Liberty University

www.liberty.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$14,791

4.06% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$28,762

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

6.37%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

50.1%

61,649 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

93,349

56.7% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

57.6%

1,802 Graduates

About

Liberty University is a higher education institution located in Lynchburg city, VA. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Liberty University were General Business Administration & Management (1,595 degrees awarded), Other Multidisciplinary Studies (1,440 degrees), and General Psychology (1,096 degrees).

In 2020, 21,574 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Liberty University. 59.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (11,175 degrees), 2.21 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (5053 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Liberty University is $14,791, which is $−13,772 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Liberty University is $14,791, which is $−13,772 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $28,762.

In 2020, 68% of undergraduate students attending Liberty University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 55% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$14,791

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Liberty University was $14,791. The cost of tuition at Liberty University is $−13,772 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Liberty University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$28,762

2020 Value

2.06%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Liberty University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $28,762. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Liberty University grew by 2.06%.

This chart compares the average net price of Liberty University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,882

Room and Board

$1,372

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Liberty University was of $9,882 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,372. The cost of room and board increased by 6.52% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies increased by 9.67% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Liberty University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

68%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

55%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

68% of undergraduate students at Liberty University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a decline of 2.86% with respect to 2019, when 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Liberty University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

6.37%

2018 Default Rate

1684

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Liberty University was 6.37%, which represents 1684 out of the 26446 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Liberty University received 61,649 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 45.7% annual growth. Out of those 61,649 applicants, 30,907 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 50.1% acceptance rate.

There were 93,349 students enrolled at Liberty University in 2020, and 48% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Liberty University has an overall enrollment yield of 17%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

50.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

30,907

Accepted Out of 61,649

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Liberty University was 50.1% (30,907 admissions from 61,649 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 51.1%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants grew by 45.7%, while admissions grew by 43.1%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Liberty University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

48%

Submission Percentage

2,537

Scores Submitted

48% of enrolled first-time students at Liberty University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Liberty University has a total enrollment of 93,349 students. The full-time enrollment at Liberty University is 52,970 students and the part-time enrollment is 40,379. This means that 56.7% of students enrolled at Liberty University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Liberty University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 50% White, 14.6% Black or African American, 6.25% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Two or More Races, 1.88% Asian, 0.467% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.247% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Liberty University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (35.9%), followed by White Male (25.4%) and Black or African American Female (4.95%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (26.3%), followed by White Male (17.9%) and Black or African American Female (13.4%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

56.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Liberty University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 93,349 students. The full-time enrollment at Liberty University is 52,970 and the part-time enrollment is 40,379. This means that 56.7% of students enrolled at Liberty University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.5% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Liberty University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

81%

2020 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Liberty University was 81%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (85%), Liberty University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Liberty University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
46,696
Black or African American
13,660
Hispanic or Latino
5,830

The enrolled student population at Liberty University is 50% White, 14.6% Black or African American, 6.25% Hispanic or Latino, 3.07% Two or More Races, 1.88% Asian, 0.467% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.247% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 50% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.69% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 21,161 students (22.7%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 4156 more women than men received degrees from Liberty University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Liberty University is white (11,175 degrees awarded). There were 2.21 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (5053 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Liberty University is General Business Administration & Management (1,595 degrees awarded), followed by Other Multidisciplinary Studies (1,440 degrees) and General Psychology (1,096 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Liberty University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Theology (2,079 degrees awarded), Philosophy and Religious Studies (783 degrees), and Applied Sciences (132 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Liberty University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,807,171 people), Secondary school teachers (392,095 people), Education administrators (292,092 people), Other managers (180,732 people), and Postsecondary teachers (175,317 people).

The most specialized majors at Liberty University are Theology (2,079 degrees awarded), Philosophy and Religious Studies (783 degrees), Applied Sciences (132 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (1,953 degrees), and Psychology (2,035 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Liberty University are Surgeons, Aerospace engineers, Physicians, Podiatrists, and Dentists

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Liberty University are Elementary & secondary schools (3,004,131 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (397,591 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (340,887 people), Outpatient care centers (187,670 people), and Individual & family services (180,411 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Liberty University.

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
1595 degree-majorss awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
1440 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
1096 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Liberty University was General Business Administration & Management with 1595 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Liberty University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

8,709

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

12,865

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 8,709 degrees were awarded to men at Liberty University, which is 0.677 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (12,865).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Liberty University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 1641 degrees were awarded to men at Liberty University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.09 times more than the 1499 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 1499 degrees were awarded to women at Liberty University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.913 times less than the 1641 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

35%

100% Completion Time

55%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 35% of students graduating from Liberty University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 55% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 58% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Male

Highest Graduation Rate (71.4%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Liberty University is Male and Asian (71.4% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 14.5% of graduates (262 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
11,175 degrees awarded
Unknown
5,053 degrees awarded
Black or African American
2,958 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Liberty University is white (11,175 degrees awarded). There were 2.21 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (5053 degrees).

23.4% of degree recipients (5,053 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
6,509 degrees awarded
White Male
4,666 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
1,973 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Liberty University is white female (6,509 degrees awarded). There were 1.39 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (4,666 degrees).

Operations

Liberty University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.71B, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $−NaNM (−1.61%), compared to the 3.43% average return ($10.5M on $307M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2020, Liberty University had a total salary expenditure of $803M. Liberty University employs 626 Assistant professors, 197 Associate professors, and 182 Professors. Most academics at Liberty University are Male Assistant professors (326), Female Assistant professors(300), and Male Professors (144).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Liberty University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 1165 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 613 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 558 employees.

Endowment

$1.71B

2020 Endowment

7.97%

growth from 2019

Liberty University has an endowment valued at about $1.71B, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Liberty University grew 7.97% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.41B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Liberty University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$3.33M - Federal
$1.77M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, Liberty University received $3.33M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $1.77M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$348M

2020 Salaries

8.42%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Liberty University paid a median of $348M in salaries, which represents 43.4% of their overall expenditure ($803M) and a 8.42% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 9.9% growth from 2018 and a 1.79% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 238M (42.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$68.6M

Instructional Salaries

1,032

Number of Employees

In 2020, Liberty University paid a total of $68.6M to 1,032 employees working as instructors, which represents 19.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $70.3M (29.6%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

626 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1165 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Liberty University were Assistant professor with 626 employees; Associate professor with 197 employees; and Associate professor with 182 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Liberty University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 1,165 employees; Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 613 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 558 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Assistant professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Liberty University was Male Assistant professor with 326 employees, Female Assistant professor with 300 employees, and Male Professor with 144 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Liberty University.