Church Educational System
| Type | Elementary, secondary, and higher education |
|---|---|
| Established | 1877 |
Religious affiliation | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Commissioner | Clark G. Gilbert (until April 1, 2026) James R. Rasband (beginning April 1, 2026). |
Academic staff | c. 50,000 |
| Students | c. 700,000 |
| Location | Worldwide |
| Campus | 3 universities; 1 college; 1 all-online certificate and degree program; 15 elementary and secondary schools; 8,039 seminary and institute programs |
| Headquarters | Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Website | Church Education |
The Church Educational System (CES) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non–Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners. Over 1 million individuals were enrolled in CES programs in over 180 countries with over 150,000 higher education students worldwide in 2023. CES has grown significantly since 2011, when it had approximately 700,000 students, largely through increased international participation and expansion of BYU–Pathway Worldwide (BYU–PW) and Seminaries and Institutes of Religion programs. CES courses of study are separate and distinct from religious instruction provided through wards (local congregations). Clark G. Gilbert, a general authority, has been the CES commissioner since August 1, 2021. As a result of Gilbert's appointment to the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in February 2026, James R. Rasband, a general authority, will begin serving as Commissioner on April 1, 2026.