Liberty University vs. SU

Should I go to Liberty University or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Liberty University or SU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Liberty University vs. Shenandoah University comparison
Liberty University Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Liberty University Shenandoah University
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Overview

Liberty University SU
Location Lynchburg, VA Winchester, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 96,709 4,260
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #852 #537
Religious Affiliation Baptist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website liberty.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Liberty University SU
Tuition (In State) $21,374 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $21,374 $33,790
Room & Board $12,350 $11,230
Avg Net Price $29,913 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $12,471 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Liberty University SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 30,943 2,296
Admitted 30,723 1,845
Acceptance Rate 99.3%Open 80.4%
Enrolled % 19.9%Open 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 19/26
SAT Range 1040/1250 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Liberty University SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (17%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Liberty University SU
Graduation Rate 47% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,166 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $249 $258

Diversity

Liberty University SU
% Men 41% 32%
% Women 59% 68%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 46% 59%
% Black 13% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 31% 13%

Students

Liberty University SU
% In-State 22% 52%
% Out-of-State 76% 48%

Campus

Liberty University SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Liberty University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (96,709 students vs. 4,260 students)

Liberty University vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Liberty University or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 58.1% more expensive to attend than Liberty University for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $21,374.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.1% higher at SU than Liberty University ($33,790.00 vs. $21,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shenandoah University than Liberty University ($26,143 vs. $29,913)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 10% lower than costs at Liberty University ($11,230 vs. $12,350)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Liberty University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 88.2% larger than aid received Liberty University ($23,467 vs. $12,471)

Liberty University vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Liberty University or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or Liberty University .

  • The average SAT score at Liberty University (1070) is 65 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming Liberty University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Liberty University (3.56)
  • Liberty University has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than SU (80.4%)

Liberty University vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Liberty University or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and Liberty University.

  • The graduation rate at Liberty University is higher than Shenandoah University (47% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $9,200 more per year than Liberty University graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $39,100)
  • Liberty University students graduate with a $834 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($24,166 vs. $25,000)
  • Liberty University graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($249 vs. $258)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Liberty University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/