Earn an accredited, affordable degree through Bethel University, right here at Orchards. Gain real-world experience, personal mentoring, and a Christ-centered education that equips you to live out God’s calling.
Our church partners with Bethel University, a fully accredited Christian university, to make college both accessible and meaningful. Through Bethel’s Extension Studies program, students can earn a two-year associate or four-year bachelor’s degree, right here in our local community.
What makes it special is the combination of college-level classes and hands-on experience in real ministry, business, or service settings. Students don’t just study about leadership and faith—they live it out every week. It’s an affordable, Christ-centered education that develops both the heart and the skills needed to follow God’s calling.
Grow in faith, knowledge, and purpose.
Through our university partnership, you’ll earn an affordable, accredited degree while gaining real-world experience, personal mentoring, and the tools to live out God’s calling.
Transitioning to college life is easier with BU@OCC’s built-in structure, personal support, and one-on-one mentoring.
Earn up to 34 credit hours a year for just $11,000, making it possible to earn your degree with little or no debt.
Earn your degree through BU@OCC with a close community, flexible schedule, and the freedom to live and work at home.
At BU@OCC, you can earn up to 3 credit hours per semester through 10–12 hours a week of hands-on ministry, leadership, or workplace experience.
BU@OCC currently provides twelve degree options, and we anticipate adding more majors in the future.
The computer science degree program is primarily for traditional students interested in the areas of technology and software development. Students will be prepared to innovate, design and build computing systems at tech-driven companies.
The foundation of the program is a Christ-centered liberal arts general education curriculum, which consists of a wide range of general studies from communications skills, humanities, diversity and global awareness, social science, natural science and math, Bible and religion. These courses serve as fulfilling most of the general studies requirements of any four-year degree. Students have the opportunity to individualize their education in order to achieve a balance between developing their known interest and exploring new subject areas. This associate of arts degree includes the opportunity to learn via a series of supervised practicums, if desired.
The degree is designed to offer a more robust general studies core to traditional-aged students while providing them with a cognate of Christian ministries-related courses and a series of church-based supervised ministry practicums. The goal of the degree is to foster students’ ability to think deeply and Christlike and to minister and communicate well in an increasingly diverse American context. As students engage in coursework, the goal is for them to experience deeper personal spiritual growth that will enable them to provide Christ-centered leadership to meet a variety of needs.
This affordable degree track is a 2+2 program designed for students to complete the first two years at an extension site. After the initial two years, students will transition to finishing their education degree at Bethel University. The goal of the A.A. is to foster students’ ability to think deeply, give them appropriate exposure to a K-12 classroom, and prepare them to finish their bachelor’s degree in education. The degree is especially well-poised to appeal to students who have an interest in education, while allowing them experiences to determine their area of specialty within the field of education.
This program is designed for students with an interest and passion for helping people. It develops the skills needed for working in social service agencies, group homes, crisis centers, mental health agencies, religious organizations, extended care facilities and substance abuse centers. This degree would also position students to earn a master’s degree in counseling or social work.
This degree is designed to provide students with the necessary tools to begin a career in business or to increase the skillset for those already working in a business setting. Students will choose a concentration area to expand their business knowledge and become more marketable in human resource management, non-profit management, health care administration or organizational leadership. All content is delivered through the lens of a Christian worldview to enable students to integrate faith in decision making to promote sound business ethics.
This program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate effectively to target audiences, develop promotional materials and implement successful marketing strategies. With a comprehensive curriculum that features core business topics and specialized marketing coursework, the online Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing features an emphasis on social media and the latest industry approaches. This program is an accelerated course of study, transfer-friendly, and can be completed in four years.
The computer science degree program is primarily for traditional students interested in the areas of technology and software development. Students will be prepared to innovate, design and build computing systems at tech-driven companies.
This program is designed to train graduates to meet the cybersecurity needs of organizations in financial, educational, corporate and government settings. With a rigorous curriculum that provides a deep understanding of key topics in computer systems, cyberlaw, policy creation and compliance, it combines industry best practices with real-world application.
The degree is designed to offer a more robust general studies core to traditional-aged students while providing them with a cognate of Christian ministries-related courses and a series of church-based supervised ministry practicums. The goal of the degree is to foster students’ ability to think deeply and Christlike and to minister and communicate well in an increasingly diverse American context. As students engage in coursework, the goal is for them to experience deeper personal spiritual growth that will enable them to provide Christ-centered leadership to meet a variety of needs.
This innovative degree allows students to custom design their degree plan to better pursue unique avenues in their professional development. Rooted in liberal arts, the core curriculum gives students a comprehensive academic foundation through courses in communications, humanities, diversity and global awareness, social science, natural science and math, religion and philosophy and wellness. Beyond this core curriculum, students may structure their degree with up to three different concentration areas, depending on transfer credits and topics of interest.
The Worship Ministry Leadership major prepares students for a career in leading worship ministry and creative arts in a local church. The major can be tailored to the particular interests of students in areas such as worship leadership, technology and media management, church operations, songwriting, or studio recording. Combined with a strong core of ministry leadership and biblical studies courses and regular practicums in a local church, this major is uniquely designed for students who prefer a practical degree that matches their personal skills and interests.
If you are a recent or soon-to-be high school graduate who wants a low- or no-debt college path that will give you an accredited degree AND one-on-one biblically-based leadership development, this program is for you. If you want intentional guidance that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord, grow in community, grow in your purpose, grow in your strengths and give you confidence about your life after college, apply today or schedule a campus visit.
$11,000 is the total cost for one year of tuition and fees at BU@OCC. The price is based on 15 credits per semester, including 3 practicum hours. The cost will increase if the student registers for additional credits.
*For those eligible for the Pell Grant and Michigan State Grant, the out-of-pocket cost is substantially reduced.
Yes, although each school varies in what they will or will not accept, most general classes will transfer in or transfer out to other schools.
Yes. Each student will have the opportunity to focus their ministry experience in either Kid Ministry, Student Ministry, Adult Ministry, Worship Ministry, Care Ministry, or Business.
Unfortunately, housing is not available through the BU@OCC program at this time. We hope to be able to offer that option in the future.
Yes, this program partners with Bethel University. Bethel University is a fully accredited institution authorized to award associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees.
BU@NMC enables enrolled students to pay for their college experience using federal financial aid. To know if you are eligible for such funding, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov and maintain 12 credit hours each semester.
Many scholarships received from organizations outside of Bethel University can be applied to the cost of your education.
Bethel University will assist you in understanding all of your financial options.
Bethel University will provide online courses for students, meaning you will be taught by BU professors.
There are both two-year associate degrees and four-year bachelor degrees available from Bethel University. Both degrees offer valuable life experience, leadership development, and ministry training from serving at Orchards Community Church.
Students are admitted in either the fall (classes begin in August) or spring (classes begin in January) semesters.