Statement of Accreditation Status
Pillar College
- CEO: Dr. David Schroeder, President
- Accreditation Liaison Officer: Mr. Brian Schroeder
- Commission Staff Liaison: Kristy Bishop, Vice President
- Carnegie Classification: Mixed Associate/Baccalaureate » No research designation
- Control: Private (Non-Profit)
- Former Name(s): Somerset Christian College (4/5/2013)
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Candidacy Granted: January 1, 2006
- Accreditation Granted: November 18, 2010
- Last Reaffirmation: March 13, 2025
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2032-2033
- March 12, 2026
To acknowledge receipt of the monitoring report. To note the follow-up team visit by Commission representatives to the main campus at 60 Park Place, Suite 701, Newark, NJ 07102 on October 20-21, 2025. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2032-2033. - June 6, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on May 7, 2025. To remind the institution of the Commission request of March 13, 2025, for a monitoring report due on September 2, 2025. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2032-2033. - March 13, 2025
To acknowledge receipt of the monitoring report. To reaffirm accreditation because the institution is now in compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), and former Requirements of Affiliation 9, 11, and 12. To note the follow-up team visit by Commission representatives to the main campus at 60 Park Place, Newark, NJ 07102 on February 13-14, 2025. To request a monitoring report, due September 2, 2025, demonstrating sustainability of implemented corrective measures and further evidence of (1) an implemented, systematic, and sustained process to assess student learning outcomes at all levels (Standard V); (2) long-term financial planning that reconciles financial plan to the institution's financial capacity and assesses risk factors (Standard VI); (3) a record of responsible fiscal management, including preparing a multi-year financial plan and an annual independent audit confirming financial controls, with evidence of corrective measures taken to address any material findings cited in the audit or an accompanying management letter (Standard VI); (4) documented financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development adequate to support its educational purposes and programs and to ensure financial stability (Standard VI); and (5) adequate fiscal and human resources, including physical and technical infrastructure, to support operations (Standard VI) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2032-2033. - March 13, 2025
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To note that an updated teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements will not be required. - November 1, 2024
To note that the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on September 30, 2024. To remind the institution of the Commission request of June 27, 2024, for a monitoring report due December 2, 2024. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. - September 27, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of April 26, 2024, providing information on key data indicators (financial health) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.16(b). To remind the institution of the Commission's request of June 27, 2024, for a monitoring report due December 2, 2024. The date of the next evaluation visit will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. - June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the on-site evaluation visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 60 Park Place, Suite 701, Newark, NJ 07102 on March 31-April 3, 2024. To note the following additional location was visited: 111 Washington St., Paterson, NJ 07505. To place the institution on probation and note that the institution's accreditation is in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), and former Requirements of Affiliation 9, 11, and 12. To note that the institution remains accredited while on probation. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance, which starts on June 27, 2024. To request a monitoring report, due December 2, 2024, demonstrating evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment) and Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement), including but not limited to (1) an implemented, systematic, and sustained process to assess student learning outcomes at all levels (Standard V); (2) evidence that the institution's long-term financial planning reconciles the financial plan to the institution's financial capacity and assesses risk factors (Standard V); (3) a record of responsible fiscal management, including preparing a multi-year financial plan and an annual independent audit confirming financial controls, with evidence of corrective measures taken to address any material findings cited in the audit or an accompanying management letter (Standard VI); (4) documented financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development adequate to support its educational purposes and programs and to ensure financial stability (Standard VI); and (5) adequate fiscal and human resources, including physical and technical infrastructure, to support operations (Standard VI) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by September 3, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to another institution, if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation. To note the Commission may reject the teach-out and require resubmission if all of the required information is not provided. To remind the institution of its obligation to provide to the Commission timely and accurate financial audits. To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. - April 26, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due May 31, 2024, providing information on key data indicators (financial health) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.16(b). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - March 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (student achievement and enrollment – FTE), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - February 23, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the relocation of the additional location from 100 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 415, Paterson, NJ 07505 to 111 Washington Street, Paterson, NJ 07505 within the institution's scope of accreditation. To require immediate notification when instruction commences at the new location and of the date that instruction ceases at the former location by email to [email protected]. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind this action if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. To note that the institution is currently in self-study in anticipation of an evaluation visit in 2023-2024. - Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method - Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method - Postsecondary award (1-2 years) Included within the scope
- Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope: Master of Arts in Counseling
- Main Campus
Pillar College
60 Park Place Suite 701
Newark, NJ 07102 - Additional Location
Paterson 2
111 Washington Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
Opened: 03/11/2024 - Other Instructional Site
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100 Academy Street
Rockaway, NJ 07866 - Other Instructional Site
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1133 E. County Line Road
Lakewood, NJ 08701 - Other Instructional Site
Calvary Christian School
123 White Oak Lane
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 - Other Instructional Site
Irvington High School
1253 Clinton Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111 - Other Instructional Site
Irvington Municipal Building
1 Civic Square
Irvington, NJ 07111 - Other Instructional Site
Jersey City
80 Christopher Columbus Drive
Jersey City, NJ 07302 - Other Instructional Site
Lakewood - Bnos Chaim
222 S Clover Street
Lakewood, NJ 08701 - Other Instructional Site
Lakewood - Kerem
110a Newport Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701, NJ 07102 - Other Instructional Site
Lakewood - Migdal
541 Joe Parker Road
Lakewood, NJ 08701 - Other Instructional Site
Somerset County
321 Minebrook Road
Bernardsville, NJ 07924 - Other Instructional Site
Veritas Christian Academy
385 Houses Corner Road
Sparta, NJ 07871
Approved Credential Levels
The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
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