Who is LFBI for?

LFBI is for anyone who desires to grow in their knowledge of God’s word and their ability to minister. This may be a pastor or a pastor-in-training, a missionary or future missionary, a Sunday school worker, a biblical counselor or a Bible study leader. LFBI has built a program of study that is both rigorous but also accommodating for anyone who has an interest in applying God’s word to their life. We only ask that an individual meet the requirements as specified in our application criteria.

We have also built our program to accommodate those with learning disabilities. If you have questions about accommodations, please feel free to inquire when you submit your form.

What does LFBI cost?

LFBI is $40 per credit hour. Keeping costs low is very important to us. Payment is made at the time of registration for each individual class. Cost to audit a class (access to course materials but no credit) is $20 per credit hour. The initial application fee is $25 for a new student is. Apply here.

Why is LFBI so inexpensive?

From LFBI’s inception, we were committed to making Bible education affordable. To make this vision a reality, we rely heavily on mission-minded patrons for financial support. Through fundraising, a reliance on online platforms and professors who passionately offer their time and knowledge at a reduced rate, we have made LFBI a remarkably affordable options for all of our students.

How long does it take to get my Associate of Divinity degree?

The program of study will take the average full time student 2 years (10-12 credit hours a semester semesters) to complete. But LFBI is designed with working adults and university students in mind, so you are invited to take as long as you need.

What if I just want to take one or two courses?

You can take as many classes as you would like; you do not need to be a full-time student to attend.

Do I have to complete courses in a specific order?

Each student is encouraged to prioritize courses in this order: Foundations > Bible Essentials > Leadership Prep and Electives can be taken as opportunity arises. With that said, each student beyond the Foundations level is welcome to take courses in accordance with what is being offered that semester.

Can I attend the Institute in person?

We are primarily an online school, mainly because it allows our students and professors the ideal amount of flexibilty. If you live in the Kansas City area and are available to attend courses on campus, we invite you to join us in person, though we only offer a few in person courses each semester.

Can I attend the Institute completely online?

Yes. Classes are streamed live each week and are also available for watching throughout the week in the online classroom environment. Online students must complete the lecture and quiz associated with each week’s lecture within a 10-day timeframe. If you are local, we encourage all students to attend class in person whenever possible.

Can I transfer credits from other Bible schools? How do I do that?

Yes. Applicants who have completed work in another Bible school can receive transfer credit for any courses that are equivalent to our curriculum. The minimum grade that will be accepted is a “C". All students desiring to transfer credit can arrange to have official transcripts from other schools sent directly to the Registrar for evaluation and formal record in your LFBI transcript. Transcripts can also be submitted upon application. Applicants will not be given transfer credit until the transcripts have been received and reviewed by LFBI administration.

When is the deadline to enroll in classes?

In Spring and Fall courses, students have until the end of the second complete week of semester classes to enroll for two credit hour courses. Students will have until the end of the first complete week of semester classes to enroll for one credit hour courses. If you enroll late, the penalty is that assignments or quizzes associated with any missed sessions will not be accepted for a grade.  

In a Summer course, students have until the end of the fourth week to enroll for a class. All summer work is due by the last day of class.

Is my LFBI tuition tax deductible?

Tuition payments for LFBI are not a legal tax exemption.

What is the format for learning?

Online courses include video, notes, and other resources required for course completion. A clear syllabus with expectations is provided at the beginning of any course. The platform we use for our online classroom is myLFBI.

How many hours each week can I expect to spend on homework?

While it depends on the student, outside of the lectures themselves, you should plan on at least 1 to 1.5 hours per class as a baseline investment each week completing the quizzes and working toward completing major assignments. Keep in mind that how much work you put into the class will determine how much benefit you will get out of it. 

How do I check my grades?

When you are logged into myLFBI.org, you can find the user menu by clicking on your name in the upper right hand corner of your browser page. You will find "Grades" right under "Profile." 

How long do I have access to a class I have already taken?

If you already have credit for a particular course, you can take it as an auditor and have access to the materials and videos. Anyone else auditing will pay 50% of the course fee and have access to class materials and videos, but will not get credit for the course. Auditing students do not get attendance marks or complete any coursework. However, we strongly believe it is better to do the work and get credit!

I'm not planning on being a pastor. Does it make sense to take classes for credit? Shouldn’t I just audit them?

Not everyone enters into the office of pastor or is sent by their local church as a missionary, but the LFBI Associate of Divinity degree is valuable to anyone desiring to function in or support ministry at a leadership level. If you are taking the time to audit, why not do the course work to increase your learning level and receive credit?

How do I withdraw from a course? Can I change my status to audit?

To withdraw from a class, a student must contact the Registrar to notify them of the change within the first four weeks of class. No refunds are given for early withdrawal past the second week of classes. If a student is negligent in their course work and the deadline has passed, they are obligated to receive their earned grade at the end of the semester.

Is LFBI accredited?

While the State of Missouri has authorized LFBI the ability to grant an Associates of Divinity degree, LFBI is not accredited with any accreditation bodies. Accreditation is incredibly expensive and in some cases can take many years to attain. With that in mind, LFBI has built and is building reciprocity agreements with larger accredited seminaries and Bible schools so that students can transfer credits to schools that offer Bachelors degrees.

Do you have more questions?

Call 816-659-3366