Liberty University

Liberty University is a private non-profit Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The college has more than 100,000 online students and approximately 13,800 residential students enrolled, making it the largest Evangelical Christian university in the world and the largest non-profit university in Virginia.

Liberty University was founded as the Lynchburg Baptist College, by Jerry Falwell in 1971. At the time he founded the university, Reverend Dr. Falwell was the Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church as well as the longtime host of the syndicated radio and television show "The Old Time Gospel Hour." Reverend Dr. Falwell challenged his congregation to establish a Christian college where students would enter all walks of life to "impact the world for God." Students in the early years were encouraged to not only lead in the industry they served in upon graduation, but to also influence the moral and ethical course of America. For this reason, the name of the school was changed to the Liberty Baptist College in 1976. Liberty gained university status in 1984.

After the passing of Reverend Dr. Falwell, his son, Jerry Falwell, Jr., became chancellor and president of Liberty. The university has faced many challenges over the years, but continues to fulfill the mission of Reverend Dr. Falwell to "train champions for Christ."

The Liberty University campus is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres and offers more than 450 programs from certificate to doctorate level. The university strives to create Christ-centered graduates with values, knowledge and skills essential for impacting the world today and tomorrow.

Liberty University Accreditation Details

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In addition, programs offered through Liberty University are accredited by the following agencies:

• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
• Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
• American Bar Association

Liberty University Application Requirements

Undergraduate students should complete an application and pay the required application fee. Students entering from high school must have four units of English, two to three years of college prep math, two years of laboratory science, two years of social science, two years of foreign language and at least four elective units. Liberty does not accept AP, CLEP or IB exam scores but does accept DANTES/DSST scores.

Graduate students should discuss admission requirements with an admission counselor as different degree programs have different admission requirements. Students who wish to attend the online college at Liberty should complete an online admissions application. First time students at Liberty should call to speak to an enrollment counselor before applying. Returning students who have a degree they earned from Liberty University may have the application fee waived. If it has been less than one year since the student's last class, they may contact their academic counselor resume classes. If it has been more than year, students may need to complete the enrollment process again.

Liberty University Tuition and Financial Aid

Residential tuition at Liberty University is $21,300 annually for undergraduate students. There is also a $700 activity/student center fee and a $270 auto registration fee. Residential graduate tuition is as follows:

• Master of Arts - $540 per credit hour
• Seminary Master's Programs - $2,650 per semester full-time or $380 per credit hour part-time
• Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences - $580 per credit hour
• Master of Theology - $540 per credit hour
• Doctor of Ministry, Ph.D Programs and Nursing Practice - $570 per credit hour

Online tuition at Liberty University is $435 per credit hour for part-time and $375 per credit hour for full-time undergraduate students. Graduate students attending online pay $590 per credit hour part-time and $540 per credit hour full-time. Other online tuition rates include:

• Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences - $580 both full- and part-time
• Master Seminary Programs - $380 per credit hour part-time/$2,650 block rate full-time
• Doctorate Programs and Ed.S. - $625 per credit hour part-time/$570 per credit hour full-time
• Military Undergraduate - $250 per credit hour full- and part-time
• Military Master Seminary - $275 per credit hour part-time/$2,475 block rate full-time
• Military Graduate/Doctorate - $275 per credit full- and part-time

Military graduate/doctorate rates only apply to education doctoral programs. Military students pursuing other degrees pay the regular tuition rate for doctorate programs.

Undergraduate students taking 11 or less credit hours are considered part-time. Graduate students taking eight or less credit hours are considered part-time while doctorate students are considered part-time if they are taking five or less credit hours.

Financial aid is available through Liberty University in the form of grants, scholarships, work study and loans. Virginia residents may also be eligible for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant and there may be private loans available as well. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for financial aid.

Liberty College Online Degrees Available

Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision prepares graduates to become competent clinicians, educators, administrators, researchers and consultants. The program emphasizes ethical, evidence-based clinical practice that is grounded in biblical understanding. The program offers an innovative approach to knowing more about experience and behavior in human beings. It is a 66-hour program that includes core classes and electives. There is also a qualifying examination, practicum, internship and dissertation required. Students may choose between Advanced Clinical Counseling and Counselor Education Supervision concentration. Courses are intensive based so that students learn at an accelerated pace.

To be admitted to the program, students must provide official transcripts from any degree or university attended and have a minimum 3.25 GPA. Students must submit a Ph.D. graduate status record as well. A score of 400 or better on the MAT examination or a total verbal and quantitative score of 300 plus a 4.0 or better on the analytical writing section of the GRE is required. Students must also provide two letters of recommendation, a 300-word letter of intent and an APA-formatted research paper on a topic related to clinical health counseling. Students must also submit to a personal interview with Core Ph.D. faculty and students for whom English is a second language may need to provide TOEFL scores.

For students who need the flexibility of online courses, Liberty University offers a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate level so that those who must meet family, employment and social obligations can achieve their higher education goals.