What if your student could graduate from high school, earn a bachelor’s degree, and complete a master’s degree… all in just three years after finishing their senior year of high school?
At North Central University, that’s not a hypothetical. It’s the RAMA B.A.M.A.
A new pathway for motivated students
The RAMA B.A.M.A. is a three-step degree pathway designed for homeschool students who are ready to get a head start on their calling. Through NCU’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, students begin earning college credit during high school – at no cost to their families – and graduate with an Associate of Arts degree already in hand. From there, they can earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science and then a Master of Arts.
“Hard-working students who enter NCU with their A.A. degree will be able to enroll in our 4+1 program to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in three years,” says NCU professor Jonathan Friesen, himself a homeschool father who has firsthand knowledge of the unique experiences of the homeschooling community.
The program, which began enrolling students earlier this year, launches Fall 2026 and is open to homeschool families in the Twin Cities area and beyond.
How It works
During their junior or senior year of high school, students enroll at Rise Up Homeschool Org, hosted at Crossroads Church in Columbus, Minnesota, where they take PSEO courses taught by NCU professors every Tuesday — just one day of driving per week. Each course has an online component for added flexibility. Students can take College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests to streamline their course load and make room for subjects they’re most passionate about.
New this year: a fully online PSEO option means students far from the Rise Up site can participate in the RAMA pathway from anywhere in Minnesota.
When students arrive at NCU, they’re already ahead. They join a Christ-centered campus community, learn from many of the same professors they met during high school, and step into the 4+1 program that makes the master’s degree possible in year three. Every incoming NCU student receives a scholarship, making this one of the most affordable pathways to graduate education available at a Christian university in the Twin Cities.
Formation, not just acceleration
The RAMA B.A.M.A. isn’t just about reducing the cost and timeline to get an advanced degree. It’s about entering adulthood with deep roots, a clear calling, and the academic preparation to pursue it well. Students complete a bachelor’s degree in their chosen major — whether education or any of NCU’s other programs — with a Bible minor, grounded in the Spirit-empowered formation that defines a North Central education.
Is RAMA Right for Your Student?
If you know a motivated homeschool student with a passion for learning and a desire to pursue their calling with excellence, the RAMA B.A.M.A. may be exactly what they’ve been looking for.
Learn more by reaching out directly to Jonathan Friesen at jmfriese@northcentral.edu.
