


Regent University is a private Christian university in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded by broadcaster Pat Robertson in 1977 as Christian Broadcasting Network University, with an initial focus on graduate education. It adopted the Regent University name in 1990 and later expanded into undergraduate study.
That history helps explain Regent's present-day mix of bachelor's, graduate, and professional programs. It also explains why applicants should not assume that every Regent program follows the same calendar, admissions process, or campus-attendance pattern.
Regent offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional education across liberal arts and career-oriented fields. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts & Sciences and schools devoted to business and leadership, communication and the arts, divinity, education, government, law, and psychology and counseling.
Students can explore subjects such as business administration, computer science, criminal justice, education, nursing, psychology, and biblical studies. Graduate options include law, counseling, and theology. Program format matters: a subject available online at one degree level may have different campus, clinical, or residency requirements at another. Applicants considering a licensed profession should examine the specific degree plan and the licensing rules in the state where they intend to practice.
Regent University's main campus is at 1000 Regent University Drive in Virginia Beach, part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Its setting is suburban rather than beachfront; the city's resort district is separate from the campus.
The surrounding region includes Norfolk, Chesapeake, military installations, health care employers, and other colleges. Norfolk International Airport is a practical arrival point for students traveling to campus. Because many Regent students commute or study online, prospective students planning in-person classes should check where their particular courses meet and allow for Hampton Roads traffic when estimating travel time.
Regent states that its purpose is to provide Christian education that develops students for leadership and service. Its educational philosophy explicitly integrates faith and learning, rather than treating religion solely as an extracurricular activity.
That identity may appear in coursework, campus programming, and community expectations, although its expression varies by program. Applicants should review the curriculum and student policies for the degree they want, especially if a particular religious environment would affect their choice of university. Regent's stated aims describe institutional priorities; they are not evidence that every student will have the same experience or outcome.
Name of the institution
Regent UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1977Regent University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.