
Moody Bible Institute began in Chicago in 1886, when evangelist Dwight L. Moody established the Chicago Evangelization Society to train people for Christian ministry. The institution later took Moody's name and expanded beyond its original training program into undergraduate education, graduate theological study, and other forms of Christian education.
That history still shapes the school. Its degree programs emphasize biblical study and preparation for work in churches, missions, and related fields. Moody also operates through distinct locations and delivery formats, including its Chicago campus, aviation training in Spokane, Washington, and online education. Applicants should check where their particular program is taught rather than assuming every Moody program is available in Chicago.
Moody Bible Institute organizes its academic offerings around biblical and theological education, ministry, communication, and related professional preparation. Its undergraduate programs and Moody Theological Seminary serve different degree levels; Moody Aviation provides specialized aviation training in Spokane rather than on the Chicago campus.
Undergraduate options include Bible, pastoral and ministry-related studies, missions, religious education, and worship or music. Graduate applicants can explore theological and ministry degrees through the seminary. Program titles, available concentrations, and delivery formats can change, so the current academic catalog is the appropriate place to confirm a degree's requirements and campus.
This is a specialized institution, not a university offering a broad selection of unrelated majors. A prospective student interested in another profession should examine how much of the curriculum is devoted to biblical and ministry preparation and whether the intended degree meets any later graduate-school or occupational requirements.
Moody Bible Institute's main campus is in Chicago, Illinois. Its urban setting gives students access to the city's transit system, churches, community organizations, and potential ministry or work placements, while making commuting time and transportation costs important planning considerations.
Students arriving from outside the region can use Chicago's airports, including O'Hare International Airport, and connect to the city by public transportation or other ground travel. Moody's Spokane aviation location is separate from the Chicago campus; students comparing programs should verify the location of instruction and any required in-person activities.
Moody Bible Institute states that its purpose is Christian education grounded in the Bible and directed toward evangelism, discipleship, and service. Its institutional identity is explicitly evangelical Christian, and that identity informs both academic study and expectations for campus life.
Applicants should read the institution's current doctrinal statement and student policies alongside its degree requirements. These documents offer a more useful picture of the educational environment than a mission statement alone, particularly for students deciding whether Moody's religious commitments fit their own goals. The stated mission describes the institution's priorities; it is not, by itself, evidence of any individual student's outcome.
Name of the institution
Moody Bible InstituteLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1886Moody Bible Institute is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 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 less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData last updated on November 2, 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.