The headlines concerning higher education in America today paint a picture of academia in crisis. There is no shortage of secular institutions scrambling to fix declining enrollment, for example, but Christian colleges and universities are moving in the opposite direction by majoring on what matters most.
Schools in the International Alliance for Christian Education, representing many of the nation’s most conservative Christian colleges and of which Liberty is a member, have seen as much as a 10 percent or higher increase in enrollment in the past decade.
Liberty surpassed 16,000 residential students for the first time in Fall 2024 and remained steady this past fall with nearly 16,200 students — a 15.7% increase from Fall 2015. We expect to hit another record in our online program by this summer, enrolling more than 132,000 students.
Why are authentic Christian institutions like Liberty thriving in today’s higher education landscape? Because families are seeking schools that are unapologetically faithful to their core mission. In a recent parent survey by the Center for Academic Faithfulness & Flourishing, Christian character was the single most important factor in selecting a college, followed by academic excellence and campus safety.
Having spent the bulk of my professional life serving in roles where “mission” really matters, I have seen firsthand the importance of crafting and executing a clear organizational purpose. That purpose is step one in avoiding the kind of mission drift that has plagued so many. My pilot friends know that even the smallest deviation off course at the start can lead to a dramatically different destination over time. When Christian institutions compromise core commitments, even slightly, they chart a dangerous course that incrementally leads them far away from the truth they once embraced. On the other hand, universities that remain true to their God-given mission can weather the turbulence of culture with confidence, knowing their path is directed by the Lord.
Families in this cultural moment want to send their children to schools where biblical truth isn’t limited to weekly chapel services but also informs every aspect of campus life, from classes to sports arenas to student activities to dorm life. Parents take their stewardship roles seriously, striving to always nurture, protect, and adhere to the wise instruction of Proverbs 22:6 by training their child “in the way he should go,” so that “when he is old, he will not depart from it.” They want their child’s transition from home to college, and from childhood to adulthood, to launch from a platform that shares the same values they have worked so hard to instill and have asked God to provide.
“Everything here is designed to help every student know and love God so they can become the person He has created them to be, fully equipped to live on mission for Christ.”
– President Dondi E. Costin
At Liberty, students don’t have to choose between high-quality academics and a vibrant faith environment, both of which are desperately needed these days. Everything here is designed to help every student know and love God so they can become the person He has created them to be, fully equipped to live on mission for Christ.
In late 2024, a task force of administrators, faculty, staff, and students from around the university tackled the following questions in our continuing push to help our graduates maximize every moment between Liberty and eternity: (1) What does it mean to be a Champion for Christ?, (2) What values, knowledge, and skills are required to exceed that standard?, and (3) How should we coordinate actions in every corner of our campus to accomplish that mission?
The task force developed a “3D” model for student development and presented it to Liberty’s Board of Trustees last fall. The “Discover, Develop, Deploy” model provides a holistic framework that guides students through an intentional journey of purposeful growth, rooted in our founding mission, to prepare graduates to impact the world for Jesus Christ. Our job is walking them through this transformative experience by helping them discover the academic, spiritual, and professional resources available to every student; develop the mindset and skillset necessary to be effective in their careers as Gospel-minded professionals; and ultimately deploy them into the world as fully trained Champions for Christ.
The graphic below outlines the four core values that form the foundation of this model: spiritual renewal, social responsibility, intellectual rootedness, and physical and emotional resiliency (click on the graphic to read more). Each value is integral to effectiveness as a Champion for Christ, and each is firmly grounded in the inerrant Word of God.
Click on the graphic to read about the four core values in Liberty’s student development model.
A new Student Development Council has been formed to ensure that university efforts across all divisions are aligned as we leverage this model to accomplish our mission. If Simon Sinek were to evaluate our approach through the lens of his popular Golden Circle, he would see that we started with our Why (Great Commandment, Great Commission), defined our How (discover, develop, deploy), and focused on our What (producing Champions for Christ), all in diligent pursuit of the task God has assigned. This is our stewardship.
Liberty students come from every state and from more than 100 countries, but they are bound by a common desire for excellent academics in an environment where Christ is King. They could have gone somewhere else, but they wanted an education that would shape their worldview, strengthen their faith, and encourage them to live with audacity in a world desperate for the truth of the Gospel. They have come to the right place. May God do what only He can do to equip them for that task.
— Dondi E. Costin | President
