Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Liberty University is a private national university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Liberty University is in the bottom 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $42,394 10 years after enrolling, 32nd in Virginia, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Liberty University bachelor students earn 5% less than the national average.
Liberty University’s median net annual cost of $29,382 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Liberty University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, Psychology, Religious Studies, Criminal Justice, Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$29,382
Average years to graduate
4.7
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Computer science
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.32
Registered Nursing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.67
Air Transportation
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.75
Accounting
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.96
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 6.84
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 10.12
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 12.72
Health & Fitness
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 17.35
History
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 20.35
Social Work
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 23.52
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Liberty University - Business Administration, Theological Studies, Mental & Social Health Services, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Education, Criminal Justice - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations.
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.28
Registered Nursing
Rank: #208
Economic score: 0.44
Accounting
Rank: #232
Economic score: 0.45
Health & Fitness
Rank: #96
Economic score: 0.73
Educ. Administration
Rank: #323
Economic score: 0.74
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.79
Public Health
Rank: #95
Economic score: 0.83
Special Education
Rank: #224
Economic score: 0.9
Student Counseling
Rank: #174
Economic score: 0.98
History
Rank: #40
Economic score: 1.59
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 46% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Liberty University is 16% lower than the state average, and 21% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Liberty University, Pell Grant recipients represent 39% of the measured graduating class, 4% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Liberty University graduates within 4.7 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Liberty University’s economic mobility score of 2.09 is calculated by adjusting the 15.33 economic score of lower-income students by the 39% pell grant recipients within the student body. Liberty University’s EMS of 2.09 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Liberty University pays $29,382 a year, $11,087 less than the $40,469 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $29,382
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Liberty University, 89% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $29,382 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 53% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,624. This is 1% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,619
Pell grants
$4,583
State grants
$3,634
Institutional grants
$10,834
Liberty University offers 39 online bachelor programs, 36 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Liberty University offers 74 programs, 68 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
113
Hybrid programs
9
Percentage of programs online
64%
Liberty University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 99% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 28,448 applicants, of which 28,244 were admitted and 5,461 enrolled. Liberty University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
52%
83%
Female
64%
59%
First time
35%
59%
In-state
25%
68%
1st generation
42%
35%
White
56%
52%
Black
10%
14%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
25%
12%