each degree has proven beneficial and advantageous.