Ashland Theological Seminary is a graduate division of Ashland University. For over a century, theological education has been an integral part of the mission of the university. The 1888 charter and constitution of Ashland University (then College) specified that the training of suitable persons “for the ministry of the gospel shall always be sacredly regarded as one of the main objects of this institution.”
To fulfill this mission, J. Allen Miller resigned his position as president of the university in 1906 in order to become the dean of the college’s theological department. Thus began a century of welcoming in and sending out thousands of men and women to live out our mission of transformed leaders serving the church and the world.
Today, Ashland Theological Seminary is a broadly evangelical seminary with nearly 800 students from more than 70 denominational heritages and para-church organizations. Our faculty and administration are committed to the development of affordable and accessible training for anyone who seeks to grow in their calling to ministry.
The Seminary is an integral part of Ashland University, which holds accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Ashland University also holds membership in the American Association of Colleges and Teacher Education, the Ohio College Association, and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.
Ashland Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools Accreditation and as a graduate division of Ashland University, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Faculty members in the Counseling Programs hold membership in the American Counseling Association, Ohio Counseling Association, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies.
Ashland Theological Seminary has a reciprocal agreement with Tyndale House in Cambridge, England for faculty study and research. Ashland is also a consortium member of the Tel-Gezer Excavation and Publication Project in Israel.
Ashland Theological Seminary is committed to four core values: Scripture, Spiritual Formation, Community, and Academic Excellence. We are also committed to a formational process in theological education that shapes the Core Identity, Character, Calling, and Competency of our students. Several institutional surveys and instruments are used for assessment in these areas, as well as juried reviews, portfolios, tests, capstone experiences, and other forms of measurement for educational effectiveness.
Faculty and administration regularly review assessment data related to these 4 C’s, in particular, to help measure the effectiveness of degrees and programs. The GSQ is the Graduate Student Inventory, which allows us to evaluate our recent graduates and their educational journey in academics, student life, and programming.
In the 2011-2012 GSQ, graduates shared the following data:
| Master of Divinity Degree (MDiv) | Satisfaction |
| Skills Related to Future Work | % |
| Ability to use and interpret Scripture | 92 |
| Ability to teach well | 88 |
| Ability to preach well | 88 |
| Ability to think theologically | 86 |
| Overall Experience During ATS Program (All Degrees) | |
| I have grown spiritually | 94 |
| My personal faith has been respected | 92 |
| I have felt accepted within this school community | 92 |
| My faith is stronger than when I came | 90 |
| If I had to do it over, I would still come here | 90 |
| Faculty were supportive and understanding | 90 |
| I have been satisfied with my academic experience here | 90 |
Our 2011-2012 Annual Assessment Report revealed the following data:
| Degree Assessment | Outcome |
| Program | % Students |
| Doctor of Ministry | 96 |