Regional accreditor · Updated 2026
NECHE Accreditation for Seminaries and Christian Colleges
NECHE accredits institutions across the six New England states. The region has fewer Bible colleges than the South or Midwest, but it holds several theologically significant schools — Gordon-Conwell chief among them, along with Harvard Divinity and Yale Divinity in the university divinity school tradition.
At a glance
New England Commission of Higher Education
- Abbreviation
- NECHE
- Type
- Regional
- Recognition
- Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Scope
- Institutional accreditation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Founded
- 1885 (as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges).
- Members
- Roughly 200 institutions.
Christian schools in the NECHE region
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton holds NECHE and ATS accreditation and remains one of the largest evangelical seminaries in the country. Gordon College, Eastern Nazarene College, and Yale Divinity School are also within the region.
Because the region's Christian institutions skew graduate and research-oriented, most students shopping in New England are comparing seminaries rather than undergraduate Bible colleges.
Verifying NECHE accreditation
Search the NECHE roster of institutions and confirm the school appears with accredited status and the appropriate degree levels. NECHE was formerly the higher education commission of NEASC, so older references to NEASC accreditation describe the same body.
Frequently asked questions
Which states does NECHE cover?
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Is Gordon-Conwell accredited?
Yes. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and by the Association of Theological Schools.
NECHE-accredited schools in our directory
These schools in the Find Bible Schools directory list NECHE accreditation. Always confirm current status directly with the accreditor before applying.
Other accreditors to know
Faith-based
ABHE
Association for Biblical Higher Education
Faith-based
ATS
Association of Theological Schools
Faith-based
TRACS
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Faith-based
AARTS
American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions
Regional
SACSCOC
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Regional
HLC
Higher Learning Commission
Regional
MSCHE
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Regional
WSCUC
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Regional
NWCCU
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
← Back to the full accreditation guide
Accreditation status changes. Recognition details reflect publicly available information as of 2026 — always verify a school's current standing in the accreditor's own directory and the U.S. Department of Education's DAPIP database before enrolling.