
Rabbinical Seminary of America was founded in 1933 by Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz as an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva devoted to advanced Torah and rabbinical study. It is also known as Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, a name that reflects the religious tradition in which its founder was educated.
The seminary's identity remains more specialized than that of a general-purpose college: intensive study of Jewish texts is central to its academic program. Applicants comparing it with other institutions should evaluate its curriculum and religious expectations alongside its degree offerings.
Rabbinical Seminary of America is a specialized religious institution, not a university organized around multiple colleges of arts, sciences, business, and engineering. Its academic focus is advanced Jewish learning and preparation for religious study and leadership.
Federal program reporting places study at the institution within theological and ministerial studies. That classification is broad; it does not, by itself, identify a particular degree title or confirm that every student is pursuing ordination. Applicants should obtain the current catalog and ask which credentials are awarded, what each curriculum requires, and whether a program serves their intended educational or professional path.
Rabbinical Seminary of America is in Flushing, Queens, New York. Its Queens location places students within New York City's public-transit network and near an established Orthodox Jewish community.
For a prospective commuter, the relevant questions are the travel time to the seminary's specific building, the class schedule, and whether public transit works for early or late study hours. Students relocating to Queens should also account for local housing costs rather than assuming that tuition represents the full expense of attendance.
Rabbinical Seminary of America's educational purpose centers on Orthodox Jewish religious study, particularly the close reading and discussion of traditional texts. Its identity as a yeshiva is therefore fundamental to the academic experience, rather than an extracurricular affiliation.
Prospective students should ask how the current program balances textual study, formal degree requirements, and preparation for religious leadership. They should also review the institution's own current mission statement and handbook for the precise expectations that apply to enrollment and daily life.
Name of the institution
Rabbinical Seminary of AmericaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000Rabbinical Seminary of America is institutionally accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic 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.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - otherData 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.