Hi everybody,
I just did 4 years active duty in the Marine Corps, and I am now looking at transferring to Liberty University to get a bachelors degree in aviation, primarily to become a pilot in the Air force.
I am looking at Liberty primarily because they will accept my military training as college credits, so I would have 31 transferable credits to a degree in aviation. They are also close to home and have a high acceptance rate.
I know it is a Christian school and very conservative politically. This isn’t a deal breaker, but I am personally not an evangelical Christian, and have no interest in attending religious functions. I want to get my degree and graduate.
I also understand there are a lot of restrictive rules (I had a good laugh reading the code of conduct) but I will be living off campus and have no intention of engaging in campus life.
First and foremost I would appreciate any information regarding aviation degree offered at Liberty. I was unable to find any information regarding the quality of the program.
Secondly, any insight into the political and religious leanings of school would be great; especially how much impact they have on students living off campus.
Thanks!
As an older student living off campus you will primarily be concerned with the education only. It sounds like a great value to me given that they are accepting so many of your credits and are close to your home. I don’t think you can go wrong.
My D got to know a Liberty undergrad this summer through her research internship. While this student is religious she found the restrictions over the top and routinely broke them. She mainly chose to attend b/c they offered her a full ride.
One thing to check out is that it’s my impression you need to attest to evangelical Christian beliefs to be a student there, but I could be wrong. I think there are religious courses that are graduation requirements so look into those so see if you could live with that.
The president of the college has been in hot water recently for sordid dealings – financial and personal. You can Google that. The student my D met said many student really don’t like him, but he seems to have a tight grip on the college.
Don’t know anything about the aviation program.
I assume you’ve done your research, but are you sure there aren’t other options to also consider that will take your military credits?
You need to do what is best for you financially, but might want to look at some other schools too since you really don’t want the thing Liberty is known for- religion.
Florida Tech has aviation, is a Yellow Ribbon school and has a lot of older students. A lot of the aviation students live in an apartment village, which is owned by the school but off campus and more independent. It doesn’t require a meal plan.
North Dakota and Southern Illinois are public schools so may be less expensive (although aviation is expensive anywhere).
Liberty’s religious edicts are much harder to avoid than, say, those of a Jesuit university. Since you aren’t looking for that, I’d keep looking.
Another university to consider would be University of Nebraska-Omaha. Aviation program (one of five schools to partner w/Southwest), plus I’d bet they are fairly military-friendly because of Offutt.
The religious requirements are both academic and co curricular and they’re mandatory (you must sign a creed and attest to your faith, take religious doctrine classes, attend chapel and Bible study.)
If you don’t want to follow the rules, it’s probably not a good idea.
Look for Yellow Ribbon public universities.