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Private 4-Year Minimally Selective Lynchburg, VA NCAA Division I-FBS

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

99%
Acceptance Rate
$44,489/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$29,357/yr
Avg Price After Aid
64.4%
6-yr Grad Rate
50,012
Undergrads(includes online enrollment)

About Liberty University

Liberty University is a private nonprofit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia, a small city setting. The university serves 50,012 undergraduate students with an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Type
Private 4-Year
Undergrads
50,012
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,971
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$2.6B
Pell Students
38.3%
First-Gen
42.4%
What Liberty University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Pre-Law Studies 165 graduates · 1.6% of degrees here vs 0.02% nationally 68×
Religion/Religious Studies 488 graduates · 4.6% of degrees here vs 0.08% nationally 59×
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science... 439 graduates · 4.1% of degrees here vs 0.25% nationally 17×
Creative Writing 202 graduates · 1.9% of degrees here vs 0.16% nationally 12×
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 605 graduates · 5.7% of degrees here vs 1.38% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
99%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
36,921
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$29,357 avg net
Average net price after aid
$30,667
Under $30K income
$2.6B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$39,707 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
64.4%
6-yr Grad Rate
$24,500
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Liberty University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
99%
36,921 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
18:1
Undergrad instruction

Liberty University has a 99.0% acceptance rate, indicating the institution admits nearly all applicants with minimal selectivity in its admissions process.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 36,921 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 16,179 16,065 99.3% 3,195
Women 20,677 20,542 99.3% 3,212
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Liberty University admits 99% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.

Acceptance rate
This school
99%
Similar colleges (1,009)
73.8%
VA (51)
79.8%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Liberty University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$29,357
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$24,500
Federal Loan Rate
46.2%
Students borrowing federal loans

Liberty University's cost of attendance is $44,489, while the average net price students pay is $29,357, meaning students pay considerably less than the sticker price on average.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$44,489
Tuition & Fees
$22,465
50%
Room & Board
$13,835
31%
Books & Supplies
$1,596
4%
Other Expenses
$6,593
15%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$30,667
$30,001 – $48,000
$27,807
$48,001 – $75,000
$27,347
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,142
Over $110,000
$30,545

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
86%
Federal loans
46%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $260.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Liberty University costs $29,357 a year — about 30% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$42,025
Similar colleges (1,094)
$49,718
VA (85)
$31,646
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
86.4%
Similar colleges (998)
91.8%
VA (101)
86.9%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$24,500
Similar colleges (1,032)
$24,977
VA (102)
$19,475
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$29,357
Similar colleges (1,105)
$22,585
VA (114)
$19,337
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Liberty University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
64.4%
Median Earnings 6yr
$39,707
6 years after entering

Liberty University has a graduation rate of 64.4%. Graduates earn a median of $39,707 six years after entry and $44,813 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$48,504
Men
$34,737
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
53.3%
Pell recipients
67.8%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Business Administration and Management,...1,683
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other1,387
Psychology, General1,225
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies605
Religion/Religious Studies488
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science...439
Elementary Education and Teaching348
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse240
History, General223
Creative Writing202
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
70.8%
White
69.9%
Hispanic
51.3%
Black
40.5%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Liberty University are $40,638, and 61% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Liberty University students earn $39,707 — 13% less than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$44,813
Similar colleges (1,077)
$54,064
VA (112)
$44,235
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$39,707
Similar colleges (1,077)
$45,468
VA (117)
$36,455
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
64.4%
Similar colleges (1,074)
58.1%
VA (51)
55.7%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
79.4%
Similar colleges (1,117)
76.6%
VA (51)
76.1%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Liberty University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a private nonprofit institution in a small city setting. The student body of 50,012 undergraduates includes 42.4% first-generation students and 38.3% Pell grant recipients.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
56.6%
Asian
1.8%
Hispanic
7.9%
Black
10.6%
Other Indicators
First-generation
42.4%
Pell grant recipients
38.3%
Women
54.6%
Liberty University Athletics
Total Revenue
$19.1M
Total Expense
$19.1M
Athletes
673
317 men · 356 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$926,880
Women's sports
$152,132

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$6,529,080
Women's aid
$5,464,906
Academic Resources
696
Full-time faculty
$79,971
Avg faculty salary
27,239
FT staff
$2.6B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$82,234
Women (avg)
$77,017
Overall avg
$79,971
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
50,012
Graduate students
51,366

Graduate and professional students outnumber undergraduates here, which shapes class sizes, housing and campus life in ways an undergraduate figure alone doesn't show.

Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
1.7%

535 of 31,511 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
74.1%
Undergrads taking any
87.1%
Grad students fully online
95.7%

39,168 of 52,823 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 48,101 of 50,245 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and operates its own medical school.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
38.3%
Similar colleges (1,171)
32.8%
VA (125)
38.3%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$2,254
Similar colleges (1,164)
$6,264
VA (75)
$6,583
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
18:1
Similar colleges (1,191)
12:1
VA (126)
14:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Liberty University
109 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
10,602 graduates
Business and Marketing 1,962 grads · 5 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 1,683
Accounting 198
Management Information Systems, General 72
Hospitality Administration/Management,... 7
Business/Commerce, General 2
Multidisciplinary Studies 1,442 grads · 5 majors
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 1,387
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 28
International/Globalization Studies 15
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis 8
Biopsychology 4
Psychology 1,225 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 1,225
Education 666 grads · 13 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 348
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 113
Special Education and Teaching, General 62
Education, Other 44
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign... 36
English/Language Arts Teacher Education 24
Social Studies Teacher Education 15
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School... 12
Mathematics Teacher Education 6
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 3
Biology Teacher Education 1
Education, General 1
Family and Consumer Sciences/Home... 1
Homeland Security and Protective Services 638 grads · 3 majors
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 605
Fire Services Administration 25
Forensic Science and Technology 8
Health Professions 525 grads · 5 majors
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 240
Health Services/Allied Health/Health... 151
Health/Health Care Administration/Management 65
Public Health Education and Promotion 45
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist 24
Philosophy and Religious Studies 512 grads · 2 majors
Religion/Religious Studies 488
Christian Studies 24
Transportation 505 grads · 2 majors
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science... 439
Aviation/Airway Management and Operations 66
Visual and Performing Arts 432 grads · 19 majors
Graphic Design 105
Design and Visual Communications, General 80
Music, Other 63
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 55
Digital Arts 35
Interior Design 33
Music Pedagogy 9
Acting 8
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 7
Music, General 7
Fine/Studio Arts, General 6
Voice and Opera 6
Brass Instruments 5
Musical Theatre 5
Music History, Literature, and Theory 3
Musicology and Ethnomusicology 2
Keyboard Instruments 1
Music Theory and Composition 1
Stringed Instruments 1
Computer and Information Sciences 288 grads · 4 majors
Information Technology 173
Computer and Information Sciences, General 61
Computer and Information Systems... 39
Informatics 15
Public Administration and Social Services 268 grads · 3 majors
Social Work 202
Human Services, General 41
Public Administration 25
History 265 grads · 2 majors
History, General 223
Military History 42
Communication and Journalism 252 grads · 3 majors
Communication, General 181
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 53
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 18
Legal Professions 245 grads · 2 majors
Pre-Law Studies 165
Legal Assistant/Paralegal 80
Theology and Religious Vocations 233 grads · 6 majors
Religious/Sacred Music 70
Divinity/Ministry 40
Bible/Biblical Studies 36
Youth Ministry 33
Lay Ministry 31
Pastoral Studies/Counseling 23
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 228 grads · 4 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 110
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 101
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... 11
Outdoor Education 6
English Language and Literature 224 grads · 2 majors
Creative Writing 202
English Language and Literature, General 22
Social Sciences 201 grads · 4 majors
Political Science and Government, General 165
International Relations and Affairs 28
Geography 5
Social Sciences, General 3
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 134 grads · 7 majors
Biomedical Sciences, General 89
Wildlife Biology 18
Zoology/Animal Biology 8
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 6
Environmental Biology 5
Biochemistry 4
Biotechnology 4
Engineering 107 grads · 5 majors
Mechanical Engineering 58
Industrial Engineering 16
Civil Engineering, General 15
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 12
Computer Engineering, General 6
Family and Consumer Sciences 81 grads · 3 majors
Human Development and Family Studies, General 34
Apparel and Textiles, General 26
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human... 21
Military Technologies 68 grads · 1 major
Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology 68
Mathematics and Statistics 42 grads · 2 majors
Applied Mathematics, General 32
Mathematics, General 10
Physical Sciences 27 grads · 2 majors
Physics, General 16
Chemistry, General 11
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 20 grads · 2 majors
Spanish Language and Literature 11
American Sign Language 9
Engineering Technologies 8 grads · 1 major
Industrial Technology/Technician 8
Liberal Arts and General Studies 4 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 4
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Liberty University Location & Campus Safety

Liberty University is in Lynchburg, VA, in what IPEDS classifies as a small city setting. The campus sits about 3.4 miles from the center of Lynchburg. There are 4 other colleges within 25 miles, and Lynchburg, VA is 3.4 miles away.

Liberty University
Small city
Campus Setting
3.4 mi
To City Center
4
Colleges Within 25 mi
79,255
Lynchburg Population
Living in Lynchburg
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,043
Median Rent / mo
$59,808
Median Household Income
28.9%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
70.1%
Walk
5.2%
Public transit
2%

Lynchburg City scores 13.8 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 18.1% of Lynchburg's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at Liberty University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Liberty University reported for 2024.

85
On-Campus Offenses
31
In Residence Halls
0.8
Per 1,000 Students
63
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
46
2023
64
2024
85
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
57
Motor vehicle theft
21
Aggravated assault
5
Arson
2

Separately, Liberty University reported 11 arrests and 28 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Liberty University admissions, costs, and outcomes.