Columbia Southern University is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

for-profit

online university A virtual university (or online university) provides higher education programs through electronic media, typically the Internet. Some are bricks-and-mortar institutions that provide online learning as part of their extended university courses while ...

Orange Beach, Alabama Orange Beach is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,095. Geography Orange Beach is located along the Gulf of Mexico, and is the easternmost community on Alabama's Gulf Coast, wit ...

History

Columbia Southern University was founded in 1993 by Robert G. Mayes, Sr.Barron's Guide to Distance Learning: Degrees, Certificates, Courses
by Pat Criscito (2002), , page 179History of CSU
, Columbia Southern University website (accessed February 24, 2008) 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. Mayes headed the institution until his death in 2005, when his son, Robert Mayes, Jr., assumed the presidency. Ken Styron became president on May 1, 2018.

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.

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 The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is either a professional doctorate or a research doctorate, depending on the granting university, awarded on the basis of advanced study, examinations, project work, and research in business administrati ...

Accreditation

The university is

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priva ...

to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees, and certificates. It is also accredited by the

Distance Education Accrediting Commission The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), formerly the National Home Study Council and then as the Distance Education and Training Council, is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in t ...

(DEAC).

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 Waldorf University is a private for-profit university in Forest City, Iowa. It was founded in 1903 and associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its predecessors. In 2010, it was sold to Columbia Southern University and beca ...

. The university is one of approximately 140 schools approved to offer tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd.

Student outcomes

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

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control * Distance education institutions based in the United States Educational institutions established in 1993 For-profit universities and colleges in the United States 1993 establishments in Alabama Distance Education Accreditation Commission