Understanding the Process
There are a lot of complicated processes in life — the college admission process shouldn’t be one of them. Neither should the financial aid process.
So, great news! Once your child applies to Liberty, they’ll receive an individualized Student Checklist that will guide them from admission to graduation, walking them through every form, process, and step along the way.
Want more details? Take a high-level look at everything involved in becoming an LU student.
Think Liberty will be a great fit?
Lock in the highest possible scholarship amount for your student by submitting a refundable Enrollment Deposit today!
A Bird’s-Eye View
Take a look below at the steps you can help your student follow. As a parent, you can help your child through the process. There are some things you can do, but many of these steps have to be completed by the student themselves.
Step 1 – Submitting Their Application
Who can apply to Liberty University?
- High school second-semester sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Transfer students
What are the admission requirements?
- See our Admission Requirements for more information.
How can my child apply?
- Online: Online Application
- Through Live Chat
- Over the phone with an admission counselor: Call (800) 543-5317, Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Wed. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (EST).
- Have questions? Call the parent helpline at: (855) 745-3568
Is there an application fee?
- Yes. The standard application fee is $50 (deferred until Financial Check-In)
- If your son or daughter applies while they are on campus for a daily visit, ExperienceLU, or during College For A Weekend (CFAW), the fee will be waived.
Step 2 – Submitting Their Admission Documents and Getting Accepted
- They’ll need to claim their Liberty account, which will give them access to their individualized Student Checklist, which will walk them through getting accepted, registered, and ready for their first semester as a freshman or transfer student. They will also need to do the following:
- Write and send in a personal essay
- Request their high school transcripts
- Submit their SAT, ACT, or CLT scores (Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.)
- Submit their Enrollment Deposit (Note: the earlier you submit your deposit, the more scholarships your child may qualify for.)
Step 3 – Apply for Financial Aid
Once your child has been accepted, get excited! You’re going to be a Liberty parent!
How do we start the financial aid process?
- Submit your FAFSA
- Apply for loans and grants
- Complete Financial Check-In (FCI)
(Remember that the Student Checklist will help you with all of these processes.)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To be considered for federal grants, work study, loans, or Liberty University scholarships, you must submit your FAFSA by the deadline each year.
Step 4 – Complete Financial Check-in
Congratulations on your student’s acceptance!
If they will be a new student in the Spring of 2024, they can complete Financial Check-In after Oct. 1, 2023, and remember the deadline for new New Spring 2024 students is Jan. 5, 2024 ($150 late fee applied on Jan. 6).
If they will be a new student in the Fall of 2024, they can complete Financial Check-In after Jan. 1, 2024, and remember the deadline for New Fall 2024 students is Aug. 9, 2024 ($150 late fee applied on Aug. 10).
Keep in mind:
- It takes 3-5 business days for your FAFSA to be processed and on file.
- You will have more payment options available to you the earlier you complete Financial Check-In.
- When they complete FCI, they will:
Step 5 – Register for Their First Courses
Congratulations on completing FCI! You can start registering for classes. Register through our Registration Tool or give us a call to get help with picking your courses.
- Make sure to consult your degree completion plan and course guides to identify the best courses with which to start.
- If you would like assistance in registering for your first set of courses, our admissions counselors are available by calling (800) 543-5317.
How does my student get ready for their first semester?
- Complete their Math and English Assessments (these will place your child in the right classes)
- Register for courses
- Buy textbooks
- Create a FERPA pin
- Get their Flames Pass
- Complete their student health form
Important Terms to Know:
FERPA PIN (Personal Identification Number)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
The private information in your student’s account — such as grades, class schedules, and financial aid awards — may not be released to anyone without their consent (if they are 18 years old or above). Creating a PIN for their FERPA account allows them to give you access to this information.
Enrollment Deposit
Most schools require some sort of deposit during the enrollment process — that’s normal. Some use it as a firm RSVP, and others apply it toward housing or something similar.
At Liberty, the Enrollment Deposit gives you access to additional scholarship funds — possibly up to $10,000 worth! And the earlier you submit it, the more benefits you have available. Check out other benefits that will be available to you after submitting your Enrollment Deposit.
