Trustworthy Theological Education
A Degree You Can Depend On
Educational Integrity You Can Count On
Accreditation assures the public that an institution meets accepted standards of quality and integrity. You can have confidence that an institution that has subjected itself to the rigors of accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency is worthy of its claims to quality and integrity. See Here and Here for more information.
Meeting the Highest Standards in
Christian Education
Memphis City Seminary is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (5850 T. G. Lee Blvd., Ste. 130, Orlando, FL 32822, 407.207.0808) to grant certificates and degrees at the Master’s level.
ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation accredits institutions and programs of biblical higher education in Canada, the United States, and U.S. Territories based on standards of quality that reflect both higher education and spiritual contexts, where the Bible is central and the development of Christian life and ministry is essential.
Meeting the Highest Standards in
Christian Education
Memphis City Seminary is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (5850 T. G. Lee Blvd., Ste. 130, Orlando, FL 32822, 407.207.0808) to grant certificates and degrees at the Master’s level.
ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation accredits institutions and programs of biblical higher education in Canada, the United States, and U.S. Territories based on standards of quality that reflect both higher education and spiritual contexts, where the Bible is central and the development of Christian life and ministry is essential.
Your Degree is Authorized by
The State
Memphis City Seminary is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and graduation information on the programs offered by Memphis City Seminary, please Tap Here.
Tap Here for the most recent annual statistics regarding employment, graduation, and retention rates.
THEC's vision is to cultivate a cohesive higher education enterprise which fosters innovative solutions to ensure student success, build strong communities, and improve the lives of Tennesseans.
Your Degree is Authorized by
The State
Memphis City Seminary is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and graduation information on the programs offered by Memphis City Seminary, please Tap Here.
Tap Here for the most recent annual statistics regarding employment, graduation, and retention rates.
THEC's vision is to cultivate a cohesive higher education enterprise which fosters innovative solutions to ensure student success, build strong communities, and improve the lives of Tennesseans.
Committed to Reformed Theological Excellence
Memphis City Seminary is an Affiliate institution of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the Association, and is committed to the quality of education ARTS promotes. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ARTS-accredited status at present or in the future.
The mission of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) is to preserve and advance the academic quality, accountability, and improvement of institutions committed to educating students in the tenets of Reformed Theology.
Committed to Reformed
Theological Excellence
Memphis City Seminary is an Affiliate institution of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the Association, and is committed to the quality of education ARTS promotes. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ARTS-accredited status at present or in the future.
The mission of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) is to preserve and advance the academic quality, accountability, and improvement of institutions committed to educating students in the tenets of Reformed Theology.
Committed to Reformed
Theological Excellence
Memphis City Seminary is an Affiliate institution of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the Association, and is committed to the quality of education ARTS promotes. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ARTS-accredited status at present or in the future.
The mission of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) is to preserve and advance the academic quality, accountability, and improvement of institutions committed to educating students in the tenets of Reformed Theology.
Institutional Effectiveness
Academic Program Demographics
For the reporting year that spans July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, we had 68 students overall. 20 students were in the Certificate program, 21 were in the MA program, and 27 were in the MDiv program.
Master of Divinity Students
Ethnicity
Gender
Master of Arts Students
Ethnicity
Gender
Certificate of Biblical Studies Students
Ethnicity
Gender
Graduate Placement
100% of our August 2023 (3 graduates), 2024 (2 graduates), and 2025 (1 graduate) graduates have been successfully placed within ministry contexts consistent with their degree program aims.
Recruitment
In the 2022-23 reporting year 19 new students were added. In the 2023-24 reporting year 20 new students were added.
Retention
In the 2022-23 reporting year, with a cohort of 81, we did not maintain a 90% retention rate. In the 2023-24 reporting year, with a cohort of 68, we maintained an 85.3% retention rate.
Student Achievement
-
This paper measures the student’s ability to grasp the key components of a Reformed approach to Scripture.
Target: Our aim was an 80% average for all students.
Results: MDiv and MA students averaged 91% on this assignment.
-
This sermon measures a student’s performance/ability to meet the expectations for preaching.
Target: Our aim was an 80% average for all students.
Results: MDiv and MA students averaged 88% on this assignment.
-
Comprehensive exams are required for two departments for the MA (exegetical and practical), and four departments for the MDiv (historical, exegetical, systematic, and practical). The student’s ability to identify, list, and recall information is measured.
Target: Students have unlimited attempts to pass the exam with a 75%.
Results: Though students can take these exams as many times as needed, the grades below reflect the average of their first attempts.
Theology exam - 94%
Bible exam - 98%
History exam - 100%
Ministry exam - 100%
-
This workbook contains feedback from mentors and community members on the student's ability to perform the required competencies. This workbook also serves as the equivalent of a capstone and a portfolio of compiled student work that includes student reflection on their achievement of the required competencies.
-
Upon completing the internship and mentorship requirements, a contextualized writing project of 15-20 pages must be submitted as a capstone to the program. This paper allows the student to reflect and apply based on what they’ve learned. This project allows the student to contemplate, arrive at, and articulate a self-evaluation and their beliefs about ministry.
Results: All recent graduates submitted completed field-based workbooks and philosophy of ministry papers.
-
In 2025, MCS had 4 students complete the Certificate of Biblical Studies and 2 students complete the Master of Divinity.
In 2024, MCS had 4 students complete the Certificate of Biblical Studies and 2 students complete the Master of Divinity.
In 2023, MCS had 8 students complete the Certificate of Biblical Studies, 1 student complete the MA in Biblical Studies, and 2 students complete the Master of Divinity.
Of the students who have completed the Certificate program, 15 have continued into MA or MDiv programs, and 1 has transferred out.
Student Awards:
At the August 2025 graduation, MCS awarded the following students with outstanding achievement awards:
Academic Excellence Award: Mary Raine Ivy and Bradley Morrow
Barnabas Leadership Award: Tim Johnson and Emmanuel Amido
Celester Davis Endurance Award: Jessica Salinas and Sabas Moy
Strategic Affiliations
Memphis City Seminary enjoys rich relationships with several institutions and organizations. The list below displays a selection of these affiliations. For students interested in pursuing degrees beyond a Master’s and for further details concerning the nature of our agreements with these institutions, please speak with an MCS staff member.
The Gospel Coalition (TGC) is a fellowship of evangelical churches in the Reformed tradition deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures.
Though we do not possess a formal partnership with TGC, we have adopted their broadly Reformed and Evangelical Confessional Statement as our own.
For more information about the confessional statement, refer to the series of 14 booklets written by the Gospel Coalition Council and edited by co-founders of TGC, D. A. Carson and Timothy Keller.
Affordable
Yes, you can afford it.
Accredited
Yes, you can trust it.
Achievable
Yes, you can complete it.