Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University
TypePrivate for-profit online university
Established1993 (1993)
AccreditationSACSCOC
PresidentKen Styron
ProvostJanell Gibson
Students18,487 (fall 2023)[1]
Undergraduates13,111 (fall 2023)[1]
Postgraduates5,376 (fall 2023)[1]
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 based in Orange Beach, Alabama, United States. It was founded in 1993 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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]

Academics

Mayes Hall, named for the founder of the university, is located on the university's campus in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Columbia Southern University consists of six colleges:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business and Technology
  • College of Education
  • College of Nursing and Health Sciences
  • College of Safety & Emergency Services
  • College of Space, Intelligence, and Military Operations

The university offers more than 120 degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, as well as 29 certificate programs online.[6]

As an online-focused institution, the school is able to offer flexible, accredited degrees, with particular recognition towards its occupational safety and health, fire science, and nursing programs. The occupational safety and health programs are Qualified Academic Programs (QAP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), allowing graduates to apply for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation. The fire science programs are recognized through the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) network of the National Fire Academy.

Columbia Southern has more than 1,000 full-time faculty and staff. It enrolls and graduates thousands of students annually.[7] The university is one of approximately 140 schools approved to offer tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd.[8]

Student outcomes

Columbia Southern's 8-year graduation rate is 48 percent. The typical median earning after graduation from this institution is $80,589.[9] Nearly two-thirds of graduates finish with zero student loans.[10]

Rankings

Columbia Southern University has consistently ranked among the most affordable, military-friendly, and best online schools in the nation.[11][12][13]

Accreditation and memberships

Columbia Southern University received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 2022 to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees, and certificates.[14][15][16]

In 2023, the university's business program received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).[17]

The university's nursing program earned pre-accreditation candidacy from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) in 2025.[18]

The university is a member of the American Council on Education,[19] Alabama Commission on Higher Education,[20] and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).[21]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Institution Data Profile - Columbia Southern University". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  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. ↑ "View All Programs | Associates | Bachelor's | Master's". www.columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  7. ↑ Online Degree Program Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, http://www.OnlineDegreeProg.com, Retrieved 23 Feb 2014
  8. ↑ List of GoArmyEd partner Colleges, GoArmyEd website (accessed March 28, 2009)
  9. ↑ "Columbia Southern". collegescorecard.ed.gov. US Department of Education. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  10. ↑ "Columbia Southern". columbiasouthern.edu. Columbia Southern University. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Columbia Southern University Ranked in Top 10 Most Affordable Online Colleges". columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  12. ↑ "Columbia Southern". onlineu.com. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  13. ↑ "Columbia Southern University Ranked Second on List of 'Most Affordable Military-Friendly Online Schools'". columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  14. ↑ "Columbia Southern University Accreditation FAQs". www.columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  15. ↑ "Institutions". SACSCOC.
  16. ↑ "State Authorization and Accreditation | Distance Education".
  17. ↑ "Columbia Southern University Touts New Business Program Accreditation". www.columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  18. ↑ "Columbia Southern University Nursing Programs Earn Accreditation Milestone". www.columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  19. ↑ "ACE Members and Associates Directory". American Council on Education. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  20. ↑ "ACHE Institutions". Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  21. ↑ "NC-SARA Participating Institution". NC-SARA. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
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