There is something for every learner here at Ascent College. You are welcome here. Whether you’re looking to audit courses for your own enjoyment, need to attend part-time alongside life, career, and ministry commitments, are looking for streamlined certificate or diploma programs to amplify your skills in a specific area of ministry leadership, or plan to work towards a traditional associate’s or bachelor’s degree, we have many flexible, affordable options available for you.

We get it. So many of our students (and faculty!) are juggling complex lives – raising families, full-time employment, serving in the local church – We are right there with you. There is a place for you here. 

Our programs and our pace are designed to come alongside a busy life, with dedicated faculty and staff cheering you on every step of the way.

Certificate Programs

Ascent College offers targeted learning across several focused ministry leadership lanes to equip and empower church staff, volunteers, and lay leaders in service to the local church. Most programs are completed within only one year (only 12 credits!), serving as a laser beam fast track to functional education designed to immediately impact and improve ministry leadership effectiveness. 

Click on any of our certificate programs below to explore course descriptions, costs, and how to apply:

Ascent College is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Ste. 130, Orlando, FL 32822, 407.207.0808) to grant certificates and degrees at the Associate and Baccalaureate levels.

Ascent College offers accredited higher education at a tuition rate of $350/credit hour. Please refer to our Academic Catalog or visit our Tuition or Financial Aid webpages to learn more. Apply online today!

Ascent College accredited BAML degree programs fully satisfy the educational requirements for ministerial credentialing within the Assemblies of God.

Auditing a course at Ascent College allows you to explore and engage with class materials without having to submit any written work, complete assignments, take tests, participate in discussion boards, or receive graded evaluations. This is an excellent option for people who don’t have time to commit to college-level work but are eager to learn more about a specific topic. 

Auditing courses is also a perfect fit for individuals who may already have a degree from another accredited institution and now want to supplement their current professional or ministry roles with targeted learning without needing to earn credits or satisfy any stated formal degree requirements.

The tuition cost to audit a course is only $50 per college credit. For example, a two-credit course will cost only $100, and a three-credit course will cost only $150 as an auditor. (In case you’re not doing the math, no worries – we’ve done it for you. That’s a huge savings from our accredited tuition cost of $350 per college credit!) 

Auditors must submit the non-refundable payment for any audited course in full prior to the start of the class. All required textbooks must be purchased separately and are not included in the tuition cost of the course. Audited courses are not eligible for scholarships. 

Here are some courses our auditing students love most!

Simply complete your online application, selecting the “Audit” option, and submit your $25 application fee along with a personal and pastoral reference, and you’re good to go! No transcripts are required, and new auditors will also enjoy no enrollment fee!

Looking to try out some college courses while you’re still in high school? Our Early College acceptance program gives students insight into the dynamics of college-level learning, woven into a biblical framework designed to educate and equip emerging leaders to step into ministry with purpose. 

Courses are eight weeks long and cover a variety of general education and ministry topics. Beef up your transcript, and get your feet wet as you continue to explore God’s path for your life; let’s talk! 

Ascent College delivers accredited academic instruction for $350 per credit hour. In addition to the first three-credit course being offered to new Early College students tuition-free, Early College program participants receive an exclusive 50% scholarship for any additional accredited courses taken during their time enrolled as Early College students. Freshman-level general education and ministry courses considered a best fit for Early College students include:

Early College program participants must be sixteen (16) years of age or older and demonstrate good Christian character. Students must hold and maintain a 3.0 GPA (high school transcript required – homeschool, private, and public school welcome) and may take one course each eight-week term. 

Submit a pastoral reference, personal reference, and spiritual journey essay along with your $25 application fee to be considered. Apply online today, selecting the “Early College” option.

All interested students must also complete an Early College Agreement and submit it to our Director of Admissions, Amy Barney, at abarney@ascent.edu along with your application. 

• Students Seeking Only College Credit 
• Students Seeking High School and College Credit 

Once accepted, guess what? We’ll waive your enrollment and student services fees. Let’s do this!

Students should be aware that transfer of credits to other institutions is solely at the discretion of the receiving institution. Students who are considering attending Ascent College and then transferring to another college should contact the receiving institution for its policy on accepting credits from another institution.

Ascent College transfers in credit from other colleges in accordance with our Transfer Credit Policy. Credits from a postsecondary institution accredited by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are transferable to Ascent College if the classes are comparable and applicable to the degree plan. Credits from other postsecondary institutions may be transferable and are evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Every effort is made by administration to transfer as many hours as possible to avoid loss of academic credit.

Please use the College Board Score Send Code 33528 when requesting AP records be sent to Ascent College.

We use the Federal definition of the credit hour. 

The amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalence that reasonably approximates not less than: 

• One (1) hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks, 
• Or at least an equivalent amount of work as required in statement one of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including lab work, internships, practice, studio work, and other academic work leading toward the awarding of credit hours. 

Face-to-Face Format (On Campus)
For each semester hour of credit, classes must include a 50-minute period with the instructor and two (2) hours of outside class work for at least fifteen weeks. One credit hour = 50 minutes of contact + 120 minutes of outside work over fifteen weeks for a total of 2,550 minutes of student effort. 

Distance Education (Online)
For each semester hour of credit, classes must include three (3) hours of work per week for at least fifteen weeks. Three (3) hours include interactions with faculty, other students in online discussion forums and other formats, and additional course work outside interactive formats. One credit hour = assignments equaling 170 minutes per week over fifteen weeks for a total of 2,550 minutes of student effort. 

Any Off-Cycle Course (i.e., 8-week Course)
Must be equivalent in both contact and outside work totals as a semester-length course.

Ascent College receives many opportunities for various full-time or part-time ministry positions. No guarantee for placement may be made.