Academic Policies (LUO)

Privacy Policy (FERPA)

Liberty University is committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our website. The University Privacy Policy outlines how we collect information when you visit one of our sites, how we use that information, and how you can update that information.

Liberty University and Liberty University Online respect the rights and privacy of our students, and strictly adheres to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. This means relatives and other individuals may not obtain information about a student unless the student issues formal written consent to the university.

Learn more about the FERPA Act.

Honor Code

You can view the honor code for all Liberty University undergraduate and graduate students here.

Attendance Policy

Students are required to attend classes during the first week of classes. Class attendance is defined as submitting an academic assignment (such as an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic event). At the end of the first week of each class, the course will be reviewed to determine if the student had attended. If the student had not attended, the student will be dropped from the course roster and will not be allowed to submit further course work. Students are expected to submit tests and course work throughout the term and/or sub-term. Students who begin attendance, but then cease progressing toward the completion of the course will be assigned a grade of "FN." If the student receives all FN's in a sub-term, the student will be subject to the Unofficial Withdrawal Procedure which includes the reduction and/or return of all financial aid.

Drop Policy

Students may drop any course for a full refund prior to the course start date. Please refer to the Dates & Deadlines webpage for a current listing of all course dates.
 

Withdrawal Policy

The Liberty University Online withdrawal types are listed below:

• Academic withdrawal - withdrawal due to not being able to complete the course for any reason.
• Administrative withdrawal – could be for any valid reason initiated by the university, but must be approved by an authorized University Administrator.
• Medical withdrawal - withdrawal from courses for medical reasons. Documentation from a licensed physician is required before a medical withdrawal can be processed.

Military Withdrawals

Military student withdrawals are processed due to deployment, temporary duty, permanent change of station, or extended duty training. Documentation from the Military is required for the withdrawal to be classified as a military withdrawal.
 

Unofficial Withdrawals

In accordance with Title IV regulations which require that universities have a mechanism in place for determining whether or not a student who begins a course received or could have received a disbursement of Title IV funds unofficially withdrew, the University has established a procedure for student enrolled in the online courses. This procedure is used to determine if students are progressing toward the completion of their courses. 

Students who cease to submit any course work during the enrollment periods will be assigned grades of FN. Student receiving all FN’s in semester will be processed as an unofficial withdrawal. The withdrawal date will be the last date of attendance during the enrollment period. A Title IV withdrawal calculation will be performed for the student and the student will be reported as withdrawn. Students will be notified of the results of the Title IV withdrawal calculation by the Financial Aid office.

Tuition Recalculation

IMPORTANT: If a student registers full time and subsequently withdraws from one or more courses which results in their remaining enrollment being less than full-time (part-time), they will be charged the part-time tuition rate for the remaining courses in that semester. If the new tuition rate results in a balance, the student is responsible for making payment.

• Undergraduate students enrolled in less than 12 hours
• Graduate students enrolled in less than 9 hours

For example: 

If an undergraduate student is enrolled in 12 credit hours and withdraws from one course, once the withdrawal is processed the student will be registered for less than 12 hours, therefore this student will be charged the part-time tuition rate for all remaining hours.

Seminary students who withdraw from a course and their remaining enrollment is below the requirement (less than 9 hours) for the Seminary Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) will be charged at the part-time tuition rate, which may result in additional charges above the normal block rate tuition.

To view the current tuition rates, please visit Liberty University Online Tuition Rates.

Withdrawal Refund/Credit Schedule (Sixteen and Eight Week Classes) 

1. 100% tuition and fees will be credited if the student withdraws within the first week of the class, but before submission of the first assignment (first assignment includes Course Checklist, whether or not it is on the course schedule/syllabus). The student's request will be processed as a drop.
    
2. 75% tuition and fees will be credited if the student withdraws after submitting the first assignment and through the end of the second week of classes.
    
3. 50% tuition and fees will be credited if the student withdraws after the second week of classes, but before the end of the fourth week of classes.
    
4. 25% tuition and fees will be credited if the student withdraws after the fourth week of classes, but before the seventh week of classes.
    
5. No tuition or fees will be credited after the sixth week of classes.

Withdrawal Refund Schedule for Intensives

Week 1-2 (tuition and fees credit)
100% Start of class to close of the first day
50% Start of class to close of the second day
0% After the close of the second day, the student is liable for ALL tuition and fees

Week 3 (tuition and fees credit)
100% Start of class to close of the first day
50% Start of class to close of the third day
25% Start of class to close of the fifth day
0% After the close of the fifth day, the student is liable for ALL tuition and fees

Week 4 Intensives (tuition and fees credit)
100% Start of class to close of the first day (End of drop/add period)
50% Start of class to close of the fourth day
25% Start of class to close of the seventh day
0% After the close of the seventh day, the student is liable for ALL tuition and fees

Important: A $50 withdrawal processing fee will be charged to all students who withdraw from the university for the term.

Note: Payment Plan Participation Fees, audit fees and Late Check-In Fees are non-refundable.

Repeating a Course

When students withdraw from a course, if the course is retaken, the student will be charged full tuition and fees without a discount.
 

How to Withdraw

The student needs to contact the Academic Advisor to begin the withdrawal process:

Undergraduate Business: busi@liberty.edu
Graduate Counseling: coun@liberty.edu
Graduate Education: educ@liberty.edu
Graduate Business: mba@liberty.edu
Military Advising: mil@liberty.edu
Undergraduate Psychology: psyc@liberty.edu
Seminary: semi@liberty.edu
Undergraduate General Studies: uggen@liberty.edu
Undergraduate Religion: ugrelig@liberty.edu
 

Financial Aid Repercussions

For more information on the financial repercussions of withdrawing, please contact the Financial Aid Advisor or select the link below. Students that are using financial aid must show satisfactory academic progress throughout their coursework. Financial Aid can be contacted at:
FinancialAid@liberty.edu or (888) 583-5704.
 

Withdrawal Fee

A fee of $50 will be charged for the processing of an official, unofficial, or administrative withdrawal from the University.

For more information on how your withdrawal may affect your financial aid, please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.