Liberty University

Liberty University is a private Christian university that is located in Virginia, US. It provides education to students in online mode across the world. Founded in 1971 under the guidance of Thomas Road Baptist Church, its mission, which was set by founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, is to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills to make an impact. The motto of Liberty University is “Knowledge Aflame” — it says that all learning is viewed in the light of biblical truth. Its main campus is located at the base of Liberty Mountain, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. The area spans more than 7,200 acres and includes over 172 facilities.

As for size, Liberty is one of the largest universities in the country. Its website lists more than 144,000 students across residential and online study, over 700 areas of study, and more than 300,000 alumni. Liberty also reports an 18:1 student-to-professor ratio. Turning to the programs, Liberty offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees, plus certificates. Students can choose as per their preference from business, nursing, engineering, computer science, education, psychology, public health, aviation, and religion. The university also runs a School of Law, a College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a Theological Seminary. In addition, more than 600 of its programs can be taken online. So working adults and international learners can study without moving to Virginia.

When it comes to delivery, the two formats work quite differently. Residential students study on campus, and many use Thomas Road Baptist Church and local ministries as places to apply what they learn. Online students, on the other hand, take courses through Canvas, and most courses run in an eight-week format with several start dates each year. There are other small programs as well that run for 14 to 17 weeks, and some programs need short on-campus intensives. The online division began in 1985 as the School of Lifelong Learning, which was built for adult learners, military personnel, and Christian school teachers.

Liberty lists a wide range of accreditations in its catalog. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, accredits the university to award associate through doctoral degrees. Specific programs also hold their own approvals:

• The School of Business programs are accredited by ACBSP.
• The engineering programs are accredited by ABET.
• The nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.
• The counseling programs are accredited by CACREP.
• The School of Education is accredited by CAEP.
• The School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association.
• The College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by COCA.

Liberty is also a participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. It allows Liberty to offer online programs in 49 participating states. 

At Liberty University, faith defines the campus life and admissions. The university publishes a doctrinal position, and students agree to a code of conduct called The Liberty Way. Beyond academics, Liberty competes in athletics as the Flames, with home games at Williams Stadium.