frequently asked questions

questions about Onelife?

OneLife FAQ:

OneLife Institute’s gap year program is truly a year like no other. OneLife students earn a year’s worth of college credits through a rigorous curriculum of travel, service, classroom learning, and personal mentorship. Our mission is to develop and launch servant leaders who live out their faith in every area of life! 

A gap year is simply taking a break from classroom education- typically between high school and college. A gap year is a break from the classroom, not a break from learning! At OneLife, we’ve seen how our intentional gap year program prepares our students to live integrated lives- with strong foundations in relationships, academics, and faith. 

There’s actually research that shows that students who take a gap year often do better academically later on! We also see how valuable it is for students to take time to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their faith. 

The New York Times highlighted research from Middlebury College and the University of North Carolina showing that students who took a gap year got better grades than those who did not. Here is a recent article by Time Magazine expressing the great need for Gap Year programs, as well as this article by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Our program is designed so that by the time students graduate, they have: 

  • Grown in Christian Character
  • Developed a sense of their Calling
  • Learned Relational Wisdom

OneLife operates at 4 different locations. Each site has the same OneLife program with the same values and outcomes. However, each site has a different personality and different features! Visit our locations page to find out more about our sites!

  1. OneLife at Lodestar | Upper Tract, WV
  2. OneLife at Three Springs | Morris, PA
  3. OneLife at Pleasant View | Manheim,PA
  4. OneLife at Sakanaga | Marietta, SC

No, unfortunately OneLife is for students just out of high school to 21 years old! But we get this question a lot!

The price of OneLife is $24,500. This covers everything; tuition, books, room & board, as well as travel expenses. There are no additional fees. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Please contact us regarding financial aid and all financial concerns. 

Yes! OneLife students are enrolled as full-time college students and are eligible for government and private scholarships that are awarded based on eligibility requirements. We don’t want finances to be something that keeps the right student away from OneLife.

OneLife is fully accredited, both regionally & nationally, thanks to our partnerships with Cairn University and North Greenville University.

OneLife at Three Springs, OneLife at Pleasant View, & OneLife at Lodestar

Cairn University Credits

  • BIB 202 The Narrative of Redemption
  • BIB 203 The Pentateuch
  • BIB 303 The Gospels
  • CHM 121 Ministry Leadership and Management
  • CHM 221 Spiritual Formation and Disciple-Making Ministries
  • COM 111 Introduction to Communications
  • HUM 141 Christianity and Culture 
  • SOC 202 Sociocultural Studies 
  • THE 111 Life and Calling

Short answer, yes!

Longer answer, all OneLife students will have an official transcript from Cairn University or North Greenville University. All credits are transferable. However, some credits may not apply to certain courses of study. Talk to college admissions counselors about whether or not these credits will count toward the particular degree you want to pursue.

The admissions process is simple:

  1. Pre-Qualify
  2. Spiritual Reference
  3. Interview
  4. Deposit
  5. Complete The College Application to Earn Credit

Start Here

Here are some of the things we’re looking for in students coming into OneLife:

  • Post high-school to 21 years of age
  • Loves travel and adventure
  • Appreciates learning both inside and outside the classroom
  • Desires to learn and grow in Christian faith & biblical knowledge
  • Demonstrates leadership qualities
  • Expresses a desire to be teachable
  • Exhibits moral character and conduct
  • Maintains a positive attitude toward authority

Many OneLife students choose to go to college after graduating. There are many colleges we partner with that offer scholarships specifically for OneLife students! We also have a second year program for OneLife students who are interested in media, ministry, trade, or entrepreneurship. 

Yes! We have a second year program in Marietta, SC. Our second year program prepares students for the workplace. There are four concentrations, or tracks, you can choose from: Media, Ministry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade. Learn more about OneLife second year here.