In the midst of a pandemic, online learning has become more popular than ever. With its long history of providing quality online programs, Liberty University remains a top choice for adults earning their degrees and advancing their careers around the globe.
This summer, Liberty hit the milestone of 50,000 new students enrolled in its online programs for the year. Overall, 108,000 students are pursuing degrees online with Liberty.
From 2019-20, Liberty’s unduplicated headcount (individual student enrollment) for online and residential topped 127,000, and that number is trending 10% higher for next year.
Liberty offers 450+ online academic programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level, training students for in-demand fields such as nursing, business, and computer engineering, all with the same standards of academic excellence as Liberty’s residential programs.
“The average age of our online students is 37, so most of them are working adults who are looking for a program that fits their busy lifestyles as they balance their families and their jobs,” said Ron Kennedy, executive vice president for Enrollment Management & Marketing. “Our students tell us all the time that they chose Liberty because we provide the flexibility and convenience they need, and at an affordable cost.”
While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university. This enables the school to freeze tuition again through the 2021-22 school year, easing financial stress for students during what has been a difficult year for many. Online students — at every degree level — will now enjoy their sixth year of steady tuition. Available grants and loans, as well as scholarships and flexible payment plans that are specifically designed for online students, are helping students reach their educational goals. Special benefits are available for active military and spouses, veterans, first responders, and small business owners. Liberty also accepts corporate tuition assistance.
The distance learning program began in 1976 as the Liberty Home Bible Institute and became Liberty University School of Lifelong Learning in 1985. Through home correspondence courses with VHS tapes sent through the mail, students were able to work while attending school for the first time. The internet boom of the early 2000s made it possible for Liberty to offer Christian college degree programs exclusively online.
