Liberty University

Liberty University is a private institution in Lynchburg, Virginia. Jerry Falwell founded the school in 1971. Falwell was a famed pastor and is buried in the ground of the university. The university remains a Christian university, requiring students to complete three Bible studies classes during their first year. It is also the largest Christian university in the world, enrolling over 15,000 students at the Lynchburg campus. Liberty University began offering online distance learning, leading to an additional 100,000 online students. The university is structured into 17 colleges offering 297 undergraduate programs, 319 master’s programs, and 32 doctoral programs.

Liberty University has an MSN program and several BSN options. The BSN programs include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and LPN to BSN. All programs are accredited by the CCNE. The traditional BSN program accepts 40 students each summer. This BSN track is a four-year program with nursing courses spread throughout the four years instead of requiring students to wait until their junior year to begin their nursing education. In clinical settings, the school maintains a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, providing students with individualized attention. The MSN program is typically completed in two years and the classes are offered entirely online.

Updated on: 15 Oct, 2025

Program Length & Format

126 total credit hours
19 months
on-campus
Next start date listed: January 19, 2026

Admission Requirements

Minimum cumulative GPA for admission: 3.25 (includes all college coursework and dual enrollment); Liberty portion of cumulative GPA must also be at least 3.25 when transferring credits
Applicants must hold a prior bachelor’s degree (application requires a second bachelor’s degree)
Minimum transferable credits to Nursing Degree Completion Plan: 55 credits
Prerequisites must be completed by the end of the semester before the program starts
Must be admitted to Liberty University before applying to the School of Nursing

Prerequisites

Required courses with final grade of C or better:
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs (BIOL 213/214 & 215/216)
- General/Organic Chemistry (CHEM 107)
- Pre-licensure Pathophysiology (NURS 115)
- Microbiology (BIOL 203)
- Introduction to Nursing/Medical Terminology (NURS 104)

Deadlines

Summer semester application window listed: December 1 to February 15

Application

Required application materials:
- Liberty University admission application (must be accepted to the university first)
- Separate School of Nursing application after prerequisites are complete
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts
- Admission essay
Standardized test scores (CLT, SAT, ACT) are not required for admission; may be used for merit aid consideration

Selection Process

Applications reviewed by the admissions committee on a case-by-case basis
Admission to Liberty University does not guarantee admission to the nursing program
Program cohort capacity: 15 students per term (stated clinical space limit)
Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition rates: subject to annual change (no program-specific tuition amount listed)
Scholarships and awards referenced:
- Middle America Scholarship: up to $25,580 over four years
- Champion Award: $8,000 over four years
- Early Deposit Award: up to $2,000
- University scholarship drawing: five $10,000 awards (total $50,000)
Financial aid options: standard federal student aid (FAFSA) and university scholarships (details on university financial aid pages)

Clinical & Simulation Lab

Clinical hours: site text lists both "more than 550 clinical hours" and "over 600 clinical hours" on program pages
Simulation center: 14,000-square-foot School of Nursing Simulation Center; accredited by Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) with accreditation period December 31, 2023 – December 31, 2028
Clinical site locations mentioned: Richmond and Roanoke hospitals; international clinical mission sites listed: Rwanda, Kenya, Guatemala, Haiti

Credit Transfer

Transfer policy: up to 75% of the degree total may be transferred into the program
Additional residency requirements:
- At least 50% of the major must be taken through Liberty University
- At least 31.5 credit hours must be completed through Liberty University
Transferable credit minimum to nursing plan: 55 credits

Graduation Requirements

Total credits required for graduation: 126 hours
Minimum overall GPA for graduation: 2.0
Minimum grade for all major and major foundational courses: C
Minimum upper-level (300–400) credit hours required: 31.5
Degree Completion Application must be submitted in last semester

Contacts

School of Nursing fax: (434) 582-7035
School of Nursing location: DeMoss Hall, Room 2142, Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, VA 24515
General next start date listed on program page: January 19, 2026

Updated on: 25 Aug, 2024

The Liberty University BSN program is designed to prepare ethical nurses committed to Christian values.

The nursing curriculum is a composite of courses from the arts, sciences and the Bible in addition to academic and clinical nursing courses.

The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.

Students who successfully graduate from the program are eligible to apply to sit for the National Licensure exam to be licensed as a Registered Nurse.

Admission Requirements

Nursing Program Application
High School Diploma or GED equivalency certificate
Official transcripts for all college level coursework
Recommendation letters
Nursing program pre-admission exam
Completion of all pre-requisite course satisfactorily by the prescribed deadline

Applicants provisionally accepted into the program will be required to submit additional program specific requirements including the physical health examination, laboratory exam, immunization series, drug screening and criminal background check as required by clinical locations and the licensing body.