Liberty University

Yes, LU is one of the largest online colleges in the country, offering over 600 degrees and certificates online, including associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Most of Liberty's online classes are offered asynchronously, so students can complete assignments when it's convenient and don't have to log in at a certain time. 

Thanks to the rapid growth of online programs from reputable universities, today's online degrees are widely respected as long as they're from an accredited school. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees, and certificates. 

Accreditation is the best way to make sure an online degree is legitimate, and it's what sets respected online schools apart from diploma mills that exist to make money rather than educate students. If a school is accredited, it means an approved agency has reviewed the university, including its faculty and programs, to make sure it can provide students with a quality education. 

Every college on OnlineU is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

LU is known for being an Evangelical Christian school and was founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971. Today, it is one of the largest schools in the country by enrollment and serves some of the most adult learners thanks to its expansion into online programs. 

The university also focuses on keeping costs low for students. It hasn't increased tuition in seven years and offers a 15% discount for small business owners. The most popular degrees at Liberty include Business, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Criminal Justice, according to federal data from the U.S. Department of Education. 

LU is known for being a conservative university. Since it was founded as an Evangelical Christian school, students are expected to follow a strict honor code, called The Liberty Way. The honor code is conservative in regulating relationships between unmarried students and has guidelines for what music, movies, and video games are permitted on and off campus. 

Students are also "prohibited from statements and behaviors that are associated with LGBT lifestyle." It's not clear how many of these rules and regulations extend to online students, but Liberty is likely not a good option for LGBTQ students.

Liberty University is a drug, smoke, and alcohol-free school, and students are prohibited from using or possessing drugs, alcohol, or tobacco on and off campus. This rule does not apply to online students enrolled in LU Online. The university also has a dress code, although online students only need to follow it when on campus.

At OnlineU, we use labor market data from the analytics company Lightcast to look at alumni outcomes for every college. Lightcast relies on job postings, profiles, and other data sources to give a monthly update of where graduates end up. Lightcast data shows that the most common job categories for LU bachelor's graduates are in management, business and financial operations, and office and administrative support. Many graduates go on to become business owners, office assistants, sales representatives, and general managers. Major employers for Liberty graduates include the U.S. Military, Liberty University, Chick-fil-A, and Amazon. Salary data from the U.S. Department of Education shows bachelor's graduates earn a median of $38,758 in their first year out of college. For graduate students, the most popular jobs include chief executives, middle school teachers, general and operations managers, and clergy. 

Liberty University has a 99% acceptance rate, which means it is relatively easy to get in as long as you submit the required documentation during the admissions process. 

For most online bachelor's programs at Liberty University, students need a high school diploma, a GED, or the equivalent, and at least a 2.0 GPA.

Prospective students can apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor. They'll need to submit a High School Self-Certification form, official high school transcripts, and any official transcripts from previous college experience.

Once they submit their paperwork and application, students will apply for financial aid, review tuition assistance programs, and assess other funding options, like a payment plan.