Explore Admissions
Wherever you find yourself on your learning journey, you’re welcome here.
Studying at AMBS will challenge you to grow spiritually and theologically while strengthening your leadership skills for whatever roles God might be calling you to. Together we can experience the transformative presence of God in the work of being leaders for God’s reconciling mission in the world.
With you every step of the way
Find your fit at AMBS
At AMBS you’ll find an Anabaptist learning community embracing challenging academics alongside deep spiritual formation. We worship together and join in spiritual practices as we build meaningful friendships with each other.
We’re here to support you with a variety of distance learning options and a wide range of financial aid and scholarships.
Not sure which program is right for you? Take our short quiz!
You can also sign up for a graduate-level course to test the waters; see descriptions for our upcoming courses. Nonadmitted students can take two courses at AMBS at 50% off of regular tuition rates!
Visit our campus
We tailor your visit to connect you with professors, staff and students so you can get first-hand information and a variety of perspectives on the AMBS experience.
Visit our campus in Elkhart, Indiana, to experience our learning community. Being on campus can help you discern whether AMBS is the right next step as you follow where God is leading you.
We’re also here to visit by phone or videoconference so we can answer any questions you might have about our academic programs, options for learning at a distance, financial aid, scholarships, community life or spiritual life at AMBS — you name it!
Begin the Admissions process!
Step 1. Contact an Admissions counselor
From your first inquiry about seminary study to your transition from applicant to student, we are excited to walk alongside you as you take each step on your journey.
Step 2. Choose your program of study
Take a look at our variety of programs and choose the program that’s the best fit for you. Our programs offer a comprehensive education to prepare you for any vocation. See our Admission requirements to make sure you’re eligible to apply.
Step 3. Complete an Admissions Application (we won’t know how much aid you qualify for yet)
Timing matters! Complete your Admissions Application now so you have enough time to apply for scholarships and financial aid.
- March 15: Merit-based scholarship applications due (for the following academic year)
- April 1: Ministry and designated scholarship applications due
Admissions calendar
View a PDF calendar with key dates for the academic year:
2025–26
Step 4. Complete the FAFSA and Financial Aid Application
All admitted students are eligible to apply for AMBS need-based financial aid. Learn more about financial aid.
U.S. students should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online by April 1. Complete the FAFSA online.
Federal School Code: 001823
School name: Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
School address: 3003 Benham Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46517
Step 5. Apply for scholarships
At AMBS, we provide a wide variety of scholarships. Check out our scholarships.
Make sure to also complete the Financial Aid Checklist (PDF).
Meet the AMBS Admissions Team
From your first inquiry about seminary study to your transition from applicant to student, we’re here to help you. Contact us.
More information about Admissions
Admission Policy
AMBS is committed to dismantling barriers to equality within the seminary and the communities where we live and serve. As part of this commitment, AMBS will make decisions regarding admission to study at AMBS without discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, physical disability, national or ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation. See the “Admissions and financial aid” and “Academic policies and procedures” sections in the AMBS Catalog for more details about admission to AMBS degree programs.
Community Life Commitment
Admission to AMBS assumes a commitment on the part of every student to join and participate in a community devoted to theological education and preparation for ministry, worship, study and the life of Christian faith. This community, whether on campus or at a distance, is part of and accountable to the church of Jesus Christ, the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, and the seminary’s sponsoring churches (Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA).
It is understood that all members of the seminary community will respect the confessions, convictions, values and commitments of the tradition and the churches that AMBS serves, and will respect other traditions represented in the community and in the places where members minister and learn.
It also is understood that members of the community will respect the core values of AMBS and the seminary’s commitment to antiracism and welcoming Christians of diverse traditions and ethnicities.
Applicants for ministry degree programs — the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership, Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts in Christian Formation — are expected to be active participants in a Christian church and to have alignment with AMBS’s theological and ecclesiological commitments.
Admission procedure
To apply for admission to AMBS, applicants must:
- complete an Admissions Application (including responding to essay questions on the application).
- request transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution at which they have studied.
- provide names and contact information for three references.
- consent to a background check.
- pay appropriate fees.
The Admissions Committee may determine on a case-by-case basis that some students, such as those whose academic abilities are not fully clear, may need to demonstrate their academic abilities through additional assessments.
Transcripts
The application process requires that the applicant have sent to the Admissions Office a transcript or transcripts of all academic work above high school. Students transferring from another theological seminary and seeking transferred credit shall submit a statement of honorable dismissal and a transcript of their academic record.
Pay your application fee
Admission requirements
Unconditional admission
For MDiv, MA and Graduate Certificate programs, applicants are required to possess:
- A baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a United States agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or approved by a Canadian provincial quality assurance agency, or the demonstrated educational equivalent of a baccalaureate degree from the U.S. or Canada
- A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale on their baccalaureate degree
Provisional admission
- Students without a baccalaureate degree: Only students who hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent are eligible to enter the MA: Theology and Global Anabaptism program; the MA: Theology and Peace Studies program; or the Master of Divinity majors in Biblical Studies; History, Theology and Ethics; and Peace Studies. A limited number of students who do not hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent and who meet certain eligibility requirements may be considered for provisional admission into the other Master of Divinity majors, the MA in Christian Formation, or the Graduate Certificate programs.
Students without a baccalaureate degree may take up to two courses for credit without being admitted to AMBS. Those who are interested should contact the Admissions Office for details. - Graduates from a nonaccredited college: Graduates from a nonaccredited college may be admitted with provisional admission status. Each case will be reviewed on its own merits.
A provisionally admitted student who does not maintain a cumulative 2.50 GPA may be dismissed from the seminary by the Academic Dean without first going on academic probation. Provisional admission status may be changed to “regular” status when the student has completed 11 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
Language competence
Proficient communication in English — demonstrated through reading comprehension, writing, and conversation — is essential for successful study in all English-language programs at AMBS and is required for admission to all English-language programs.
Applicants whose first and/or primary language is English, or who have successfully completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program conducted in English, may demonstrate their proficiency in the language through submitting their application materials and through conversation in English with members of the AMBS Admissions Team throughout the admission process.
Applicants whose first and primary language is not English, or who have not completed a baccalaureate or higher degree program conducted in English, may be asked to complete either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam as proof of their English language proficiency.
Applicants should achieve a minimum overall score of 90 on the TOEFL Internet-based Test or a minimum overall score of 7.0 on the IELTS. If applicants do not achieve the minimum score on either of the exams, they should contact AMBS Admissions.
Technical requirements for students
To participate in graduate-level courses (online, blended and campus):
- Students must have a computer that runs an operating system that is still supported by the software developer. AMBS recommends Microsoft Windows or MacOS. Students should not rely on a mobile phone or Chromebook as their sole computer.
- Software that detects and removes malware must be installed on the computer.
- Students must have a webcam and a headset with a built-in microphone.
- Students must have reliable, secure, high-speed internet access.
- Students must be able to open and create various sorts of documents. AMBS students can download and use Microsoft Office at no cost to them.
Campus housing at AMBS
Living on the AMBS campus provides ready access to classrooms, the Library, the Teaching Faculty and the full range of worship opportunities and community life.
Admitted students are encouraged to apply as early as possible for campus housing.
Can you afford seminary? Yes!
AMBS’s low base tuition rate
+ generous need-based financial aid
+ scholarships for full- or part-time students
+ church matching grants
= an affordable seminary degree
Looking for more information for students like you?
Canadian students
We know Canadian students have special considerations and specific questions. View all our resources for Canadian students.
International students
We know international students have special considerations and specific questions. View all our resources for international students.
College students
Thinking about seminary? If you’re a college student, take a look at our resources for college students.
Our affiliations
We are a binational seminary, serving Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada as well as students from various Christian traditions across the global church.
Looking for more options?
Try an upcoming graduate-level course
Want to explore seminary study? Take an upcoming course!
Nonadmitted students get 50% off their first two courses for credit!
Try an online short course
Looking to expand your theological knowledge?
Take one of our six-week discussion-based online short courses.
No grades, no papers!
Request a visit from an AMBS instructor
Invite the faculty and staff of AMBS to come directly to you in person or via videoconference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about AMBS Admissions
Have a question about applying for admission to AMBS? Check here first to find an answer.
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact the Admissions Office.
How do I apply for admission to AMBS?
You can apply for admission to AMBS by completing and submitting the appropriate forms at least two months before the anticipated time of entrance. In addition to the application, three references are required (see instructions on the application); a $50 application fee; and official college and university transcripts.
A student transferring from another theological seminary and seeking transferred credit must request a transcript of his or her record and submit that to AMBS. For more information on the application process, including links to U.S., Canadian and International online applications, please review the “Begin your Admissions process” section above. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact the Admissions Office.
What degrees does AMBS offer?
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary offers the following graduate degrees as well as Graduate Certificates.
- Doctor of Ministry (DMin): 32 credit hours
- Master of Divinity Campus (MDiv Campus): 80 credit hours
- Master of Divinity Connect (MDiv Connect): 80 credit hours
- Master of Arts in Christian Formation Campus (MACF Campus): 52 credit hours
- Master of Arts in Christian Formation Connect (MACF Connect): 52 credit hours
- Master of Arts: Theology and Global Anabaptism (MATGA): 46 credit hours
- Master of Arts: Theology and Peace Studies (MATPS): 52 credit hours
I don’t have a baccalaureate degree. Can I still be a student at AMBS?
Only students who hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent are eligible to enter the MA: Theology and Global Anabaptism program; the MA: Theology and Peace Studies program; or the Master of Divinity majors in Biblical Studies; History, Theology and Ethics; and Peace Studies.
A limited number of students who do not hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent and who meet certain eligibility requirements may be considered for provisional admission into the other Master of Divinity majors, the MA in Christian Formation, or the Graduate Certificate programs.
Students without a baccalaureate degree may take up to two courses for credit without being admitted to AMBS. If you have further questions, please contact the Admissions Office for details.
See also the Admission requirements above.
Can I get financial aid?
All students admitted to a master’s degree or certificate program are eligible to apply for need-based financial aid. Aid is granted on a year-to-year basis, with reapplication and review required each year. The purpose of the need-based financial aid program is to assist students who have limited resources in obtaining a seminary education.
Financial aid consists of grants and loans. The program is administered primarily on the basis of demonstrated need, which is defined as the difference between the cost of attending seminary and the amount of personal and other non-seminary resources available to the student.
For more information, including our online Financial Aid Application, please visit the Financial Aid webpages.
Can I get a job on campus?
The seminary has a limited number of part-time jobs available on campus. Employment cannot be guaranteed but will be open for students who apply as it is available.
Students who are not citizens of the United States and who enter the country on a student visa are restricted from some types of employment by regulation of the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Full-time students with F-1 status may hold part-time jobs on campus during the school year (and full-time jobs during the summer) but may not be employed off campus. Spouses of students on an F-1 visa may not be employed.
See the student employment area for open positions.
Do you provide student housing?
Yes! See Campus housing at AMBS.
May I visit the campus?
Visiting AMBS is one of the best ways to evaluate a seminary’s academic programs.
Contact the Admissions Office in advance, so we can arrange for opportunities for you to meet with meet with faculty and students, attend classes, worship in chapel and meet with an admissions counselor.
