Regent University Review

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Regent University in a Nutshell

Overview

Regent University is a private Virginia-based college offering online courses that center around Christian values. Its top-class reputation is backed by accolades including the Number 1 Best Accredited Online School (Study.com, 2020) and Top 5% Most Affordable Private Christian Universities (CCCU Tuition Survey, 2018).

I’m really impressed that you can complete 100% online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as associate and certificate programs. Regent offers over 85 courses across a diverse range of subject areas, from business and IT to healthcare, education, and law.

What is Regent University?

Regent University’s motto—“Christian Leadership to Change the World”—well describes the types of programs on offer. Among its 85+ programs, many center around business, communication, education, and theological studies. So, this could be the right institution for you if you’re keen to integrate your Christian faith into ambitious career plans.

Apart from that, it also suits busy learners with additional commitments like work and family. For example, you can choose between eight different start dates a year, and choose to study either part-time or full-time, at your own pace.

In terms of programs, most of Regent’s offerings are master's degrees, with a relatively smaller number of doctorates, bachelor's, and associate degrees, as well as certificates. So it seems you may have a wider choice of programs if you’ve already completed an undergraduate education.

Here’s a sample of some of the courses offered at Regent University:

• BA in English

• MBA—Entrepreneurship

• MFA in Screenwriting

• LLM in Foundations of American Law

• MS in Cybersecurity

• PhD in Communication

• PhD in Education—Educational Psychology

• Undergraduate Certificate in Human Resources

On top of that, you’ve got lots of Christianity-focused degrees, such as:

• BS in Christian Leadership & Management

• Master of Divinity in Theology & Ministry

• Master of Theology—Biblical Studies

Is Regent University Safe and Reliable?

Regent University is an accredited US college. Among its many accreditations, its top ones are from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

It’s also got specialty-related accreditations such as those from the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

How Regent University Works

There are rolling admissions and eight course start times per year at Regent University. The weekly workload is around 15-20 hours, depending on the course, and this includes watching on-demand content, writing papers, and taking quizzes. In total, you’re looking at about 2-3 years of full-time study for a master's degree and 3-4 years for a bachelor's degree.

While each course has its own structure and schedule, you’re free to watch, read, and study course materials in your own time. However, that doesn’t mean you’re alone. Classes have about 17 students each, making it easier for you to build connections and find study buddies.

How to get started with Regent University

I thought submitting an application for Regent University was pretty straightforward. 

You can find the “Apply now” link on almost all website pages, and the application form is easy to navigate. First, you fill in personal details such as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and citizenship status. 

You must also confirm your gender, but the only available options are “male” and “female”, which may discourage gender minorities such as non-binary people from applying.

You must then select your degree type and subject and preferred start date. I got four different start date options on my form and appreciated this flexibility.

Then, you specify your preference for online or on-campus study, provide your GPA, and confirm that you’re “comfortable learning from a Christian perspective.” The final requirement is a statement of 150-200 words explaining why you’ve chosen Regent University. 

Once you submit your application, you get a separate questionnaire focusing on your academic goals and motivations. Unfortunately, the contents of this questionnaire aren’t made clear in the initial stages of the application.

After that’s done, you submit your transcripts and government-issued ID, plus your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) where relevant. Regent University claims to send out admissions decisions in just a few days.

Terms and fees

Regent University courses have different per-credit tuition costs depending on the department and degree type. 

Here’s the cost per credit you can expect for graduate programs, for both full-time and part-time learning:

• Master’s: $530-$920/credit

• PhD:  $695-$1,020/credit

• Juris Doctor (JD): $1,295/credit

For undergrad degrees, though, you’ve got different per-credit costs between part-time and full-time learning. 

• Part-time undergraduate: $450/credit

• Full-time undergraduate: $295/credit

Costs per credit may vary according to degree and program.

Regent courses have varying numbers of credits per semester, so you need to double-check the details for your preferred course. For instance, a full-time Master of Theology costs $4,020 for six credits per semester, while a full-time Acting MFA costs $8,280 for nine credits per semester.

Then there’s an additional university service fee costing $700/semester, plus any expenditure for course books or technical equipment.  

Financial aid

Regent University applicants are eligible for federal and state aid. The college has estimated that 81% of students received financial aid in the 2021-22 academic year, which sounds promising.

Students can also apply for military benefits such as Tuition Assistance (TA) and the GI Bill. In addition to these, the college offers the Veterans Award, ROTC Award, and Military Service Award, ranging from course-specific discounts to a 25% reduction in tuition fees.

You can also save money by transferring credits where you’ve already taken relevant courses. Regent lets you transfer up to 90 credit hours per degree (subject to Regent’s full credit transfer policy).

Regent University Student Resources

Regent University offers plenty of resources for online students. Here are the top ones that grabbed my attention.

Admissions support

The admissions team can answer questions while you’re submitting your application. Live chat is available Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST, while phone lines are open Mon-Thu 8am-9pm EST and Fri 8am-6pm EST. The team responded to me within five minutes on live chat and two working days by email.

The official website also provides useful FAQs and lots of resources related to financial aid.

Online learning hub

Regent University’s Canvas platform lets you join online classes, view course materials, take quizzes and exams, and exchange ideas in student forums. I love that Canvas is accessible from your smartphone and sends you updates by push notifications. 

It’s also a direct way to reach out to tutors. This is an important feature for me, seeing that online students can’t drop in physically during professors’ office hours.

Career coaching

I’m also impressed with the college’s career services. You can schedule one-on-one meetings with career counselors, take career quizzes to find the right path for you, get interview coaching, and more. Plus, you can continue to access the university’s career support after graduation.

Support services

The college has a Center for Student Happiness encompassing life coaching and academic support with writing and math. There’s also a Christian-centered counseling service and weekly ministry events, including chapel live streams. For students interested in a Christian education, this sounds like a holistic support system.

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How Regent University compares with other online universities

Regent University vs Capella University

Both Regent and Capella are accredited universities that offer a variety of online degrees across business, education, healthcare, IT, and other areas. But Capella undergrad degrees average around 180 credits compared to Regent’s 120 credits. Also, you can transfer up to 135 credits at Capella versus 90 credits at Regent. Cappela’s tuition cost per credit is also slightly lower than Regent’s, but you may prefer Regent University for its Christian-informed approach.

Regent University vs Post University

Post University and Regent University are both online colleges that allow on-campus learning for some courses. However, Post offers fewer than 50 programs versus Regent’s 85+. While Post has a higher average cost per credit ($430-$599), it seems to include fewer overall credits per course than Regent, so the overall price may be similar. That said, a degree with more credits and a Christian focus from Regent University could be better for your career.

Regent University vs Liberty University

Both Liberty and Regent University are Christian colleges with large varieties of online degrees. Liberty, however, offers a more relaxed schedule with no compulsory classes. That said, it’s not clear whether its on-campus resources, like student clubs and counseling, are available to online learners. So you may prefer Regent for its substantial wellbeing and spiritual support.

Bottom Line

Regent University is an accredited Christian college with numerous undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs. Its tuition cost is quite affordable and there’s substantial financial aid available, too. I was happy to see that counseling, career coaching, and academic support are in generous supply.

On the whole, I believe Regent University is a solid choice for students desiring quality education infused with Christian values. With plenty of choices across arts, humanities, sciences, and theology subjects, Regent is likely to have a degree that’s right for you.