Admissions - Resident Program

Admissions - Resident Program

Liberty University Students

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

Chris Jones, B.S., M.A.C.M.
Director of Admissions

Stephanie Smart, B.S., M.A.
Sr. Director of Event & Guest Operations

General Requirements

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. We expect that our students understand and respect our mission and purpose while enrolled at Liberty University.

The Liberty University resident undergraduate admissions department operates on a rolling admission basis. This policy means that we do not have a final deadline for applications to be considered and will consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis. However, we do have a priority deadline for submission and it is recommended that applicants strongly consider adhering to that deadline as the majority of our applications are received by that date.

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 upon request. Applicants meeting the required standards in these areas may 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 character 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 following persons have been designated to coordinate Liberty University’s compliance with certain anti-discrimination laws:

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, in its professional opinion, 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.

Contact Information

Prospective students who wish to speak to an admissions counselor about the admissions process or admission policies may do so by contacting our Resident Admissions office.

Resident Admissions Office:
Phone: (800) 543-5317
Fax:      (800) 542-2311
Text:    49596
Email: admissions@liberty.edu
Websites: https://www.liberty.edu/residential/undergraduate/

Hours of Operation:
M,Tu,Th,F   10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST
Wed.    9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
SAT     10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST

Mailing Address:
Liberty University
Attn: Resident Admissions Office
MSC Box #710278
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, Virginia 24515

Prospective students are encouraged to apply online at apply.liberty.edu.

Application for Admission

The Admissions Committee welcomes applications for first-year, transfer and readmit admission. When we read undergraduate applications, we value intellectual ability, academic achievement, and personal qualities that will contribute to the University mission and campus community. The university also reserves the right to withdraw an application for admission after 60 days of inactivity.

Admission decisions are competitive and are based primarily on the following factors:

  • Cumulative, unweighted High School GPA and college (if applicable)
  • GED, HiSET, or TASC scores (if applicable)
  • Consistency and trends of grades
  • Essay submission

Note: Other documentation such as reference letters, community service, and leadership, may also be helpful or required by the admissions committee.  Results from the CLT, SAT or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.

Items to be Submitted

  1. Academic Records 

    Prior to an admissions decision, applicants must submit an official transcript from an accredited high school or an official transcript of the General Educational Development (GED) test scores.
    Applicants with prior college coursework may submit a high school self-certification in lieu of an official high school transcript, or an official high school transcript, and unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended.
    Please note: Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes when a Transcript Request Form is also submitted.
    An official transcript will be required in order to register for a second semester. To be considered complete, a high school transcript must meet the following minimum requirements:

    1. Preliminary transcript – must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-11, an overall grade point average (GPA), and should be signed by the school administrator.
    2. Final transcript – must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, must list graduation date, an overall GPA, and must be signed by the school administrator.

      In lieu of a final transcript, Liberty University will accept a preliminary transcript. A self-certification of high school graduation or a final high school transcript will be required to continue the program beyond the first semester.

      In addition, some high school and college transcripts may be waived if they are unobtainable due to circumstances as determined by the Office of the Provost. 

      Official transcripts of the final high school or college records must be requested directly from the educational institution and sent to the Resident Admissions Office. An official high school or homeschool transcript is defined as a transcript received in a sealed envelope with the school’s address. In addition, the final high school transcript or GED, HiSET, or TASC is considered official if it is faxed (or sent by other electronic means such as email or electronic transcript service) by the high school or center itself, and received by the Resident Admissions Office. In order to be considered official, the transcript must be stamped official by the Resident Admissions Office, after confirming receipt with the issuing high school or homeschool.

      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 reviews high school transcripts only on a 4.00 GPA basis. All transcripts are converted to an unweighted 4.00 scale. Applicants who fall outside of the range for acceptance will be evaluated on other indicators of ability to perform satisfactorily at the college level and may be admitted on Academic Caution or Probation.

      All students accepted on Academic Caution or Probation status will be limited to 12 to 14 semester hours of coursework including:
      • MENT 101 or
      • ASCS 101 This course should be taken if transferring 12 or more hours of college credit.

        These courses are designed to help students develop reading and study strategies necessary for success in college.
         
      • Exception: Students may be admitted into the Certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technician with the completion a High School Diploma or a GED, regardless of GPA. Students admitted under academic caution or probation in into the Certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technician are not limited in the number of hours taken per semester or required to take MENT 101 or ASCS 101.
  2. Test Scores
    Applicants are not required to submit test scores as part of the admissions process.  Students seeking to maximize merit-based aid are encouraged to submit their highest scores from the CLT, SAT or ACT for review.  
    Information on the CLT may be at https://www.cltexam.com.
    Information on the SAT may be obtained at https://www.collegeboard.org.
    Information on the ACT may be obtained at www.act.org.
    Liberty’s Institutional Codes are 5385 for the SAT and 4364 for the ACT.
  3. Essay
    All resident applicants must submit an essay between 200 and 400 words describing how their personal faith and beliefs will allow them to contribute to Liberty University’s mission of developing Christ-centered leaders.
  4. 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 such as a guidance counselor letter.

    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 purpose.
  5. Priority Deadlines for Admissions Process

    Resident Program:
    • Fall:
      • Application: December 15
      • Accept and Confirm: February 28
      • Financial Check-in: April 30
      • Course Registration: June 15
    • Spring:
      • Application: November 1

“These dates are subject to change”

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.) 

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.

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants must complete all of the forms that are listed for the initial application procedure. However, undergraduate transfer applicants who earn an Associate’s degree from an accredited institution do not need to submit standardized test scores except when specifically requested to do so by the University.

A copy of the official transcript from each college or university that the transfer applicant attended must be sent directly to the Admission’s Office from the Registrar(s) of the respective institution(s) of higher learning.

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

Official transcripts are required in order to register for a second semester.

All students who intend to transfer to Liberty must be eligible for readmission at the last institution attended. The record is reviewed based on Liberty’s scholastic regulations. Any applicant whose GPA does not meet Liberty’s scholastic standards, even though the applicant may not have been placed on Academic Caution or Probation at the last school attended, may be denied or placed on Academic Caution or Probation.

Transfer Credit Policy

Note: Transfer credit accepted by the university is denoted on the unofficial and official transcript in a section denoted as transfer credit accepted by the institution along with the originating institution and grade of P with no GPA value.

  1. Undergraduate Studies
    1. Accreditation: Accredited Institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    2. Grades: Grade of ‘C-‘ or higher. Grades of P/P+ are eligible to transfer as long as the grading system at the transfer institution states that ‘P’ or ‘P+’ is equivalent to ‘C-‘ or better. Grades of P/P- are not able to transfer if they are not equivalent to ‘C-‘ or better.
    3. Equivalency: Coursework must be similar in content and scope of courses offered at Liberty University by at least 60%. Courses that are not significantly similar to a Liberty University course may transfer as elective credit. Elective credit is coded as 1XX, 2XX, 3XX or 4XX, depending on the level of the course.
    4. Credit Hours: Coursework must be at least 2/3rds the number of hours required by Liberty. The 2/3 rule may create a shortage of credit hours (all coursework is met, but a total of 60 or 120 hours is not). Additional credit must be taken to meet the credit hour requirement.
    5. Conversion: Liberty University operates on the semester system. Courses completed under a different credit hour system must be converted to the semester system.
    6. Age of credit: Liberty offers a lifetime acceptance of credit, with the exception of those courses wherein the University faculty has determined the course content changes significantly over time.
    7. Non-transferable: For specific information concerning non-transferable courses, please visit Registrar - Transferring Coursework.
    8. Residency requirement: 25% of major and 25% of degree must be taken through Liberty University.
  2. Graduate Studies
    1. Accreditation: Accredited Institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    2. Grades: Grade of ‘B-‘ or higher except for programs that allow ‘C-‘ or higher. Grades of P/P+ are eligible to transfer as long as the grading system at the transfer institution states that ‘P’ or ‘P+’ is equivalent to ‘B-‘ or better. Grades of P/P- are not able to transfer if they are not equivalent to ‘B-‘ or better.
    3. Equivalency: Coursework must be similar in content and scope of courses offered at Liberty University by at least 80%. Courses that are not significantly similar to a Liberty University course may transfer as elective credit. Elective credit is coded as 5XX, 6XX, 7XX, 8XX or 9XX, depending on the level of the course.
    4. Credit Hours: Coursework must be the exact number of credit hours as the LU requirement.
    5. Conversion: Liberty University operates on the semester system. Courses completed under a different credit hour system must be converted to the semester system.
    6. Age of credit: 10 years for master’s-level and post-master’s (Education Specialist and Master of Theology) programs and 7 years for doctoral-level programs. Any exceptions to this policy will be noted in the Transfer Credit Matrix. Age of the course is determined at the time of evaluation based on the completion date of the transfer course.
    7. Non-transferable: For specific information regarding non-transferable courses, please visit Registrar - Transferring Coursework.
    8. Residency requirement: 50% of program hours may be transferred including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University. Any exceptions to this policy will be noted in the individual degree’s Program of Study page in this Catalog.
  3. Special (Non-Degree-Seeking) Students – Special students, whether undergraduate or Graduate, are not eligible to receive transfer credit of any type.      

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY AREAS & PROCEDURES

  1. Higher Education Institutions
    1. Domestic Higher Education Institutions: Domestic higher education institutions are defined as US institutions that provide postsecondary instruction that aims to culminate in the award of a degree, diploma, or certificate of higher studies.
      1. Accredited: Domestic higher education institutions regionally or nationally accredited by an agency officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Refer to Undergraduate and Graduate Studies transfer policies.
      2. Unaccredited: Domestic higher education institutions not regionally or nationally accredited by an agency officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). These institutions must go through an internal vetting process before they can be approved for transfer credit. If approved, refer to Undergraduate and Graduate Studies transfer policies.
    2. International Higher Education Institutions: International higher education institutions are defined as non-U.S. institutions that provide postsecondary instruction that aims to culminate in the award of a degree, diploma, or certificate of higher studies. College-level academic coursework completed outside of the U.S. must first be evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). All standard Undergraduate and Graduate Studies transfer policies will apply to the course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by Transfer Evaluations.
  2. Experiential Learning: Liberty University recognizes that learners have valuable experiences that they bring to the academic environment of higher education. For that reason, LU believes students should receive college credit for learning that can be demonstrated through experience via our Experience Plus Program. Transfer policy standards are applied to Experiential learning evaluations as applicable.
    1. Certifications
      1. Certificate Programs: academic departments vet curriculum, learning outcomes, and instructor’s qualifications for certificate programs and make a recommendation for transfer credit equivalencies in accordance with university’s transfer policies.
      2. Professional Experience: academic departments vet professional experience, job skills, and industry-recognized experience and make recommendations for transfer credit equivalencies.
    2. Credit by Examination
      1. Institutional Challenge Examinations (ICE): ICE is available to students with a satisfactory justification of previous knowledge in a subject area based upon a non-college training program, job experience, or self-learning. Students must successfully complete the examination to earn college credit.
      2. Advance Placement (AP): AP is a College Board program geared for high school students seeking to earn college credit and preparedness. The Transfer Evaluations department generally reviews all AP offerings on a yearly basis and creates a transfer equivalency sheet.
      3. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP): CLEP provides students an opportunity to gain college credit for acquired knowledge and skills through a testing process. The Transfer Evaluations department generally reviews all CLEP offerings on a yearly basis and creates a transfer equivalency sheet.
      4. DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST): DSST tests provides students an opportunity to earn college credit for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. The Transfer Evaluations department generally reviews all DSST offerings on a yearly basis and creates a transfer equivalency sheet.
      5. Excelsior College Exam (ECE): ECE is a credit-by-examination program that provides students with the opportunity to have their college-level learning recognized by earning college credit.
      6. International Baccalaureate (IB): The IB Diploma Programme is a program for students ages 16-19 that assesses students work as direct evidence achievement against the stated goals of the program.
      7. NOCTI Business Solutions: Technical training that can be equated to college credit through NOCTI assessments with collaboration of the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS).
      8. University of Cambridge International Exams (CIE): Exam-based qualifications, which are created, corrected, administered, and regulated by Cambridge.
    3. Portfolio: Students can earn transfer credit for LU courses by demonstrating competency of the course learning objectives they are petitioning credit for. This process is typically geared toward students who have field experience. Students are required to complete a series of essay-type questions and encouraged to provide supplementary documentation that will help them demonstrate competency in the subject. The requests are reviewed by qualified faculty members within the specific academic departments who use a grading rubric to assess student’s competencies in the different disciplines.
    4. Military Experience: Liberty University provides evaluations of military training and experience for college credit. All credit granted for military training and experienced is given based on the American Council on Education (ACE) guidebook, A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services and qualified faculty members within the specific academic departments at Liberty University. Liberty University accepts military transcripts, certificates of completion, and most official documents that demonstrate prior military training and experience for consideration of transfer credit (including the DD214, 2-1, 2Z, or DD295).
    5. Other Online-course Providers (non-traditional institutions): Liberty University recognizes non-traditional or non-institutional credit that students may have completed or are seeking to complete. LU accepts courses from other online-course providers based on the American Council on Education (ACE) guide and the recommendations of qualified faculty members within the specific academic departments at Liberty University.
    6. Ministry Partnership Program: Rawlings School of Divinity (SOD) works with ministry partners directly to determine if the experiential and classroom training they provide can be awarded transfer credit through an internal vetting process. Ministry partners are not higher education unaccredited institutions.
      1. Initial Vetting: SOD sets an initial call to discuss the process and follows-up with an application document to understand doctrinal statement, mission, purpose, and philosophy of education of the ministry.
      2. Decision: SOD decides to move or not to move forward with the partnership. If yes, the decision is communicated to Online Provost, Enrollment Management, and Registrar’s Office.
      3. Initial Evaluation: SOD reviews academic content of the training in question to determine if it aligns with LU course objectives and makes an initial recommendation on transfer equivalencies.
      4. Secondary Evaluation: Information is sent to Admissions Verification and Registrar’s Office for a second review. Transfer team reviews the proposed transfer equivalencies and provides additional feedback. SOD develops the additional website information and works with Enrollment Management for dissemination of the information.
      5. Final Decision: MOU is generated and signed by Liberty University and ministry partner. Approvals are updated on Experience Plus website.

Outgoing Transfer Credit 

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

Admission Notification

Applicants must submit all of the required documents to complete the admission file. When all documents have been received and evaluated, applicants will be notified of their admission decision. Following notification of acceptance, applicants will receive information relating to Financial Check-In and course registration.

Enrollment Deposit

New students who decide to attend Liberty University must submit a $250 Enrollment Deposit. This deposit secures any available institutional grants or scholarships; however, only completion of Financial Check-In ensures the availability of a class schedule and housing assignment. The $250 Enrollment Deposit may be submitted online at www.liberty.edu/Deposit.This deposit will be credited to the student’s account as a deposit toward the upcoming semester.

Should the student decide not to attend, the University must be notified in writing with an Enrollment Deposit refund request by May 1 of each academic year for those who confirmed for fall term, and by December 1 for those who confirmed for spring term. After these deadlines, the $250 Enrollment Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. The credit, however, may be deferred up to one academic year should the student be able to attend in a subsequent semester. However, if you update your deposit to any other semester, you will no longer be eligible for a refund.

Health Record

All resident students must complete and submit an online Health Form through their Liberty ASIST account. This form does not need to be submitted prior to acceptance. Any accepted applicant who withholds pertinent health information may be required to withdraw from the University.

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 the student fails to matriculate in at least one course during a fall or spring semester. Students who break enrollment must apply for readmission and will be subject to the requirements of the Catalog and degree requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

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: 

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.

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.

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:

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:

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:

Some programs within the School of Aeronautics require a higher English language proficiency for the purpose of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and do not qualify for existing TOEFL waivers. International students from non-English speaking countries must meet these English proficiency requirements before being admitted into any program (Certificate, A.A, or B.S, or Minor) containing FAA certification.

Minimum English proficiency test score requirements for admission into programs containing FAA certification are:

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.

In accordance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), non-U.S. citizens are not permitted to enroll in the School of Aeronautics B.S. in Unmanned Aircraft Operations, B.S. in Aviation Maintenance: Unmanned Aerial Systems, or the Certificate in Medium Unmanned Aerial Systems programs. International Students who meet the prescribed English proficiency requirements outlined above are permitted to enroll in the Minor in Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator.

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.

Parent and Family Connections

The Parent and Family Connections Office provides communication between the University and parents of Liberty University students in order to support student success, generate goodwill for the University, and promote an appropriate role for parents within the campus community.

Additional information on events and services is provided online at https://www.liberty.edu/casas/parents/.

Articulation Agreements

The Virginia Community College System

A guaranteed admissions agreement exists between the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Liberty University. For details, visit the Registrar's webpage at https://www.liberty.edu/registrar/course-transfer-equivalency/.

Richard Bland College

A Guaranteed Transfer Agreement exists between Richard Bland College and Liberty University. For details, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@liberty.edu.

FERPA – Privacy of Student Records: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Students attending, or who have attended, Liberty University are given certain rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Rules of the Department of Education (34 C.F.R. Part 99) implementing this Act.

Additional information and University policies regarding the protection of student records are published online at http://www.liberty.edu/ferpa.

Additional Information

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

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