Boston Islamic Seminary
Boston Islamic Seminary is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution in Chelsea, Massachusetts offering the state-recognized MIRL graduate degree, certificate programs, and workshops in Islamic religious leadership to over 200 students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersChelsea, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Boston Islamic Seminary does
Boston Islamic Seminary (BIS) is a non-profit religious educational institution headquartered at 60 Willow Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts, operating as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 81-5432436). Founded with a mission to train Islamic religious leadership, BIS serves Muslim clergy candidates, lay learners, and community members primarily in the United States, with a documented student base of over 200 learners and a small operating team of 11–50 staff. More than 65% of students receive scholarships, underscoring the institution's charitable posture and reliance on donor support alongside tuition.
BIS's core academic offering is the Master of Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) graduate degree, which holds formal recognition from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. The curriculum is supported by a cumulative instructional library exceeding 1,500 hours of content across 15+ graduate courses, and faculty affiliations extend to credentialed institutions including the University of Toledo, Brandeis, and Oxford. Beyond the MIRL, BIS has expanded into Foundational Certificate Courses, a Professional Development Certificate, an Iqra Fellowship, and a Book Talks Series, broadening the curriculum surface into continuing education and community-facing intellectual programming. Delivery is enabled through standard learning management system tools (Moodle, Populi) and national outreach channels, including presence at conventions such as MAS-ICNA.
The business model combines tuition revenue with charitable donations, consistent with its non-profit structure. Short-format workshops are priced at $49–$89, while the graduate MIRL program and longer certificate tracks anchor the tuition side, the majority of which is offset by scholarships. The institution's first MIRL cohort graduated in August 2024, and the application cycle for Fall 2026 is active. BIS has begun formalizing its development function through a dedicated grant and fundraising hire, indicating an intent to scale donor revenue alongside programmatic expansion.
Boston Islamic Seminary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boston Islamic Seminary
- Legal name
- Boston Islamic Seminary
- Website
- https://bostonislamicseminary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Boston Islamic Seminary is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution in Chelsea, Massachusetts offering the state-recognized MIRL graduate degree, certificate programs, and workshops in Islamic religious leadership to over 200 students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boston Islamic Seminary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious and Theological Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes (EDAHAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Boston Islamic Seminary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chelsea
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boston Islamic Seminary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Course Fees: Revenue from graduate degree programs, certificate courses, and workshop fees. Financial aid and student discounts are available to support accessibility.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible and Zakat-eligible donations accepted through online portal (Kindful). Various campaigns include Student Scholarship, Retreat Travel Fund, BIS Founders Circle, and Iqra Fellowship Program. Recurring donation options available (weekly, monthly).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate degree program (MIRL) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Academic Writing Workshop |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Thinking About Islam Weekend Workshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Boston Islamic Seminary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boston Islamic Seminary delivers graduate and continuing religious education to aspiring Muslim-American religious leaders through its Master of Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) graduate degree program, supplemented by the Iqra Fellowship for college students and young professionals, twelve-week foundational certificate courses, Islamic Foundations and Professional Development certificates, and a book talks/workshop series. Curriculum integrates traditional Islamic sciences (Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir) with contemporary leadership skills including counseling, arbitration, chaplaincy, and interfaith engagement. Programs are delivered via a mix of online coursework, in-person retreats, travel seminars, and internships.
Product overview
Boston Islamic Seminary offers a portfolio of religious education products centered around its Master of Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) graduate degree program, complemented by the Iqra Fellowship for young professionals, foundational certificate courses, and professional development offerings including workshops and a book talks series. These products work together to serve students at different stages of their religious and leadership development, from foundational courses through graduate-level training for professional religious leadership roles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) A graduate degree program recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education that prepares leaders to serve as religious leaders, counselors, arbitrators, chaplains, youth leaders, and outreach specialists through rigorous study and engagement with contemporary issues. Tuition billed annually, with scholarships available to the majority of students.
- Iqra Fellowship A fellowship program for college students and young professionals that empowers participants with traditional, philosophical, and spiritual foundations to navigate modern challenges.
- Foundational Certificate Courses Twelve-week courses providing a solid grounding for students of all backgrounds to gain a firm foundation for further study, with emphasis on personal reflection, spirituality, and practicality.
- Islamic Foundations Certificate A certificate program covering foundational Islamic sciences for students seeking structured religious education.
- Professional Development Certificate A professional development program offering workshops and certificates for skill enhancement in areas such as public speaking and academic writing.
- Weekend Workshops Short-format workshops (including Islamic Poetry in South Asia Weekend Seminar and Academic Writing Workshop at $49 per participant, free for MIRL students) offered as standalone learning experiences.
- Book Talks Series Virtual and in-person book talk events featuring scholars discussing Islamic literature, philosophy, and contemporary topics.
Quantifiable outcome
- 65%+ of students receive scholarships, demonstrating commitment to accessibility
Companies that use Boston Islamic Seminary
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Boston Islamic Seminary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Boston Islamic Seminary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Boston Islamic Seminary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Mishkah University: Mishkah University is an online Islamic university offering accredited degrees in Islamic studies to a global audience. It overlaps with BIS's online delivery model and serves a similar English-speaking Muslim learner segment.
- Al-Maghrib Institute: Al-Maghrib Institute is a North American Islamic education provider offering weekend seminars and certification courses in traditional Islamic sciences. It overlaps with BIS's workshop and certificate course offerings for the same adult learner base.
- Cambridge Muslim College: Cambridge Muslim College offers the UK's leading Muslim chaplaincy and theological training programs. While UK-based, it is comparable to BIS as a Western-context Islamic seminary focused on producing professional religious leaders, chaplains, and scholars.
- Islamic University of Applied Sciences (IUAS): IUAS (formerly College of Islamic Studies) is a U.S.-based Islamic institution offering graduate programs for Muslim professionals. It targets a similar audience of American Muslim religious leaders and community professionals seeking accredited credentials.
- Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research: Yaqeen Institute produces Islamic research, educational content, and training programs for English-speaking Muslims globally. While primarily research-focused, it competes for the same audience seeking credible, contemporary Islamic scholarship.
Direct peers
- American Islamic College: American Islamic College is a Chicago-based institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs in Islamic studies. Like BIS, it serves as a U.S. hub for Islamic higher education and trains Muslim religious and community leaders.
- Zaytuna College: Zaytuna College is the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the US, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in Islamic studies. It is the most direct competitor to BIS in U.S. Islamic higher education, sharing the same target audience of American Muslims seeking faith-based credentials.
- Bayān Claremont / Claremont School of Theology: Bayān Claremont is an Islamic graduate program within Claremont School of Theology offering MA and doctoral degrees in Islamic studies. It competes directly with BIS's MIRL in training Muslim chaplains, imams, and scholars in North America.
Broad incumbents
- Hartford Seminary: Hartford Seminary offers graduate programs in Islamic chaplaincy and interfaith studies, including an MA in Islamic Chaplaincy. It is a broader incumbent in interfaith theological education with a comparable Islamic leadership training program.
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM): IIUM is a major international Islamic university offering comprehensive programs in Islamic studies, law, and theology. Several BIS faculty (e.g., Dr. Leyla Tajer) trained at IIUM, and it serves as a global incumbent benchmark for Islamic higher education.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Boston Islamic Seminary social profiles
Digital presenceBoston Islamic Seminary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boston Islamic Seminary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Boston Islamic Seminary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boston Islamic Seminary M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boston Islamic Seminary
What does Boston Islamic Seminary do?
Boston Islamic Seminary delivers graduate and continuing religious education to aspiring Muslim-American religious leaders through its Master of Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) graduate degree program, supplemented by the Iqra Fellowship for college students and young professionals, twelve-week foundational certificate courses, Islamic Foundations and Professional Development certificates, and a book talks/workshop series. Curriculum integrates traditional Islamic sciences (Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir) with contemporary leadership skills including counseling, arbitration, chaplaincy, and interfaith engagement. Programs are delivered via a mix of online coursework, in-person retreats, travel seminars, and internships.
Is Boston Islamic Seminary a public or private company?
Boston Islamic Seminary is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Boston Islamic Seminary founded?
Boston Islamic Seminary was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Boston Islamic Seminary based?
Boston Islamic Seminary is headquartered in Chelsea, United States, in the North America region.
How does Boston Islamic Seminary make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Course Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Boston Islamic Seminary's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Mishkah University, Al-Maghrib Institute, Cambridge Muslim College, Islamic University of Applied Sciences (IUAS) and Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Direct peers are American Islamic College, Zaytuna College and Bayān Claremont / Claremont School of Theology. Broad incumbents are Hartford Seminary and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
Does Boston Islamic Seminary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boston Islamic Seminary.
What industry is Boston Islamic Seminary in?
Boston Islamic Seminary's product category is Religious and Theological Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAI, Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes, with a secondary code of BPAGAJAD, Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.