Columbia Southern University
TypePrivate for-profit online university
Established1993
AccreditationSACSCOC
PresidentKen Styron
ProvostJanell Gibson
Students21,442[1]
Undergraduates15,530
Postgraduates5,912
Location
Orange Beach, Alabama
,
U.S.

30°19′45.26″N 87°39′9.4″W / 30.3292389°N 87.652611°W / 30.3292389; -87.652611
Colors   Navy blue & gold
NicknameKnights[2]
Mascot'Sir Maximus' the CSU Knight
Websitewww.columbiasouthern.edu

Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit online university in Orange Beach, Alabama.

History

Columbia Southern University was founded in 1993 by Robert G. Mayes Sr.[3][4] The university developed its first degree programs in Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health in 1994. By 1996 additional degree programs were developed and offered: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, followed by Computer Science, Criminal Justice Administration, and Health Administration.[3]

Mayes headed the institution until his death in 2005, when his son, Robert Mayes Jr., assumed the presidency.[4] Ken Styron became president on May 1, 2018.[5]

Students

The racial and ethnic makeup of the student body is 51% White, 21% unknown, 17% Black, 5% Hispanic, 3% two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian/Alaska Native, 0% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 0% non-resident alien. More than 7000 students serve in the military.[6]

Academics

Columbia Southern University consists of three colleges offering a total of 26 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels, as well as 21 certificate programs online. CSU also offers a Doctor of Business Administration.

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees, and certificates.[7][8] It is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).[9]

Faculty and agreements with other institutions

Currently, Columbia Southern has more than 1,000 full-time faculty and staff. It enrolls and graduates thousands of students annually. Columbia Southern also offers online degrees through partnerships with Waldorf University.[10] The university is one of approximately 140 schools approved to offer tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd.[11]

Student outcomes

Columbia Southern's 8-year graduation rate is 49 percent. Median salary after completing ranges from $32,000 to $70,000.[12]

References

  1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics
  2. ↑ "University adopts mascot". Columbia Southern University. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 Barron's Guide to Distance Learning: Degrees, Certificates, Courses by Pat Criscito (2002), ISBN 0-7641-1791-2, page 179
  4. 1 2 History of CSU Archived 2008-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, Columbia Southern University website (accessed February 24, 2008)
  5. ↑ March 1, 2018, Special Announcement Email to Students
  6. ↑ "The top 50 most popular schools for Tuition Assistance". www.militarytimes.com. Military Times. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Institutions".
  8. ↑ "State Authorization and Accreditation | Distance Education".
  9. ↑ "Directory of Accredited Institutions".
  10. ↑ Online Degree Program Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, www.OnlineDegreeProg.com, Retrieved 23 Feb 2014
  11. ↑ List of GoArmyEd partner Colleges, GoArmyEd website (accessed March 28, 2009)
  12. ↑ "Columbia Southern". collegescorecard.ed.gov. US Department of Education. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
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