I am not going to tell you whether Regent University is the right school for your child. An article cannot decide that, nor can I, nor can anyone who does not know your family. What I can do is show you, with complete clarity, what the United States government reports about this university: who studies there, how it admits students, how much it costs, and how likely a student is to graduate. That is one of the three pieces you need to build a plan. Only you have the other two—what your child wants and what your family can afford.
Let’s take it one part at a time.
What Kind of University It Is
Regent University is a private nonprofit institution offering programs of four years or more, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, within the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a principal city with a population of 250,000 or more. If your child were considering living at home and commuting to campus, I recommend something very simple: drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time your child would have class. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
The Carnegie Classification system, which organizes the nation’s universities according to what they do, places Regent among doctoral and professional universities. That is useful information, but it comes with important nuances. Using data from 2019-20, Carnegie describes it as a medium-sized, “primarily nonresidential” institution—a label applied when fewer than 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-owned housing, or when fewer than half studied full time. The data do not clarify which of those two conditions applied, and the label does not mean there are no residence halls: there are, as you will see later. Carnegie also places it in the category in which at least 40 out of every 100 undergraduate students study part time, which is not the same as saying they are the majority. One practical warning: if you come across older lists or guides, the Carnegie category changed beginning in 2015, so the university may be described differently.
IPEDS, the federal higher education data system, records it as a degree-granting institution offering primarily bachelor’s degrees or higher, with the doctorate as the highest level it reports offering. That is general institutional information: it does not tell you whether the specific program your child is interested in reaches that level, or whether the undergraduate and graduate programs in that field are connected. That must be verified program by program.
And here is something worth saying right away, so you do not carry the list price as though it were destiny: Regent University does not have any of three specific designations—it is not a historically Black college or university (HBCU), it is not a tribal college or university, and it is not a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this federal directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations. Regent’s absence from that list does not tell you which students it serves, how many Latino students are on campus, or how your child will feel there. Ask about that directly: which student organizations and cultural centers exist today and, better yet, speak with someone who already studies there.
Who Belongs to This Community, and How Large It Is
Here is one fact that changes how you should picture the classroom: of the undergraduate students reported in the fall of 2023, 57 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old. That is more than half. Regent University’s undergraduate classrooms are, to a large extent, classrooms of adults. If your child enrolls immediately after high school, your child will be among the younger students in the group. The data report ages; they do not describe how students interact during the week, so if this matters to you, ask admissions directly.
As for composition: 12 out of every 100 undergraduate students are Hispanic or Latino. That is a small minority. Compared with the 941 private, four-year schools with selective admissions in this same census that report this information, Regent ranks above the midpoint of the group but does not reach the top quarter. There are also more women than men among its undergraduate students: 62 out of every 100. And here is one missing piece, so you do not look for it where it cannot be found: IPEDS does not report where new students came from for this school in the 2023 cycle. The number is not zero; the information simply is not there.
In terms of size, Regent University is large: 10,168 students enrolled in the official fall count, within the federal range of 10,000 to 19,999. Among the 941 private, four-year schools with selective admissions in this census, it is one of the largest—at most one in ten has more students. But that large number conceals something important: of those 10,168 students, only 4,577 are undergraduates. The other 5,591 are graduate students. At this university, graduate enrollment outweighs undergraduate enrollment. If your child is beginning a bachelor’s degree, the number that truly matters is 4,577, not the total.
How the Academic Year Works and How Flexible Entry Is
Regent University organizes its academic year into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the standard calendar you probably already know.
Here is something worth knowing if your child already has credits from high school or other experiences: the university reported accepting two forms of prior credit. It accepts credit from AP exams and also what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—learning achieved through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses or certifications, or military, government, or professional opportunities, including specific exams. It also reports accepting credit for military training and enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is the part that truly matters for your budget and planning: the university’s statement that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. The data do not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward the specific program your child is interested in. Request a written transfer-credit evaluation before your child enrolls. Do not budget for savings in time or money until you have it in hand.
As for the academic offerings: in the most recently reported year, Regent awarded 636 bachelor’s degrees across 19 different program families, which the government calls CIP families. No family accounts for a large share: the most popular was psychology, with only 19 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with 942 private, four-year schools with selective admissions in this census, Regent is in the quarter that awards the most degrees each year. But be careful: 19 families with at least one row in the report do not necessarily represent 19 programs that are active today, and not all have positive degree counts—some rows may report zero. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, using its full name, directly with the school.
One more technical but relevant number: the student-to-instructional-staff ratio is 20 to 1. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the highest quarter—three out of four similar schools report the same ratio or a lower one. This number does not tell you the size of a classroom; it is an institutional average covering the entire school. If class size matters to you—and it matters a great deal to many families—ask directly: this report does not provide either the average or the typical size of a first-year class.
What Structured Academic Paths It Offers
The institution reports several specific pathways: study abroad, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, the ability to complete preparation there in certain teacher-specialization areas, and state approval of the program for initial teacher certification. If any of these pathways connects with what your child wants to study, ask about the concrete details: available places, requirements, and how it fits into the curriculum.
How It Admits Students, and How Selective It Really Is
Here is something that changes how many families imagine the process: Regent University does not have open admission. It reviews specific materials before saying yes. Of the nine admissions considerations evaluated by this federal report, it marked four as required: the high school transcript, high school GPA, personal essay, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Beyond those, only one additional factor is considered if submitted: completion of the course plan the university requests.
Put simply: gathering paperwork is not enough here. The essay is required, so your child has to write. My recommendation, after years of watching this process, is to begin during the summer, not during the week of the deadline. The first draft is never the one that gets submitted. The published application fee is $50.
Now for the numbers showing how selective the university is in practice. In the most recent cycle, Regent received 7,261 first-time applications and offered admission to 2,990 applicants. That is 41 out of every 100. Compared with 942 private, four-year schools with selective admissions in this census, it ranks on the lower side: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, accepted a larger percentage of their applicants. On the other side of that calculation are 4,271 applicants who did not receive an offer. The data do not distinguish among those who were rejected, placed on a waiting list, or withdrew their applications. It is fine for Regent to be on your child’s list. It should not be the only school on it.
Here is a fact that surprises many families: out of every 100 admitted students, only 22 ultimately enrolled. The other 78 had an offer from Regent and did not accept it. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is among the most common—neither high nor low, but in the middle of the group. Do not read it as a mark against the school: the federal record does not say why each person made that decision. It also tells you nothing about what your child will be offered. What matters is waiting for your child’s own letter, with the net price inside—that is what the year will actually cost. Once you have that number, you can decide whether the school stays on the list.
As for standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required. If submitted, they are considered; if not, the application remains active. Among those who enrolled and submitted SAT scores—only 12 out of every 100 enrolled students—the middle half scored between 540 and 640 in reading and writing, and between 510 and 610 in mathematics. These ranges describe students who had already enrolled, not all applicants, and they do not prove that the scores were used to admit anyone. That 540 is not a minimum, and that 640 does not guarantee anything either.
As for transfers: of a cohort of first-time, full-time students who entered in 2017 seeking bachelor’s degrees, 21 out of every 100 transferred without completing a degree there and enrolled at another institution. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is common, just below the midpoint of the group. Changing schools is not the same as failing, but your child should know beforehand how to request the documents needed to transfer if necessary. Looking in the opposite direction: in the fall of 2023, 1,300 undergraduate students entered Regent for the first time after attending another institution of higher education—a large number. The data do not say how many of their courses Regent accepted. Credits are either accepted or not; request that decision in writing, with the exact list of courses, before your child transfers.
How Much It Costs, in Real Numbers
At Regent University, among 82 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $18,843. Among 35 students in that same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $16,647; among 31 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $18,990. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The average for the lowest-income band (82 students) and the average for the highest-income band (31 students) ended up within $147 of each other. Among first-year students who received any grant, the average was $18,314.
$18,843 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in the 2022-23 academic year. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
The fact that the two outermost income bands are so close does not mean your family will pay that amount. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. Run the school’s net price calculator with your own numbers before counting on this figure.
Aid, Grants, and Loans: What Happens Once the Letter Arrives
The good news first: 75 out of every 100 degree-seeking students at Regent received some form of grant or aid that does not have to be repaid. Compared with similar schools, this proportion falls in the quarter where grant aid reaches fewer students—so this is not the school’s greatest strength relative to its peers. Among those who did receive grant aid, the average for the year was $8,542.
As for the Pell Grant—the federal aid for low-income students with demonstrated need—51 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received it. That is more than half. Applying for this aid here is neither unusual nor limited to a small group. Do not hesitate to ask which documents are required and when they are due.
Now for the debt, which deserves a careful reading. In the most recent school year, 57 out of every 100 Regent undergraduate students received a federal student loan. Among those who received a loan, the average for the year was $8,242. Compared with similar schools, this proportion of students with loans is common—neither among the highest nor among the lowest.
Here, financing with debt is the norm, not the exception. And I want to tell you something very clearly: if your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years typically required for the degree, the total would be around $32,968, not including interest. That figure is determined before the first signature, not at the end of the journey. And that number covers only federal loans in the student’s name for one year: it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from private banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduating—that would require adding together all the years, and this report does not provide that information.
The institution also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as an additional way to manage the cost.
Campus Life, Learning Format, and Available Support
Regent University does have institution-controlled housing, with a reported maximum capacity of 958 students, either on or off campus. Not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there. The institution reports that it does not offer meal plans as such—that does not mean there is no cafeteria or that other food options are unavailable; you simply need to confirm directly with the school what exists and how it is paid for. Also ask about the housing application deadline: the presence of rooms does not guarantee your child a bed if the application is submitted too late.
As for ROTC: the university reports opportunities in two branches, the Army and Navy. The Air Force is not marked as available. The fact that an opportunity is reported does not mean the program is necessarily taught on this specific campus—the program’s location, available places, scholarship, and requirements should all be confirmed by name.
In athletics, Regent competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The report does not identify which sports, teams, or seasons are active today, how many places are available, or whether any specific sport offers athletic scholarships. If this interests your child, write directly to the coach of that sport and request the answer in writing.
Here is a fact about learning format that may surprise you: 74 out of every 100 undergraduate students were taking all their classes remotely in the most recent count. Compared with similar schools, Regent is in the quarter with the largest share of undergraduates studying this way. Without exaggeration, this is the most common arrangement here, not the exception. These data do not tell you whether those classes are live or recorded, or whether students must physically visit campus for exams or laboratories. If your child imagines a traditional in-person experience, this is worth clarifying before making a decision.
The library has employed staff, physical and digital collections, and interlibrary lending. The institution also reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students and graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans’ organization, and a disability-services webpage. The reporting of these services confirms that they exist; it does not indicate how accessible, effective, or appropriate they are for your child’s specific situation. Ask about that directly.
If Your Child Enrolls: How Likely Is It That Your Child Will Stay and Graduate?
This is perhaps the most important part of truly understanding what choosing this school means.
Of the cohort of first-time, full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, 66 out of every 100 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled at Regent or had already graduated one year later. Compared with similar schools, this proportion falls near the bottom of the group—seven out of ten similar schools retained a larger share. Among part-time students from that same cohort, the result was much lower: 23 out of every 100. These are two different groups with different circumstances; they cannot be compared directly, and the higher result for one does not prove that the mode of study caused the difference.
Now consider graduation further into the future. Of the 275 first-time, full-time students who entered a bachelor’s-degree program in 2017, 147 had earned a degree from Regent six years later. That is 53 out of every 100—almost half and half. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 43 out of every 100. Compared with similar schools, Regent ranks below the midpoint of the group: more than half of those schools graduated a larger share of their cohort.
I want to be direct with you here, without dramatizing or softening it: after six years, slightly more than half of that cohort had a bachelor’s degree from Regent, and slightly less than half did not. The report counts outcomes, not the reasons behind each individual story. Before deciding, ask which concrete supports the school offers to help students complete their degrees and how long the specific program your child is interested in actually tends to take.
There is another measure covering a broader span of time: a cohort of 1,894 undergraduate students—including first-time students and those who already had prior college experience, both full-time and part-time—entered between July 2015 and June 2016. By the August 2023 reporting date, eight years later, 40 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from Regent. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure was 37 out of every 100, seven points below those who did not receive one. But when the calculation is limited solely to first-time, full-time students—the group most similar to the traditional path—the figure rises to 60 out of every 100, twenty points higher than the broader cohort. Pay attention to whom each number counts: a student who began from scratch as a full-time student is not the same as one who arrived part time with prior credits.
This eight-year measure is a snapshot at one moment, not a measure of how much time or money each individual story required. Before making a commitment, request in writing how long the specific program your child is interested in takes to complete, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the process takes longer.
What You Now Know, and What Is Still Yours to Decide
You now know, through real and verifiable numbers, one important part of what Regent University is: a large, private university with a greater graduate than undergraduate presence, an admissions process requiring an essay and transcript, a list price of $32,832 that may fall considerably depending on the aid your family receives, a majority of its undergraduate classes being taken remotely, and graduation outcomes hovering around half of each cohort.
None of these numbers decides for you. Admission is Regent’s decision. The effort, curiosity, and direction of the degree belong to your child. Your role is different but equally important: understanding the family’s finances, requesting the financial aid letter in writing, verifying what this report cannot know—available places, specific scholarships, credit equivalencies, actual class sizes—and supporting the decision without carrying it alone or leaving your child to carry it alone.
Combine this piece with what your child wants to study, what your child has already built in high school, and what your family can truly afford—not the list price. A plan comes from that combination, not from any single number.
Source: The information in this article comes from official data reported by Regent University to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, along with the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Best College Aid does not represent Regent University or any agency of the United States government.