“Private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg with 700+ degrees on campus and online.”
Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian research university in Lynchburg, Virginia, and one of the largest Christian universities in the world. Founded in 1971 by televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., Liberty has grown from a small Baptist college into a sprawling institution enrolling more than 100,000 students across residential and online programs. The university announced record enrollment in 2024 of over 16,000 residential students and 124,000 online learners, making its online division among the largest in American higher education. Its 7,000-acre campus at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains features an indoor football practice facility, a ski slope, a shooting range, and the Freedom Tower — one of the most recognizable collegiate skylines in the South. Academically, Liberty offers 350+ programs across more than a dozen colleges and schools, spanning undergraduate through doctoral levels. Well-known divisions include the School of Aeronautics (a four-time winner of the Loening Trophy for top US college aviation program), the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, the Helms School of Government, the School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Engineering, and the College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM). The most popular majors are business, theology and religious vocations, education, legal studies, and health professions. A Christian worldview is woven through the general-education core, and all residential students attend Convocation — the largest weekly gathering of Christian young people in the world. Life at Liberty centers on faith, athletics, and community. The Flames compete in 20 NCAA Division I sports in Conference USA, and football games are marked by the raucous LUnatics student section, the Flames Fan Fest tailgate, and fireworks over Williams Stadium. More than 150 student-led clubs cover everything from robotics and fencing to creative writing and cyber defense, and the surrounding Blue Ridge region offers hiking, skiing, and whitewater rafting within minutes of campus. For international students, Liberty is nearly open-admission — acceptance rates hover near 99% — and offers a dedicated International Student Center, though intl enrollment remains small (under 1% of the total student body, drawn chiefly from South Korea, Canada, and China).
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admission
Liberty uses rolling admissions; international applicants are advised to apply at least 6 months before the intended semester to allow time for I-20 issuance and visa processing.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$22,465
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Industry-recognized flight training paired with aviation business coursework. Graduates leave with FAA certifications and a pathway to regional and major airline careers.
3 years
Flagship seminary degree from one of the largest evangelical divinity schools globally; 100% online option offers flexibility for working pastors.
4 years
Pre-licensure BSN with clinical rotations across Central Virginia hospitals; strong NCLEX-RN pass rates and graduate-school placement.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $22,465
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
