Accreditation – Liberty University

Institutional Accreditation

SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees, as well as certificates at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Liberty University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Schools participate in the accreditation process in order to gain third-party recognition that verifies the institution meets certain standards of academic and administrative quality and is committed to continual improvement.

Questions about the accreditation of Liberty University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Programmatic Accreditation

In addition to regional accreditation, many of Liberty’s programs are accredited or otherwise recognized by specialized professional and accrediting agencies:

Athletic Training 

Liberty’s Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education  (CAATE)

Business

Liberty’s School of Business has achieved voluntary accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), demonstrating it has met standards of business education that promote teaching excellence.

Programs that have achieved accredited status include:

• A.A. in Accounting
• A.A. in Business
• A.A. in Information Systems
• B.S. in Accounting and Data Analysis
• B.S. in Business Administration*
• B.S. in Information Systems
• Master of Business Administration*
• M.S. in Accounting
• Doctor of Business Administration

*Accreditation for individual cognates may vary.

Computer Science

Liberty’s residential Computer Science program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Counseling

Liberty’s residential M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling and M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 

Liberty’s online Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and online M.Ed. in School Counseling programs are also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

In addition to CACREP, the M.Ed. in School Counseling program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Accreditation System.

Divinity

Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity has been accredited through the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), demonstrating that it values the four core principles of ATS: diversity, quality and improvement, collegiality, and leadership. The approved programs include:

Education   

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits Liberty University’s School of Education. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through content and pedagogy, clinical partnerships and practice, candidate recruitment, progression and support, program impact, and quality assurance and continuous improvement. 

CAEP is the only national accreditor for education preparation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation since its inception. We believe in striving for excellence in educator preparation, and we advance equity and performance through evidence-based reviews that promote quality and continuous improvement.

Liberty’s Teacher Licensure Programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

Liberty’s Teacher Licensure Programs are accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Engineering

Currently, the following statements only pertain to the residential programs, except for our Civil Engineering program which is accredited for online and residential.

• The Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
• The Computer Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
• The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Electrical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
• The Industrial and Systems Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Industrial and Systems and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
• The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Exercise Science 

Liberty’s Exercise Science program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Forensic Science

Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science residential program is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Nursing 

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and the postgraduate APRN certificate program at Liberty University School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Liberty’s Registered Nurse program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBN).

The Liberty University School of Nursing Simulation Center is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) in the areas of Teaching/Education.

Osteopathic Medicine

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), operating under authority granted to it by the U.S. Department of Education, to offer an academic program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

Public Health

The Liberty University Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree with concentrations in Community Health Promotion, Global Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Health Policy, and Environmental Health, as well as the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health degree with concentrations in Community Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Pre-Clinical are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH accreditation was granted from October 6, 2017, through December 31, 2024. Reaccreditation is scheduled for November 2024.

Respiratory Therapy

The B.S. Degree Entry into Respiratory Therapy Practice, CoARC program number 200640, B.S. in Respiratory Therapy, in Lynchburg, Virginia, program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

The B.S. Degree Advancement Program in Respiratory Care, CoARC program number 510013, B.S. in Respiratory Therapy online program holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

Social Work

Liberty’s B.S in Social Work and M.S.W in Social Work degree programs, offered in both residential and distance education formats, are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

School of Law

Liberty University School of Law is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA).

School of Music 

Liberty University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). NASM approves music degrees. The School of Music also offers three degrees that are not music degrees: the BS in Worship Studies, the Doctor of Worship Studies, and the Ph.D. in Christian Worship.

Sports Management 

The sport management degree program(s) at Liberty University has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. The sport management programs in the following degrees are accredited by COSMA:

• Bachelor of Science Sport Management (Residential) with cognates in Sport Administration, Sport Communication & Public Relations, Sport Outreach, Venue & Event Management, and General Studies
• Master of Science in Sport Management (Residential and Online) with cognates in Coaching & Athletic Administration, Sport Administration, Outdoor Adventure Sport, Tourism, and General Studies