College and Finances
Statistics show that college graduates (with a bachelor’s degree) can earn twice as much as high school graduates, and their average lifetime earnings can range from $800,000 to $2 million.*
So, while paying for college might feel like a financial challenge, an investment in education is an investment in your future. Many people don’t end up paying sticker prices for school. Scholarships, grants, loans — all of these can make college more affordable.
Because Liberty’s mission is Training Champions for Christ, our goal is to find financial solutions that give you the best education for the most affordable price — so you can focus on finding the degree program that fits you, not on settling for something less somewhere else.
Take a look at some of the many financial opportunities** you’ll find at Liberty.
*The Hamilton Project
**You must have a FAFSA on file to receive any residential Liberty aid and all federal aid. If you are selected for FAFSA Verification, you must complete the verification process before being awarded any financial aid.
Ready for an Affordable Education?
Did You Know?
Middle America Scholarship
Our Middle America Scholarship helps students who don’t receive a full Federal Pell Grant by funding the difference, providing over $20,000 over four years to families who typically earn $35,000-$95,000 per year.
Need-based Vs. Merit-based Aid
What qualifies you for particular scholarships or grants? Two things: Your financial need and your academic, athletic, or other talent-based achievements.
Need-based financial aid is awarded to you based on your family’s financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as the FAFSA.
When you submit a FAFSA, the federal government takes into account your family’s income, assets, number of children, etc. and determines your Student Aid Index, or what is reasonable for your family to help pay toward a college education. Need-based aid uses the SAI to determine award eligibility and amounts.
Merit-based financial aid is made up of scholarships or grants that you earn. At Liberty, this could include academic scholarships like our Academic, Honors, Valedictorian/Salutatorian, or National Merit scholarships. Or it could mean trying out for a scholarship position on one of our 20 NCAA Division 1 athletic teams, Marching Band, or ministry teams.
Both need-based and merit-based scholarships are considered gift aid, which means you don’t have to pay them back.
Scholarships
Liberty offers a wide variety of institutional scholarships, both need-based and merit-based, to help you pay for school — you can even receive $2,000 just for sending in your Enrollment Deposit on time.
There are countless ways to create a personal scholarship package — here are some of our most common combinations. See if these apply to you or design one of your own!
Canadian Student Initiative
Champion Award
Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)
Early Deposit Award
Honors Scholars
Liberty Virginia High-Achiever Scholarship
- Lynchburg Beacon of Hope – Stay Close, Go Far Promise Program
Marching Band
Middle America Scholarship
Missionary Kid Scholarship
National Merit
New Student Book Dollars
Phi Theta Kappa
Virginia Pageants
Virginia Scholarship
Grants
Grants are gift aid that can be need-based or merit-based and are given by the government or the university.
Here are a few of the grants you could receive as a Liberty student.
FAFSA School Code: 010392
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal TEACH Grant
Liberty Supplemental Grant
Liberty Scholars Grant Program (Undergraduate)
Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)
Virginia Two-Year College Transfer Grant
Virginia: Brown vs. Board of Education
Loans
At Liberty University, we value our students’ ability to make an impact after graduation — without being held back by unnecessary debt. So, while student loans can be a good means to complete your degree program, we always advocate smart borrowing.
A variety of private loans through banks and individual lenders exist, but there are three main types of federal student loans: Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS loans.
Direct Subsidized
Available to undergraduate students based on your financial need
The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the loan:
- While you’re in school at least half-time
- For the first six months after you leave school (known as a “grace period”)
- During a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments)
Direct Unsubsidized
Available to undergraduate and graduate students; need is not a requirement
You are responsible for paying the interest on the loan during all periods.
If you choose not to pay the interest on the loan while you are in school, during the grace period, or during deferment, your interest will accumulate and be added to the base amount of your loan.
Parent PLUS
Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students
As a parent borrower, you’ll generally be expected to start making payments once your loan is fully paid out.
You may request deferment while your child is in school or during the grace period, but interest will continue to accumulate.
Learn More about Federal Student Loans
Academic and Honors Program Scholarships
Your high school grades and test scores could be worth at least $1,750 per year — and up to a full tuition scholarship. See if you qualify for the Liberty Academic Scholarship or become an LU honors student and enjoy smaller class sizes, specialized housing, and designated study space, The Scholars Commons, at the Jerry Falwell Library.
National Merit Finalists, Semi-finalists, and Commended students can earn full tuition; National Merit Finalists receive full room and board as well.
Work-study Funding
A part-time job on or off campus can also bring in funds for school. Federal work-study positions can provide you up to $5,000 per academic year, depending on your FAFSA. Work-study is considered need-based aid, and you’ll know you’re eligible for a work-study position if it’s offered in your financial aid offer.
Little known fact: Unlike income from other jobs, your Federal Work Study wages are not counted toward next year’s Student Aid Index from the FAFSA.
Program-specific, Ministry, or Leadership Scholarships
Do you sing or play an instrument? Want to fly a plane? Feel called to leadership? Liberty’s multiple ministry teams — like the Sounds of Liberty, LU Praise, and the Liberty Worship Collective — offer scholarship positions. Many individual schools, including the School of Music and the School of Aeronautics, offer their own program-specific scholarships.
While underclassmen are not eligible for Resident Assistant positions, hall leadership scholarships are available to those who qualify.
Interested in applying for a scholarship? Here are a few departments and offices offering scholarships:
- School of Aeronautics
- School of Health Sciences: Allied Health Professions
- School of Music
- Office of Opportunity and Enrichment: ONE Fellowship
- Debate Team
- Liberty Worship Collective
Additionally, go here to find out about additional Outside Scholarships.
General Scholarship Rule (GSR)
Your combined federal grants, state grants, and Liberty aid cannot exceed the combined cost of actual tuition and Tier 2 room and standard board charges. For commuter students, the GSR calculation only includes the cost of tuition since there is no room and board charge, which means federal grants, state grants, and Liberty aid cannot exceed the actual cost of tuition.
If the combined aid exceeds the total cost as specified, Liberty’s aid will be reduced to resolve the excess aid. The Federal Pell Grant is not included as a factor in the GSR for Resident students. All Liberty aid is subject to the GSR.
Liberty University reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of any scholarship at any time at its discretion, as well as suspend or terminate any scholarships.