What is the difference between a bible college and a seminary?

Answer 1

Some people use the terms interchangeably but a seminary is the two steps above a Bible College. A Bible College often is not accredited, and offers diplomas. A college/university offers (usually) accredited Bachelors' Degrees, while a seminary is graduate level offering Master's degrees, and often doctorates.

Usually, a college degree is a prerequisite to a seminary. Often, just a Bible College degree is not sufficient.

There is another level below Bible College level, and that is a Bible Institute.

This is usually unaccredited, and may not even require a high school diploma for enrollment.

So from lower degrees to higher:

Bible Insititute>Bible College>College/University>Seminary.

Answer 2

Technically there is no difference. A Seminary is a school that trains ministerial students. While many seminaries are set up as accredited graduate schools others are unaccredited vocational schools. It is the latter that most often uses the term Bible institute. While often not accredited by any seculary authority, many Bible institutes are recognized by individual churches and denominations, and degrees granted by the institutes are often held to be equal or even preferable by those churches and denominations. As an example, most Independent Fundamental Baptist Seminaries are unaccredited Bible Institutes. However, a minister with a Masters degree from an accredited Graduate School Seminary would not be considered as sound as a minister from an IFB Bible Institute, because almost all accredited Baptist Seminaries are affiliated with organizations like the Southern Baptist Convention or the American Baptist Churches. The same could be said about Missionary Baptist Churches of the American Baptist Association and the Baptist Missionary Association. The churches of these associations often operate their own non accredited Seminaries to train preachers in their respective doctrines.

Answer 3

In general Bible Institutes more often are geared on education for vocations in church ministry. Most of these schools aren't accredited and many don't require a high school diploma to enter. Bible Institutes provide training programs for people that want to understand Scripture better.

Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-centered not exclusive to religion topics so includes liberal arts and science education. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges. Bible colleges are also unlike seminaries but similar to theological colleges in that Bible colleges are primarily undergraduate institutions.

Examples:

• Washington Bible College
• Emmaus Bible College
• Moody Bible Institute

The terms Bible Institute and Bible College are often used interchangeably.

Answer 4

In general Bible Institutes more often are geared on education for vocations in church ministry.

Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-centered not exclusive to religion topics so includes liberal arts and science education. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges. Bible colleges are also unlike seminaries but similar to theological colleges in that Bible colleges are primarily undergraduate institutions.

The terms Bible Institute and Bible College are often used interchangeably.