
Elim Bible Institute and College traces its origins to 1924, when Ivan Q. Spencer founded a school for Christian ministry training. The institution later established its campus in Lima, New York. Its history helps explain why biblical studies, ministry preparation, and practical service remain central to its academic identity.
Although its name includes "College," Elim is a small, specialized institution rather than a university with a broad range of unrelated majors. Prospective students should evaluate its credentials against the work or further study they hope to pursue.
Elim Bible Institute and College organizes its education around biblical, theological, and ministry studies. It is better understood as a specialized Christian college than as a collection of separate schools or faculties.
Students considering a credential should compare its current catalog's degree and certificate options, required Bible and general-education courses, and opportunities for supervised ministry. Those details matter especially for applicants planning to transfer later or seek a graduate program with specific prerequisites. Reported staffing of four full-time and 29 part-time instructors also makes it worthwhile to check who teaches required courses and how often those courses run.
Elim Bible Institute and College is in Lima, New York, a village south of Rochester. Its location offers a small-community setting rather than the transportation and amenities of an urban campus.
Students planning to commute or take placements off campus should consider access to a car and travel time. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus. Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport serves the Rochester area and is the most relevant major airport for students traveling from farther away.
Elim's stated educational purpose centers on Christian formation and preparation for ministry and service. Its approach reflects a Pentecostal and charismatic Christian tradition, so faith commitments are part of the educational environment, not simply an optional extracurricular activity.
Applicants should read the institution's current mission, statement of faith, and student conduct policies alongside its academic catalog. That will give them a more concrete understanding of how religious commitments shape coursework, chapel, and community expectations.
Name of the institution
Elim Bible Institute and CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Rural: DistantInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000Religious affiliation
Protestant (Evangelical Christian Church)School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1924Elim Bible Institute and College is institutionally accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.