Liberty University was founded in 1971 by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell to promote religious values through education. The institution is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, where it serves an estimated 26,000 students through residential and online programs. On its home page, Liberty states that it is "committed to providing students with the highest quality education in a distinctly Christian environment."
Elsewhere, Liberty has stated that "the secret to its success lies in a rock-solid commitment to Biblical truth and morality."
Liberty offers three graduate business degrees, all "online":
- MS Accounting - 30 semester hours
- MBA - 45 semester hours
- MS Management - 30 semester hours
The MS degress have a tuition of $11,850, whereas the MBA will cost $17,775
Liberty has been accredited "overall" by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which is the accepted accrediting organization for schools headquartered in Virginia. Additionally, Liberty's School of Education has been rated favorably by U. S. News and World Report.
In spite of this, I cannot recommend Liberty University's business administration or accounting programs. Here's why:
- Neither is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- All the graduate programs are online (better schools have both residential and distance education programs).
- Liberty has a history of financial problems, though the school now claims an endowment of approximately $6 million.
- The school has a no-tenure policy for instructors, thus allowing for easy removal of any person who strays from the school's religious orthodoxy.
If and when Liberty University solves these problems, I will be glad to recommend the school. In the meantime, prospective students should look elsewhere.
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