Ron Kennedy, B.S., M.B.A., Ed.D.
Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing

Dennis Bridge, B.S., M.A.
Executive Director of Enrollment

General Requirements

Prospective students who wish to speak to an Admissions representative about the admissions process or admission policies may do so by contacting the Liberty University Admissions Office.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply over the phone with an experienced Admissions representative or online at apply.liberty.edu.

Liberty University Online Admissions Office:
Phone: (800) 424-9595
Fax: (888) 301-3577
Email: luoundergrad@liberty.edu
Website: https://www.liberty.edu/online/

Hours of Operation:
M,Tu, Th, F   8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST

Mailing Address:
Liberty University
Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, Virginia 24515

Admission to Liberty University’s undergraduate program is governed by policies and procedures approved by the Undergraduate Administrative and Curriculum Committee of the Faculty Senate.

The mission of Liberty University is to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact the world. The University expects that its students understand and respect its mission and purpose while enrolled at Liberty University.

Prospective students are assessed according to academic background; personal moral behavior and character; personal philosophy; and willingness to follow Liberty’s rules, regulations, and policies. In the consideration process, the applicant’s complete prior academic record, recommendations, plans for the future, and personal information will be reviewed. Applicants meeting the required standards in these areas will be admitted to one of the academic terms at the University.

Liberty University does not engage in unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability or military veteran status in its educational programs and activities. Liberty University maintains its Christian mission and reserves its right to discriminate on the basis of religion to the extent that applicable law respects its right to act in furtherance of its religious objectives.

The University reserves the right to refuse or revoke admission or readmission to any prospective student or returning student. Any applicant who intentionally withholds pertinent information or who falsifies information may be required to withdraw from Liberty.

The Office of Admissions may request additional documentation from applicants who do not meet admissions standards. If the Office of Admissions determines that the documentation justifies the candidate’s potential for success, the Office of Admissions may present the documentation to the Office of the Provost with a request to admit the student.

The regulations listed herein are subject to change after the date of publication through established procedures. Liberty University reserves the right to make necessary changes without further notice.

Technology Requirements

All Liberty University students in an online program are required to meet the minimum technology requirements as listed at https://www.liberty.edu/online/tech-requirements/.

Application for Admission

Items to Be Submitted

Applicants must submit the following items to the Office of Admissions in order to be considered as candidates for admission. A decision will not be made until all documentation has been received and evaluated.

Application for Admission

1. Academic Records
   Prior to acceptance, applicants must submit a final official transcript from an accredited high school or an official transcript of the General Educational Development (GED) test scores or a High School Self-Certification form. Applicants with prior college coursework must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended.
   • Applicants who submit a High School Self-Certification form instead of a final official transcript from an accredited high school or an official transcript of the GED test scores may only be admitted to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University and are subject to verification procedures. Students admitted with only a High School Self-Certification form may be randomly selected for verification of high school completion. If selected, such students must provide documentation necessary to validate accredited high school graduation or adequate GED scores prior to disbursement of financial aid.
   • Students must submit official high school transcripts from an accredited high school, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable GPA from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.  Credits earned through Liberty University cannot be used in lieu of a high school transcript.
   • Preliminary transcripts - must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-11, and an overall grade point average (GPA).
   • Final official transcripts - must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
   • Students should refer to www.liberty.edu/online/admission-requirements/ for a detailed list of applicable admission requirements. The high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification form will be waived if the applicant earned an associate's degree.
     
     Although the University does not require specific high school courses for admission, successful applicants usually have completed at least 4 years of English, 2–3 years of college preparatory mathematics, 2 years of laboratory science, 2 years of social science, 2 years of foreign language, and at least 4 units of elective credits in subjects such as art, music, or drama. A high school diploma must be a standard or advanced diploma, or its equivalent. This curriculum prepares one for the classroom expectations at Liberty University.
     
     Liberty University’s minimum acceptable college GPA is 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants who fail to meet the minimum required GPA will be evaluated on other indicators of ability to perform satisfactorily at the college level and may be admitted on Caution status. All students accepted on Caution status may be required to enroll in one or more developmental courses as determined by the Office of Admissions.
2. Other Documentation
   If the Admissions Committee determines that additional information is needed in order to make a determination on the applicant’s status, the applicant may be required to submit letters of recommendation or other relevant documentation.
   U.S. Citizens and those with Legal Permanent Residency in the U.S. who have completed a secondary education outside of the U.S. will be evaluated as international students for admission purposes.
3. RN to BSN program
   Students who are interested in the RN to BSN program must submit additional admissions documents, such as:
   • RN licensure in state of residence (copy of licensure document) 
   • Graduate of an NLN accredited nursing program leading to an associate degree or hospital diploma
4. BS in Aviation program
   Students who are interested in the BS in Aviation program must submit additional admissions documents, such as:
   • Confirmation at which Liberty University Flight Training Affiliate they will be completing their flight training requirements, and that they meet Federal Transportation Security Administration requirements.
   • In lieu of the above requirement, a student can provide a Commercial Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
     
     Students who are interested in the BS in Aviation Maintenance Management program must submit proof of having obtained their Federal Aviation Administration Airframe & PowerPlant mechanic license.
5. BS in Respiratory Therapy
   Students who are interested in the BS in Respiratory Therapy program must submit additional admissions requirements, such as:
   • AS or AAS in Respiratory Care/Therapy
   • Current Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) credential provided by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
6. Willmington School of the Bible Program
   Students applying to this program only need to submit proof of high school graduation (see details above regarding the high school transcript requirement). Students with a conferred accredited Associates degree or higher can have the High School Transcript requirement waived.

Homeschool Applicants

The University recognizes that the academic records of home-educated students vary widely. However, records of academic work plus any evaluations or grades awarded by the parent or other evaluator must be included on the academic records to properly evaluate the applicant’s eligibility for college-work. Additionally, homeschooled applicants must also submit:

1. Verification that they have completed the equivalent of a standard secondary school education. This requirement may be satisfied by a statement signed by the parent or guardian, a home-education diploma, or a graduation date posted on the home education records.
2.  Verification that the home education was carried out in compliance with applicable commonwealth or state laws. The form of this documentation will vary depending on the state statutes governing home education. The documentation may be a letter from the local school board or public school superintendent, a letter from an umbrella school, or a signed affidavit from the parent or guardian. Students homeschooled outside of the United States must submit a transcript that confirms completion of a secondary education according to an identified standard or authority.
   
   Note: See www.liberty.edu/homeschool for a sample home school transcript. (Do not submit portfolios, photocopies of awards, or photographs of school projects.) 

Conditional Enrollment

Students may be conditionally enrolled following the receipt of a completed application. Undergraduate students who register on a conditional basis may enroll for up to 12 semester hours within the first semester only pending receipt of all official transcripts and standardized test scores. Students who have not submitted the required documentation by the completion of the first semester will not be allowed to enroll in additional courses until the admission file is completed and program admission is granted.

Conditional enrollment is not a guarantee of full acceptance into a degree program. Federal and state financial aid is not available to students under conditional enrollment. Some programs that require additional admission requirements, such as licensure, will not be eligible for conditional enrollment.

Assessment Tests

Liberty University offers English and Math placement tests for all new undergraduate students. These placement tests will be used to ensure that students are placed in the proper English and Math courses to help students be successful as they begin online coursework at Liberty University.

Private School Admissions

Applicants from nonpublic high schools, whose accreditation cannot be confirmed, must have their school submit a self-certification form to confirm their curriculum meets state standards. Statements printed on the official transcript, confirming that the curriculum meets state standards will also be accepted.  Applicants must also satisfy the same admissions requirements as other applicants, including applying and paying the application fee.

Developmental Courses

Liberty University offers several developmental courses to students who need assistance with some of the basic skills required in order to be successful in college. Students who fail to meet the minimum required GPA will be evaluated on other indicators of ability to perform satisfactorily at the college level.

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants must complete all of the forms that are listed for the initial application procedure.

An official transcript from each college or university that the transfer applicant attended must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the Registrar(s) of the respective institution(s) of higher learning (Willmington School of the Bible applicants are exempt from this requirement).

Unofficial transcripts will allow for acceptance and registration. Unofficial transcripts will not be reviewed for transfer credit. Before submitting unofficial transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

1. Student's name
2. School name or logo printed on the document
3. List of completed courses and earned credit in a term-by-term format

To be admitted with unofficial transcripts, students must also submit a Transcript Request Form. Upon an admission decision, official transcripts are required within 60 days; official transcripts are required in order to register for a second semester of courses.

All students who intend to transfer to Liberty must be eligible for re-enrollment or readmission at the last institution attended. The record is reviewed based on Liberty’s admissions standards. If an applicant’s GPA does not meet Liberty’s admissions standards, even though the applicant may not have been placed on Academic Warning or Probation at the last school attended, the applicant may be denied or admitted on Caution. Appeals may be granted, and will be evaluated on other indicators of ability to satisfactorily perform at the college level as determined by the Office of Admissions.

Transfer of Credits

Normally courses and degrees from regionally accredited institutions or those nationally accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.) will be evaluated for transfer of credit. However, on a limited basis Liberty does accept transfer credit via experiential learning, advanced placement and professional certificates from unaccredited institutions under certain terms and conditions established by Committee on Academic and Admissions Standards. Credit earned through this process will not be counted toward the required minimum of 25% of the major and minimum of 25% of the credit hours that must be completed through Liberty University for a bachelor’s degree. Also, credit earned through the portfolio process or professional certificate evaluation cannot exceed 30 credit hours. Applicants must request that official transcripts be sent directly from the Registrar(s) of the previous school(s) to the Registrar’s Office at Liberty University. These transcripts must be received before an admission decision will be made.

Credit will be accepted for those courses that are undergraduate level in which applicants have made a grade of C- or better. Transfer credit will be awarded grades of P and will not be used in computing the Liberty GPA. Transcripts are evaluated under the guidelines established by the Senate Committee on Academic and Admissions Standards. Internships, capstone courses, special topics, remedial courses, workshops, seminars, independent studies, and varsity courses are not transferable. Students may appeal their transfer evaluation via the LU Transfer Suite with a course description or course syllabus.

In order to receive direct credit for a course, the description must overlap the Liberty University course content at least 60%. Courses that do not match a Liberty University course by at least 60% are eligible to transfer as elective credit where allowable.  Elective credit is coded as 1XX – 4XX, depending on the level of the course.

At any point prior to degree conferral, students may petition to have courses that are listed as electives substitute for required courses by using the Course Substitution form. Additionally, duplicated or repeated institutional and/or transfer credit will only be counted once toward total earned credit hours, unless courses are deemed repeatable.

Military Evaluations

Liberty University will evaluate students’ prior military experience and develop a degree plan for each student to follow. Evaluations will be based solely upon the recommendations of the American Council of Education (ACE) guidebook, A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Military applicants should send in military transcripts or documentation from their particular branch of service. If those documents are unavailable, applicants should submit a copy of their DD214, 2-1, 2A, or DD295 for evaluation.

Outgoing Transfer Credit 

Transferability of credit earned through Liberty University is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

International Student Admission

Applicants who have completed secondary education or college-level academic coursework outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES®).

If the NACES credential evaluation was completed based on a preliminary secondary transcript for the purpose of admission to the University, the student must also submit a NACES evaluation of the final secondary credential before being permitted to register for second semester courses.

Applicants whose native language is a language other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternate assessment (see below).

Applicants who successfully complete the levels of English-Second-Language (ESL) instruction indicated below at one of three schools will have the TOEFL requirement waived. Students will have their application held until transcripts from one of the below schools are received.

• Level 6: Language Consultants International (LCI) 
• Level 109: ELS Educational Services (ELS)
• Advanced 6: Forum Intensive English Center (Forum)   

If an international student is seeking admission to an undergraduate program of study and has attended an accredited U.S. high school for a minimum of two years, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived.

If an international student is seeking admission to an undergraduate program of study and has earned a high school diploma at an accredited international high school outside of the U.S. using a U.S. high school curriculum and in which the primary medium of instruction is English, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived. (Proof must be submitted in the form of an official statement from the school's Registrar Office.)

If an international student completes an undergraduate degree at an accredited university/college outside of the U.S. in which the primary medium of instruction is English, the English proficiency test requirement may be waived. (Proof must be submitted in the form of an official statement from the school's Registrar Office.)

Students who have studied for two or more years in a country where a waiver is currently provided, but where the student is not also a citizen of that country, the English proficiency requirement may be waived.

Students who have attended a U.S. college/university for two or more years may not be required to submit a test of English proficiency. Information regarding English proficiency tests may be obtained online as follows:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• PTE
• iTEP
• Duolingo English test

Graduate Students Only

Applicants must earn a TOEFL score of 8.5 on the Essentials test or 80 on the iBT (Internet Based Test), a 3.9 on the iTEP, a 6.5 on the IELTS, a 105 on the Duolingo English test, or an equivalent score on an approved alternate test for all graduate degree programs. An official score report sent directly from the testing service must be submitted to the University before an admission decision can be made. Applicants who have an earned degree from a college or university in the U.S. or other English-speaking country or school may have the TOEFL requirement waived by the Office of Graduate Admissions. In addition, the Office of Graduate Admissions may require any student whose native official language is not English, regardless of citizenship, to submit a TOEFL score or score from an approved alternate test, if such documentation is deemed necessary. Enrollment in certain courses may be determined by the student’s English proficiency test score in conjunction with other diagnostic assessments administered after the student matriculates on campus.

Online Students Only

Students living abroad and foreign nationals residing in the U.S. with an appropriate visa status are eligible to enroll in online classes provided they have the necessary Internet access and email service. Enrollment in online courses does not enable students to obtain or remain on Student (F-1) Visa Status.

The University offers general admission to its undergraduate program of study to applicants who achieve one of the following scores on a standardized test of English proficiency:

• TOEFL: 7 for Essentials Test or 61 for iBT
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 51
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP): 3.6
• Duolingo English test: 90

Residential Students Only

Liberty University is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue the SEVIS Form I-20 to eligible international students and their dependent family members. Any person who is not a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident of the United States and who desires to be admitted to the University and attend on campus courses while on Student (F-1) Visa Status must follow the procedure established by the Office of International Admissions. Applications for the fall semester should be submitted by April 1 and applications for the spring semester should be made by October 1.

Any college transcript from an educational institution outside of the U.S. must be officially translated into English and submitted to a credential evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/.

At the discretion of the Office of International Admissions, applicants from English-speaking countries may also be required to submit an English proficiency test score that meets the required minimum.

The University offers general admission to its undergraduate program of study to applicants who achieve one of the following scores on a standardized test of English proficiency:

• TOEFL: 7 for Essentials test or 61 for iBT test
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 51
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP): 3.6
• Duolingo English test: 90

Some programs of study in the School of Aeronautics have higher English language proficiency requirements which students must meet before being admitted (for flight-based majors) or before enrolling in certain courses (e.g., aviation maintenance and aviation administration courses). 

Minimum English proficiency test score requirements for admission to a School of Aeronautics major, minor, or certificate program of study leading to FAA certification or enrollment in a course leading to FAA certification are:

• TOEFL: 8.5 for Essentials test or 79 for iBT test
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP): 3.9
• Successful completion of Level 7 at Language Consultants International (LCI)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at ELS Educational Services (ELS)
• Duolingo English test: 105

Students enrolled in these programs or courses, who do not reside in an English- speaking country, are not eligible to have the English proficiency test requirement waived.

Unmarried students under the age of 21 are required to reside in housing provided by the University. Unmarried students who are 21 years of age or older may choose to reside off campus. It is strongly recommended that a minimum of one semester be spent in University housing to help international students adjust to the local area and culture. On-campus housing is not available for married students or those over the age of 25.

International students must be covered by an adequate health insurance policy each semester of enrollment. A mandatory student health insurance fee is added to the account of international students each fall and spring semester. It is the responsibility of international students to remain enrolled in an adequate health insurance policy while studying at the University.

As part of the admission requirements, international students must document availability of adequate funds to pay for all University-related expenses for the regular nine-month academic schedule. Those who intend to remain during the summer must document additional funds (approximately $4,000 US) for living expenses.

Newly accepted international students are required to complete the International Online Orientation course in Canvas.

Special (Non-Degree-Seeking) Students

Status 1 Special Students are early enrollment or dual enrollment students who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. These students must show evidence of ability to complete the courses selected. They may become candidates for a degree after completing high school diploma requirements.

Status 2 Special Students are those students who are not interested in obtaining a degree; however, they are interested in taking one or more college level courses up to a maximum of 12 credit hours. Additional courses may be approved if the student has no intention of being a degree-seeking student. This decision is based off review by the Registrar’s Office.

Residential students:  Applications are available upon request from the Resident Admissions Office.

Online students:  Apply at https://apply.liberty.edu/?acode=C27223&page_placement=mega_menu.

Students deciding to enroll as degree seeking students in the future must complete a new application and fulfill all admissions requirements.

Students who have been Academically Dismissed from Liberty University are not eligible for Special Student status. Students who have completed 12 or more credit hours at their current level are not eligible for Special Student status. 

Financial Aid is unavailable under Special Student status.  

Break in Enrollment

A break in enrollment occurs when a student has not actively taken a class within one full academic year. The academic year begins with start of the fall semester and ends with the conclusion of the summer term.

Students who break enrollment must apply for readmission and will be required to follow the degree requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the University.

Any military students wishing to be readmitted who broke enrollment due to deployment must contact the Office of Military Affairs.

Readmission

Students who have withdrawn from the University or who have broken enrollment must apply for readmission through the Admissions Office. Admission status is subject to the terms of any previous academic or disciplinary suspension or probation. Applicants must provide official transcripts from all educational institutions attended since enrollment at Liberty. Students must receive approval from the Registrar’s Office, Office of Community Life, and Student Financial Services before an acceptance decision can be made.

Dual Enrollment

Undergraduate students may enroll in master’s-level courses during the semester in which they have nine or fewer semester hours remaining to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Students must meet the cumulative GPA requirement for admission in good standing into a graduate program to be eligible to register under dual enrollment for that program.

Students may be dually enrolled for a maximum of two semesters and may enroll for a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate course work. 

Non-Liberty University undergraduate students must send in their Graduate admission application, official transcripts, and a letter from their current Registrar’s Office indicating their current Grade Point Average, the specific degree they are pursuing, the estimated date of graduation, and the number of remaining credit hours for degree completion. Once these documents have been received by the Office of Graduate Admissions, the student must contact the Liberty University Registrar's Office to request approval for dual enrollment.

Currently enrolled Liberty University undergraduate students do not need to send in an application; they must submit a request via the Dual Enrollment Request Form.

For information concerning how dual enrollment impacts tuition rates and financial aid eligibility, visit the following links: 

• Student Financial Services > Eligibility & Enrollment for Aid

• Liberty University Policy Directory > Enrollment Levels and Types Policy

Dual enrollment is not available to the following students:

• Students already enrolled at the Graduate level and pursuing either a Graduate degree or a Graduate Certificate.
• Students who are pursuing an Associate degree.
• Students pursuing an undergraduate Certificate.
• Students who plan to pursue a Graduate Certificate rather than a Graduate degree.

Academic Amnesty

Approval for readmission under Academic Amnesty must be granted by the Office of the Provost. In order to qualify for Academic Amnesty, a student must have been academically suspended or academically dismissed from the University, as well as must satisfy the subsequent guidelines for readmission.

1. Not enrolled at the University for a period of two (2) years. For example, if the student’s last enrollment was in the Fall 2023 term, he/she would not be eligible to appeal for Academic Amnesty until after the Fall 2025 term.
2. A student seeking readmission under Academic Amnesty must first appeal in writing to the Registrar’s Office through the designated portal. The request must be stated clearly and contain:
   1. the reason for the request, and
   2. efforts made to improve during absence from Liberty.  
3. Corroboration may be requested of the student (e.g., transcripts from other institutions, certificates, awards, etc.).
4. Students who were Academically Dismissed because of academic dishonesty are not eligible for Academic Amnesty.

The Registrar’s Office, upon receiving the written request, must receive approval from Community Life, Student Financial Services, and the Office of the Provost before readmission will be granted.

If approved for Academic Amnesty, the student will be readmitted under the following provisions:

1. Previously earned grades of “A,” “B,” and “C” will remain on the student’s record and will calculate into his or her GPA. As determined by the Office of the Provost, grades of “D” and “F” are revised to “Q.”
2. Students who have been granted Academic Amnesty are not eligible for graduation honors.
3. If any prior certificate or degree has been awarded through Liberty University, grades earned during that time period cannot be excluded when Academic Amnesty is applied. All grades earned toward a previously awarded certificate or conferred degree will remain on the student’s transcript.
4. All previously assigned academic standings will not change and will remain part of the student’s academic records for the respective terms for which they were earned.
5. If, after the first term of enrollment following readmission under Academic Amnesty, the student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required for good academic standing in the student’s degree program, the student will be Academically Dismissed, and will not be permitted to submit any further appeals for permission to continue his/her studies through Liberty University.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding the University’s academic and administrative policies and procedures can be found on the University web site at www.liberty.edu/online.