HYBRID EDUCATION
AND TRAINING FOR
THE REAL WORLD
Take action toward your future by developing marketable skills, gaining professional experience, and building a network for life.
“The Ascend program very well might be the most rewarding and incredible experience of your life. I know it has been for me! From the moment you arrive at the first event, the community is there to welcome you with open arms. There really is nothing else quite like it.” -Hannah K, Ascend Student
HYBRID EDUCATION
AND TRAINING FOR
THE REAL WORLD
Develop marketable skills, gain professional experience, and build a network for life.
“The Ascend program very well might be the most rewarding and incredible experience of your life. I know it has been for me! From the moment you arrive at the first event, the community is there to welcome you with open arms. There really is nothing else quite like it.” -Hannah K, Ascend Student
INVEST LOCALLY,
NETWORK NATIONALLY
Instead of a campus environment that limits life experience and delays professional experience, the hybrid nature of Ascend enables students to remain embedded in the real world, gain skill and experience alongside their education, and build a national network for life.
INVEST LOCALLY,
NETWORK NATIONALLY
Instead of a campus environment that limits life experience and delays professional experience, the hybrid nature of Ascend enables students to remain embedded in the real world, gain skill and experience alongside their education, and build a national network for life.
INVEST LOCALLY,
NETWORK NATIONALLY
Instead of a campus environment that limits life experience and delays professional experience, the hybrid nature of Ascend enables students to remain embedded in the real world, gain skill and experience alongside their education, and build a national network for life.
WELCOME TO ASCEND
Ascend is a 1-3 year education program that provides a complete alternative to the traditional college environment for young adults. With enrollment options designed for gap-year, trades-oriented, and degree-seeking students alike, Ascend meets you where you are and gives you the tools you need to reach your goals.
WELCOME TO ASCEND
Ascend is a 1-3 year education program that provides a complete alternative to the traditional college environment for young adults. With enrollment options designed for gap-year, trades-oriented, and degree-seeking students alike, Ascend meets you where you are and gives you the tools you need to reach your goals.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Throughout the Ascend year, students attend four live training intensives, one every 12 weeks. These events build on each other and are connected through the core Ascend curriculum: team-focused, hands-on remote learning, delivered through engaging courses, live webinars, local projects, and frequent discussion with instructors and classmates.
FALL SEMESTER
Attend Orientation
All students start the year at APEX, Unbound's young adult conference. APEX is held in August and is where students meet their Ascend Team, hear from world-class speakers, complete extensive team challenges, and engage in deep discussions.
Take Navigate
Navigate is a 16-week life purpose course that teaches students how to make big decisions with wisdom and chart their course with confidence.
Choose Your Personal Ascend Project
Ascend projects give students 40 hours of hands-on experience pursuing a skill-set, idea, or field of personal interest. In the fall semester, students brainstorm and finalize their project plan for the year.
Take the First Signature Leadership Course: Leadership Theory & Practice
Leadership Theory and Practice seeks to give students a thorough understanding of the history of leadership, prepare them to analyze their own leadership gifts, and move from theory to practice with life-management skills.
Attend Basecamp
Basecamp is a skills intensive and takes place in late October in Pennsylvania. This event focuses on critical skills like time and task management as students prepare to launch their personal projects in the spring. Each day is a combination of sessions, team challenges, free time, and deep discussion.
SPRING SEMESTER
Take the Second Signature Leadership Course: Leadership Management & Communication
Leadership and Management Communications seeks to equip students with organizationally useful skills and acquaint them with the best practices of management and communication.
Attend Ridgeline
In January, students attend Ridgeline in Florida. Ridgeline is a project-intensive and is all about learning by doing. Students complete team projects and have to work with tight deadlines, limited resources, and high expectations, all designed to teach the skills needed to turn ideas into reality.
Complete Your Project
After coming through the challenges and intensity of Ridgeline, students move into the execution phase for their individual Ascend projects, reporting on their progress to their Ascend Team Leader. During the final month of the Ascend year, students complete their projects with a peer review, final reports, and presentations for staff, family, and friends at the online Ascend Project Showcase.
Take the Third Signature Leadership Course: Leadership Learning & Execution
Leadership Learning and Execution explores wisdom literature from Scripture, academic literature on wisdom, best practices for effective mentoring and coaching, and how to execute strategic plans.
Attend Capstone
Capstone takes place mid-April in the Colorado Rockies. This event is a leadership intensive and is primarily academic and reflective, focused on locking in this past year’s training.
CHOOSE YOUR ENROLLMENT PACKAGE
$1,000 deposit due at enrollment for all packages. 12 month installment plans available.
Ascend:
What's Next?
Identify your next step, rapidly build skill and experience, invest productively in your future, and live purposefully for Christ.
$9,000 paid in full
What's Next?
-
3 live Ascend Events
APEX, Basecamp, Ridgeline - Navigate Life Purpose Training
- 8-Week Christian Leadership Course
- Hands-On, Student Interest-Led Ascend Project
- Monthly Mentorship & Accountability with Ascend Teams
- Monthly Expert-Led Webinars
Ascend:
Certificate
Get where you want to go by adding one of our highest-rated events, two of our highest-rated courses, and a stackable career or degree track
$10,500 paid in full
Certificate
- Everything included in Ascend Basic, plus:
-
4 live Ascend Events
APEX, Basecamp, Ridgeline, PLUS Capstone - 3-Part Signature Leadership Course Series
-
Signature Leadership Certificate
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Signature Leadership Courses -
Ascend Foundations Certificate
Awarded to students who successfully complete each aspect of the Ascend program
Ascend:
Premier
Upgrade your Ascend experience through personal coaching — plus let our team handle all your travel arrangements so you can fully enjoy each adventure!
$13,500 paid in full
Premier
- Everything included in Ascend Certificate, plus:
-
The Ascend Travel Package
All travel costs, scheduling, and trip logistics -
A Personal, Certified Life Coach
Receive personal life coaching sessions with a certified, Christian life coach every other month
CHOOSE YOUR CAREER OR DEGREE TRACK
Available for Certificate and Premier students as optional add-ons.
Career Tracks
Pursue a 10 month intensive with a career professional in one of our available career tracks and build the skill and experience you need to move into the field,
5-10 hours of focused study and application per week
-
Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship
In this track, students learn not only the core foundations of how modern digital marketing works and which channels they must master, they also build sound understanding around how to sell these newfound skills as a service. -
Writing & Publishing
This track provides sound, current teaching, training, and resources in all aspects of writing as a profession. Students will emerge from this track knowing industry language, professional expectations, and the actionable steps required to establish a writing career. -
AI for the Greater Good
In a world leaning further and further into a model of AI assisted by humans, this track teaches students how to solve problems by training AI tools to assist them. Build new skills, learn to apply innovation for the sake of the Gospel, and complete real world projects using AI as a critical tool along the way. -
Videography & Production
This track goes beyond simply teaching technical skills. It’s designed to immerse students in the world of videography for a full year, fostering both confidence and versatility. Students will graduate with the ability to produce a range of video styles for YouTube, social media, and professional projects. -
Art & Design
This track is designed to debunk the “starving artist” stereotype by preparing students to thrive as professional artists. Students will explore themes around personal identity, God’s creativity, professional development, business modeling, and leadership, graduating with a seven-piece portfolio, a professional development plan, a business model, and presentation experience.
Degree Tracks
Declare a major through your school of choice and earn 15 or 30 credits per year towards a Bachelor's degree.
25 hours of course work per week
-
Academic Coaching
Scheduled coaching call with an Academic Coach to discuss courses, academic calendar, and degree options, if applicable. -
Signature Leadership Course Accreditation
Degree track students receive 9 credits for these three courses. -
General Education & Elective Courses
Earn up to a total of 30 credits per year towards your specific degree requirements based on a customized degree plan. -
Declare Your Major and Receive a Customized Degree Plan Through Your University of Choice**
The Ascend program supports almost every major available outside of engineering, medicine, and music. - **Pending university transfer policy and degree requirements
FAQ
APEX is held in Lake City, MI, August 13-17.
Basecamp is held in Manns Choice, PA, October 20-24.
Ridgeline will be held in Panama City, FL, January 29-Feb 1.
Capstone is held in Estes Park, CO, April 15-19.
All dates and locations are subject to slight changes.
Ascend Teams are led by Ascend Team Leaders (ATLs). ATLs are Ascend alumni or older students who have applied for, been accepted, and are specifically trained to lead a team. ATLs complete ongoing training throughout the program as well that enables them to continue building and improving their leadership skills.
Ascend teams meet monthly via Zoom to discuss the monthly webinar, support each other through their courses and projects, and receive coaching and mentorship from their ATLs specific to where they are in life and what kinds of decisions they are facing.
Each Ascend Team includes 8-10 students and one Ascend Team Leader.
Past Ascend projects include:
- Writing and Producing a Short Film
- Learning Animation
- The Creature Conservancy Project
- Building an Acoustic Guitar
- Dance Performance
- Writing and Producing YouTube Videos
- Micro-School Teaching
- Coffee Roasting
- Event Planning Internship
- Suit Case Design
- Producing Art Tutorial Videos
- Launching a Videography Business
- Building a Home Music Studio
- Home Improvement Construction
- Librivox Book Narration
- Marketing the Launch of a New Music Single
- Planning and Executing a Teen Track for Homeschool Conventions
- Earning the Wilderness First Responder Certification
- Church Recycling Program
- Launching an Art Business
- Building an Airsoft Gun
- Teaching an Art Class
- Completing a Truck and Yard Renovation Project
- Film Project
- Raising Rabbits
- Producing a Music Album
- Launching a Cooking Ministry
- Completing a Creative Photo Project
- Hosting and Teaching Swing Dance Lesson Nights
- Directing a Theater Production for Middle Schoolers
- 100 Mile Bike Ride
- Writing and Producing an Original Song
- Learning to Sing and Play the Guitar
- Creating and Executing a Marketing Campaign for a Family Business
- Rebuilding an Automatic Transmission
- Curating a Short Story Collection
- Fundraising for the Christian Youth Talent Showcase
- Becoming an AIC at a Local Rescue Squad
- Learning ASL
- Creating a Gospel Tract
- Planning and Hosting a Valentines Swing Ball to Benefit Local Ministry
- Passing the 608 CPE Universal Test
- Restoring a Cafe Racer
- Producing an Original EP Album
- Wholesale Real Estate Business
- Writing and Producing a Gospel Bluegrass Single
- Sewing Project
- Drug Awareness Program
And many more!
It depends on the project. We have students complete individual and team projects every year and both are options.
This depends entirely on the student. Each year we have a mix students who are finishing high school or already graduated. The best way to determine if your student can manage Ascend alongside high school is to talk to an admissions counselor about the time commitment. Click here to book a call!
While ultimately it comes down to each individual student and their schedule, the vast majority of Ascend students work part or full time while completing the program.
Yes! For students taking a gap year we offer an Ascend Gap Year Track at enrollment. Book a call with our team to learn more about this option.
CHOOSE ASCEND IF YOU WANT TO:
Pursue your education in an environment that allows you to practice and learn through failure.
Plug into a network and community that includes both deep relationships and professional opportunities.
Develop soft skills that will make you an invaluable teammate, co-worker, or employee wherever you go next.
Build hard skills that will help you build a proven resume towards your professional interests and goals, and
Graduate with a job guarantee.