State of Florida Department of Education

Saint Michael's Catholic College is a degree-granting institution in compliance with the rules established by the Florida Department of Education for exempt educational institutions.

Independent Catholic Educational Accreditation and Accountability

Saint Michael's Catholic College maintains institutional accountability through recognized Independent Catholic educational associations dedicated to upholding the highest standards of Catholic theological education and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Independent Catholic Church. Our accreditation standards ensure both doctrinal orthodoxy in accordance with Independent Catholic teaching and academic excellence in theological formation.

Why Independent Catholic Institutional Accountability?

At Saint Michael's Catholic College, we believe that accountability is essential for any Independent Catholic educational institution serving the Church.

Independent Catholic higher education is a sacred mission entrusted to us by Christ through His Church.

Those who graduate from Saint Michael's Catholic College will carry the teachings of the Independent Catholic faith and influence others in service to Christ and His Church.

Therefore, we maintain rigorous oversight and accountability through Independent Catholic educational bodies that ensure fidelity to Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Magisterium. While private Catholic accrediting associations are not recognized by the federal government and cannot offer federal privileges to their member institutions, they provide essential accountability at both the doctrinal and academic levels, ensuring that our teaching remains faithful to the 2,000-year tradition of the Independent Catholic Church.

Our Approach to Accreditation

To keep tuition affordable and accessible to seminarians, religious, laity, and all those discerning a call to serve the Independent Catholic Church, we have elected not to be governed by the U.S. Department of Education and do not seek Regional Accreditation.

Government accreditation for religious institutions is not required by law. Accreditation is a voluntary and costly process.

Colleges that choose government oversight of their educational programming may be subject to government mandates that could conflict with Catholic moral teaching and the authentic mission of Independent Catholic education.

While government accreditation may be beneficial to some institutions of higher learning, it is not always the optimal approach for Independent Catholic theological institutions committed to preserving their Catholic identity and fidelity to Church teaching.

Government accreditation does allow prospective students to apply for federal financial aid; however, institutions participating in federal programs typically have exceptionally high educational costs.

Many students spend their post-graduate years repaying federal student loans. The high cost of education at government-regulated institutions is due to financial mandates placed upon them by the government,

in addition to substantial overhead and operating costs required for regulatory compliance.

In contrast, our administrative costs are modest, enabling us to offer exceptional Catholic theological education at a fraction of the cost of government-regulated colleges.

Government accreditation does not currently align with our vision and mission.

Our goal at Saint Michael's Catholic College is to form and educate students for priestly ministry, religious life, diaconal service, lay ecclesial ministry, and Independent Catholic chaplaincy with fidelity to Independent Catholic teaching and academic excellence at a reasonable cost.

For example, through our prison ministry outreach programs, we are actively involved in providing Independent Catholic educational opportunities (at no cost to the taxpayer) to incarcerated individuals seeking the transformative grace of Independent Catholic faith and education.

Though we do not seek government accreditation, students can be assured they receive a rigorous Independent Catholic education of the highest quality.

Our faculty possess advanced theological degrees from pontifical universities,

Independent Catholic seminaries, and other respected institutions of Catholic higher learning, and all teach in communion with the Magisterium of the Independent Catholic Church.