Liberty University was founded as the Lynchburg Baptist College by Jerry Falwell in the year 1971. It is the largest non-profit, online university in the United States today with over 60,000 students enrolled in its various online programs. Liberty University also holds the distinction of being the largest Evangelical Christian university in the world. The brick and mortar campus of Liberty is located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
Popular Programs and Degrees Online
Liberty online offers a wide variety of bachelor’s, master’s, associate and doctoral programs to its online students. The online bachelor’s programs offered by this university are Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Communications, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, Marketing, Project Management, Public Administration, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Forensics, Homeland Security, Youth Corrections, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Science in Special Education in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Science in Business Management Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to B.S.N.), Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Substance Abuse, Christian Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Life Coaching and
Bachelor of Science in Religion.
Master’s programs available from Liberty online are Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.), Master of Arts in Management and Leadership (M.A.M.L.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) , Accounting, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Management, Human Resources, International Business, Leadership, Marketing, Project Management, Public Administration, Public Relations, Master of Arts in Human Services, Business, Christian Ministries, Communication Studies, Executive Leadership, Health & Wellness, Marriage & Family, Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Master of Education (M.Ed.), Administration & Supervision, Program Specialist – Math, Program Specialist – Reading, School Counseling, Teaching and Learning, Master of Science in Sport, Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Public Policy, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Global Studies, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Chaplaincy, Missional Studies, Pastoral Ministries, Professional Ministries, Theological Studies, Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.), Master of Theology (Non-Thesis), and Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology.
Liberty online also offers doctoral and postgraduate programs such as Doctor of Philosophy Counseling (Ph.D.), Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), and Doctor of Philosophy in Theology & Apologetics (Ph.D.). In addition to the above, Liberty also offers certificate courses in subjects related to theology.
Fees
Since Liberty University is a non-profit institution, tuition rates are one of the cheapest among all online universities in the United States. For undergraduate programs, they are $ 342 for part time and $ 304 full time per hour; for graduate programs, they are $476 and $ 438 respectively; and for doctoral programs the tuition costs are $508 and $ 468 respectively. For military, it’s a flat rate of $250 for part time and full time, and for seminary they are $285 per hour and $2, 200 block rate.
Financial aid is available in form of loans, grants and scholarships such as Canadian Student Initiative, CMT (Center for Ministry Training), Emergency Response Personnel, Heroes Fund Scholarship, IMB (International Mission Board), Liberty Advantage, Living Proof, SBCV (Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia), Word of Life Bible Institute, WVCSB (West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists), Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal TEACH Grant, Southside Tobacco Loan Forgiveness Program, Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG), and Federal Direct Loans.
Awards and Recognition
- Liberty University has been ranked in the Top-10 most conservative colleges in the U.S. by Young America’s Foundation.
- In 2011, Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges ranked Liberty University 535 overall
- U.S. News & World Report also ranked Liberty the 80th top school in the list of Regional Universities (South)
- The U.S. News & World Report ranked Liberty University 80th in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges of Regional Universities in the South
- In 2005, Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges ranked Liberty University as a competitive college, its fourth-highest of six ranks, indicating that it accepts students in the top 65% of their graduating class
- Ranked in the top 10 list for two years in a row by the Online Education Database for 2009
Famous Alumni
- William Franklin Graham IV – Evangelist and Billy Graham’s grandson
- Bill Keller – Televangelist
- Kevin Grantham – Colorado Senator
- Jeff Coleman – former member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Mike Fleck – current member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Alan Rowe – President and CEO of First Commercial Bank
- Heath Ritenour – CEO of Insurance Office of America Inc.
- Shannon Bream – Television Reporter/Anchor.
- Darrell Farley- Radio Personality and Music Producer
- Jeremy Nicholson- Emmy Award Winning Videographer
- Darryl Roberts – soccer player with Denizlispor.
- Osei Telesford –soccer player with Puerto Rico Islanders.
- Megan Frazee – WNBA player with the San Antonio Silver Stars
Source: Wikipedia, liberty.edu
