| Type | 4 year, Private |
|---|---|
| Business Model | For Profit |
| Campus locale | Town: Fringe |
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate |
| Calendar system | Non Traditional |
| Student body size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Student to faculty ratio | 31 to 1 |
| Students retention rate | 40% |
| On-time graduation rate | 33% |
Located in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University is a private, for profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.
One of the notable aspects of Columbia Southern University is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.
While the on-time graduation rate at Columbia Southern University is reported to be 33%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For-profit institutions often serve a diverse student population, including many non-traditional students who may face unique challenges in completing their degrees. For comparison, Alabama state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 51% whereas the national average was 48%.
The retention rate of students at Columbia Southern University is 40% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Alabama is 73%, while the national average is 63%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Columbia Southern University do not continue their studies after the first year.
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All programs are offered online
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Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
In-State Tuition & Fees
Cost of attendance at Columbia Southern University in 2022 for students from Alabama.
See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year For Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.
| Alabama's average | $10,612 |
|---|---|
| National average | $17,868 |
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
Cost of attendance at Columbia Southern University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students
See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year For Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.
| Alabama's average | $22,133 |
|---|---|
| National average | $17,869 |
Average Grant & Scholarships
In 2022, 56 of freshman students at Columbia Southern University received on average $3,123 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.
Graduation Rate
The following chart shows the graduation rate of Columbia Southern University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.
The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.
As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Columbia Southern University students is 33.4%. Female students graduated at a rate of 30.9%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 35.2%.
33.4%
- African American 24.8% 55 students
- white 36.5% 196 students
- unknown 34.5% 10 students
- hispanic 41.0% 25 students
- Mixed Race 33.3% 11 students
Service Offerings
- Academic/career counseling services
- Employment services for students
Educational Offerings
- Academic
Veteran Services
- Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
- Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
- Recognized student veteran organization
- Credit for military training
- Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
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