History of Liberty
In 1971, Pastor Jerry Falwell Sr. challenged his congregation at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. to establish a Christian college whose students would “go out in all walks of life to impact this world for God.” Soon after, Lynchburg Baptist College became a reality.
Through those founding years, students and faculty were inspired to influence the moral and ethical course of America. Subsequently, the school’s name officially changed to Liberty Baptist College in 1975, and the colors were changed to red, white, and blue in 1976. The college achieved accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 1980.
By 1985, the school had become recognized as an accredited university, adding programs and garnering recognition from both mainstream culture and the world of academia. Liberty also pioneered a distance learning program that year, launching what is now known as Liberty University Online Programs.
With the passing of the founder in 2007, his son, Jerry Falwell Jr., became chancellor and president of the university. Over the next decade, the university entered a season of campus expansion. New academic buildings such as the Jerry Falwell Library and the Center for Medical and Health Sciences opened alongside state-of-the art athletic facilities like the Liberty Athletics Center, Natatorium, and Indoor Track & Field Complex.
In 2020, Jerry Falwell Jr. stepped down as president and Dr. Jerry Prevo became interim president. During this period, Liberty celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Fall 2021. In Summer 2023, Dr. Prevo passed the title of university president to Dr. Dondi E. Costin and announced Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and son of Jerry Falwell Sr., as chancellor.
Liberty’s journey has been one of facing giants, making the impossible possible, watching fervent prayer move mountains, and Training Champions for Christ.
Then & Now
Standing on the shoulders of more than two millennia of Christian scholarship, Liberty University emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge in every discipline.
A world-class liberal arts university with 15 schools and colleges, Liberty offers more than 700 programs from the certificate to the doctoral level ranging from medicine, biology, chemistry, and engineering to design, music, religion, law, and more.
Founded in 1971 in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty has grown from a small college of 154 students into a university with a residential student body of over 15,000.
Preparing students to be doctors, educators, ministers, lawyers, aviators, counselors, engineers, and more, Liberty is committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders — men and women of character whose impact will extend beyond their professions to change the world around them.
Our Founder
Dr. Jerry Falwell
Aug. 11, 1933 – May 15, 2007
In June of 1956, at the age of 22, Jerry Falwell started Thomas Road Baptist Church in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va., with 35 members. Also in 1956, Falwell began the “Old Time Gospel Hour,” a nationally syndicated radio and television ministry that has led millions to Christ.
In 1967, Falwell implemented his vision to build a Christian educational system for evangelical youth. He began with the establishment of Lynchburg Christian Academy, an accredited Christian day school for grades K-12. In 1971, he founded Liberty University, an accredited Christian university for evangelical believers. In 1985 Falwell announced his goal of 50,000 students.
Today his vision has been fulfilled, with more than 15,000 students attending classes on campus in Lynchburg, Va., and more than 94,000 students taking courses through Liberty University Online.
Over 50 Years of Training Champions for Christ at Liberty University
In Fall 2021, Liberty University celebrated 50 Years of Training Champions for Christ. We invite you to explore our history and read the stories of our Liberty champions on the 50th Anniversary website.
- Scroll through a timeline of our history.
- Read alumni stories and share your own memories of your time at Liberty University.
- Get 50th Anniversary merchandise, including a commemorative book.
