Institutional Accreditation
SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Accreditation ensures that Liberty University has met strict standards with regard to degree programs, faculty, administration, student support, and services. Accreditation also ensures that courses taken and degrees earned through Liberty University will be accepted by other accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Schools participate in the accreditation process in order to gain third-party recognition that verifies the institution meets certain standards of academic and administrative quality and is committed to continual improvement.
Questions about the accreditation of Liberty University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Program Specific Accreditation
In addition to regional accreditation, many of Liberty’s programs are accredited or otherwise recognized by specialized professional and accrediting agencies:
Athletic Training
Liberty’s Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
Business
Liberty’s School of Business has achieved voluntary accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), demonstrating it has met standards of business education that promote teaching excellence.
Programs that have achieved accredited status include:
- A.A. in Accounting
- A.A. in Business
- A.A. in Business Management Information Systems
- B.S. in Accounting
- B.S. in Business Administration
- B.S. in Business Information Management Systems
- Master of Business Administration
- M.S. in Accounting
- A.A. in Accounting
- A.A. in Business
- A.A. in Information Systems
- B.S. in Accounting and Data Analysis
- B.S. in Business Administration*
- B.S. in Information Systems
- Master of Business Administration*
- M.S. in Accounting
- Doctor of Business Administration
*Accreditation for individual cognates may vary.
Computer Science
Liberty’s residential Computer Science program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
Counseling
Liberty’s residential M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling and M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Liberty’s online Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and online M.Ed. in School Counseling programs are also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
In addition to CACREP, the M.Ed. in School Counseling program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Accreditation System.
Divinity
Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity has been accredited through the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), demonstrating that it values the four core principles of ATS: diversity, quality and improvement, collegiality, and leadership. The approved programs include:
- Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
- Ed.D. in Christian Leadership
- M.A. in Applied Ministry
- M.A. in Biblical Exposition
- M.A. in Biblical Studies
- M.A. in Biblical Languages
- M.A. in Chaplaincy
- M.A. in Christian Apologetics
- M.A. in Christian Ministry
- M.A. in Church Planting
- M.A. in Educational Ministries
- M.A. in Global Studies
- M.A. in Religion
- M.A. in Sports Chaplaincy
- M.A. in Theological Studies
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
- Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.)
- Master of Theology (Th.M.)
- Ph.D. in Theological Studies
- Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics
Education
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits Liberty University’s School of Education. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through content and pedagogy, clinical partnerships and practice, candidate recruitment, progression and support, program impact, and quality assurance and continuous improvement.
CAEP is the only national accreditor for education preparation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation since its inception. We believe in striving for excellence in educator preparation, and we advance equity and performance through evidence-based reviews that promote quality and continuous improvement.
Liberty’s Teacher Licensure Programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
Liberty’s Teacher Licensure Programs are accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Engineering
Currently, the following statements only pertain to the residential programs.
- The Computer Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
- The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
- The Industrial and Systems Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Industrial and Systems and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
- The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
Exercise Science
Liberty’s Exercise Science program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Forensic Science
Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science residential program is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Nursing
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and the postgraduate APRN certificate program at Liberty University School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Liberty’s Registered Nurse program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBN).
The Liberty University School of Nursing Simulation Center is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) in the areas of Teaching/Education.
Osteopathic Medicine
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), operating under authority granted to it by the U.S. Department of Education, to offer an academic program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Public Health
The Liberty University MPH program with concentrations in Health Promotion, Global Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health as well as the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Respiratory Therapy
The B.S. Degree Entry into Respiratory Therapy Practice, CoARC program number 200640, B.S. in Respiratory Therapy, in Lynchburg, Virginia, program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).
The B.S. Degree Advancement Program in Respiratory Care, CoARC program number 510013, B.S. in Respiratory Therapy online program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).
This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit.
Social Work
Liberty’s B.S. in Social Work degree program, offered in both residential and distance education formats, is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
School of Law
Liberty University School of Law is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA).
School of Music
The Liberty University School of Music is accredited by and a member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). NASM accredits all music programs. The School of Music also offers two degrees that are not music degrees: the BS in Worship Studies and the Doctor of Worship Studies.
Sports Management
The sport management degree program(s) at Liberty University has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. The sport management programs in the following degrees are accredited by COSMA:
- Bachelor of Science Sport Management (Residential) with cognates in Sport Administration, Sport Communication & Public Relations, Sport Outreach, Venue & Event Management, and General Studies
- Master of Science in Sport Management (Residential and Online) with cognates in Sport Administration, Outdoor Adventure Sport, Tourism, and General Studies
“In the times in which we’re living today, Liberty University’s mission, the mission of training up a generation of
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
Experience That Matters to You
As an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University offers you an education that is both academically challenging and rooted in a biblical worldview.
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 35+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
And what’s that?
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Academic Quality
These important factors challenged us to find new financial solutions, get ahead of industry trends, and blaze trails into cutting-edge career fields — and it’s paid off. That’s the difference experience makes.
Ranked in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America and recognized by multiple institutions for academic quality, affordability, and accessibility.
Why Choose Liberty University?
Enjoy Flexible Courses
Choose from a wide variety of programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, most of which are 100% online*. With an 8-week format and 8 start dates per year, it’s easy to fit your courses around your schedule!
* Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
Maximize Your Time
Start and finish your degree faster! Liberty requires no standardized testing for admission, and you can transfer previous course credit — transfer in up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and up to 50% of a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree — or discover how your life, career, or military experience may count toward your college degree.
Grow in Your Faith
All of our courses are taught from a Christian perspective, and our faculty see themselves as mentors. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — we’re committed to championing you as you study to go further in your field, become a leader in your industry, or start a new career.
Access Academic Support
Throughout your educational journey, you will have access to academic resources that will aid in the completion of your degree. Services include our Jerry Falwell Library, writing center, tutoring, study aids, IT assistance, 30+ tutorial videos, live webinars, and personalized help from our academic advising team.
An Online Education with On-Campus Benefits
Cheer on 20 NCAA Division I
games that air nationwide
Graduate with your peers
Be inspired by world-renowned
speakers at Convocation
As a nonprofit (not-for-profit) university, Liberty is in the business of training skilled professionals to make a difference in the world – not gaining profit, revenue, or producing dividends for shareholders. In keeping with our commitment to your education, we invest our resources back into degree programs and into your student experience.
While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university and has not increased tuition for 9 straight years. Lower tuition means less student loan debt for students.
For Liberty University, nonprofit is more than a status; it is a valuable opportunity to invest in the lives of students who will go out and impact the world.
Financing Options
Financial Aid
Nearly 80% of all Liberty students in an online program are awarded financial aid. Virginia residents may qualify for additional aid — learn more!
Corporate Tuition Assistance
Deferred – If your company reimburses you for the cost of your education, you pay only a portion of your balance up front. You submit your grades to your employer who pays you, and then you pay the remaining balance for your classes.
Tuition Discounts
Qualified military service members, veterans, and their spouses can receive up to 55% off their tuition rate for eligible programs!
Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (800) 424-9595.
