A seminary year can count toward a degree, but only if a college agrees to count it. There are two common routes: enroll through a college that runs an Israel program, or go on your own and ask your college to accept the seminary's transcript afterward.
Yeshiva University's Israel program
YU's S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program is a partnership with more than 40 yeshivot and seminaries. You apply to YU in 12th grade, apply to your seminary separately, and enroll in the program once both accept you.
- YU says credits from the year go on your permanent YU transcript as YU credits. They don't count toward the time you're required to study on the New York campus.
- YU says students in the program count as YU students and stay eligible for US federal and state financial aid.
- The program fee is $3,500: $550 when you enroll and $2,950 billed before the year. YU credits $2,000 of it toward your first semester back in New York. Seminary tuition is separate.
On our listings, schools on YU's list are marked. YU's page didn't state how many credits it gives for the year, so ask admissions.
Touro's Israel Option
Touro's Lander College for Women runs a similar program with a long list of seminaries, including many Bais Yaakov seminaries. You apply to Lander and to the seminary, then sign Touro's participation contract.
- Touro says students can earn up to 36 credits for the first year: 24 through Israel Option courses and up to 12 more as transfer credits when they return.
- Touro says Israel Option students can apply for federal and state financial aid, can use 529 savings to pay tuition, and can pay seminary tuition through a Touro payment plan.
- The administrative fee depends on when you enroll: $1,100 by June 15, rising in steps to $1,500 from August 15.
- Touro says students living outside the US can't take part, and that you can't hold a deferral at another college at the same time.
Going to a different college
If you're headed somewhere else, the college decides. Many seminaries issue a transcript, and several say on their sites that colleges commonly accept around 32 credits, but no seminary can promise what your college will do.
Ask your college, in writing
- Can I defer my place for a year, and by what date do I have to ask?
- Will you accept credits from this seminary's transcript, or only through a program like YU's or Touro's?
- How many credits, and do they count toward my major, general requirements or only as electives?
- Does deferring change my scholarship or financial aid offer?
529 plans and federal aid
The IRS says 529 money can be used at schools that take part in US federal student aid programs, which includes some schools outside the US. We didn't check whether any seminary qualifies on its own. The route that Touro states plainly is paying tuition through its Israel Option. Check with your plan and the college before you withdraw anything.
We're not financial or tax advisors. Fees and rules here are what YU, Touro and the IRS had published when we checked, without a year attached, so confirm them before you rely on them.
Sources
Read on 2 and 3 October 2026. Open them to check a figure or see whether it has changed.
