Columbia Evangelical Seminary is Closing

I was just watching a Dr. James White debate and that made me think of CES. I went to look at their website and apparently they are in the process of closing down. They will have a teach-out.

At one time, they were one of the few unaccredited schools to have their doctorate evaluated in Oregon (ODA) and approved for use.

https://www.columbiaseminary.edu/

 

Golden State Seminary closed down a year or so ago. That makes a couple of the well known unaccredited ones that have closed.

I wonder if enrollments are down with so many accredited options. It may be tough for unaccredited schools requiring some work versus the easier mill types.

 

So quality trumps low cost?

”With changing times and circumstances, such as all schools now offering remote learning due to COVID-19 pressures, the CES Board, in conjunction with President Emeritus Dr. Walston, is starting the process of closing CES. The decision was made in part to preserve the excellent past history and reputation of all those who have been part of CES since 1991. Over many years in adult education, Dr. Walston and others have both seen and experienced the consequences of quality schools being handed over to new administrations with disastrous results. When this unfortunate situation occurs, it tarnishes not just newly enrolled students, but also all those who have previously taught at or received degrees from the institution. We decided it would be wiser to not hand the school over to a new administration, whose future performance during uncertain times would always remain a risk for past faculty and graduates, instead choosing to close CES at a point in time when all faculty and students can forever remain proud of participating in the work God”

 

Was not aware of either schools. Can you recommend other well known unaccredited ones? Asking to see if they are truly affordable and will give them a look see.

 

I don't know. The guy that ran CES (R. Walston) used to publish a guide to religious distance education. It probably had some recommendations.

One that is relatively affordable and has a small campus and some credibility in its fundamentalist constituency is Louisiana Baptist University. You will find a variety of opinions on it. They have some alumni that are relatively well known or successful but those things were not necessarily because of Louisiana Baptist University.

 

Thanks. Will look for that guide.
Had considered LBU but their website was not forthcoming. Too vague. Will check the website again. First things I look for is a cheap tuition price and if degree is totally online.

 

I'm going to jump in here with a wider perspective.

No.

The reasons are well-discussed and obvious.

 

Why would cheap and online be the first things anyone would look for? For what purpose are you pursuing the degree (education or cheap piece of paper).

 

“Can afford it” and “don’t have convince work to allow it and my body to go downtown to sit in class three days a week” seem like pretty reasonable limiters in picking a program. And I live somewhere with an R1 flagship and several private schools; online convenience would be even more important in rural places.

 

Some people would look for cheap degrees because student loan debt is burdening and cheap degrees can be paid out of pocket, no student loan needed; thus avoiding a major debt.
Online degrees attracts many students for various reasons. Here are two. One reason, conveniently fits around the student’s life schedule. A second reason is that obtaining the degree online is a personal preference.
Why study or learn a foreign language at home instead of taking classes in person at a learning center? Personal preference.
My pursuit of a graduate degree is purely for leisure; the degree will educate me in a specific subject matter.
Most perennial students do have a thirst for knowledge.
Was not expecting your question.

 

My apologies but you made it sound like a diploma mill might be fine if it was cheap and online. Affordability is certainly one factor for most people among a host of other factors.

 

Am against diploma mills, no matter how cheap, even if they were free.
Diploma mills are the worse.
Glad John Bear sounded the alarm decades ago.

 

I'm certainly biased, but I recommend you take a look at Forge Theological Seminary. Cf. Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary; Grace Bible Seminary; Birmingham Theological Seminary; Whitefield Theological Seminary.

 

That is unfortunate to hear. CES was a good institution that had an innovative model and demonstrated its quality with a variety of noteworthy alumni and an articulation agreement with North-West University (Potchefstroom).

 

If one has a connection to a school one is recommending, it would be appropriate to reveal it.

 

Thanks