The Southern Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, Institutes and Seminaries was set up in 1954 by a group of representatives from regional Bible schools. According to the organization, the aim is to provide a standard of Christian and academic teaching for Bible colleges, institutes and seminaries in the southern U.S.
The SAABC judges each school on academic criteria and on the school's Christian ethos. Each school acknowledges that it agrees to the organization's doctrinal statement upon application and every year after membership.
The fee for membership in the SAABC is $500 annually as of March 2011. Applicant schools must have an academic procedure conforming to the SAABC rules. The lecturers at the schools must have at least a baccalaureate degree, and a master's degree for a seminary. The schools should provide an associate's degree for a two-year course, a diploma for a three-year course and a bachelor's degree for a four-year course.
The teaching staff at the college should have a strong Christian character, the association says, and the school should teach students in an atmosphere of Christian faith. Each member school also must be a nonprofit enterprise.
As of March 2011, the SAABC has 12 members, one candidate and four institutes in applicant status. The institutions that have an affiliation with the SAABC are located as far afield as Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Florida. The colleges include Bethesda Christian Bible Institute, Christian World College of Theology, Cincinnati Christian College, Florida Beacon College & Seminary and Logos Christian College and Graduate Schools.
The U.S. Department of Education approves accrediting agencies for colleges and universities. The SAABC is not approved by the Department of Education for this purpose. The schools that seek accreditation by the SAABC do so to assure potential students and supporters that the institution lives up to the Christian and academic standards set by the SAABC. For issues such as degree recognition for a job or transfer of credits to another college, prospective students should verify the school's accreditation by a Department of Education-approved agency.