Columbia Southern University
Private for-profit four-year university in Orange Beach, AL that costs an average of $15,834 a year after financial aid and graduates 30% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$15,834
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
30%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$66,855
Private for-profitTown (fringe)12,176 undergraduates
Cost of Columbia Southern University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $20,771 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $6,472 |
| Books and supplies | $0 |
| Average net price after aid | $15,834 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $15,131 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $14,793 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $16,168 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $15,722 |
| $110,001+ | $19,961 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Columbia Southern University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | Open admission (everyone admitted) |
|---|
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 30% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 71% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $62,501 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $66,855 |
| Rank in Alabama (earnings) | 4th of 30 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $18,888 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $215 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 32% |
| Students with federal loans | 30% |
Majors and programs at Columbia Southern University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (13)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 1,517 | $93,578 | $15,542 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 132 | $87,620 | $21,708 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 1,260 | $87,112 | $28,463 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 143 | $69,629 | $23,772 |
| Homeland Security | 138 | $68,183 | $26,625 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 564 | $67,969 | $20,549 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,376 | $65,643 | $27,550 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 142 | $62,964 | $25,785 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 237 | $62,249 | $22,930 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 166 | $61,960 | $21,875 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 276 | $57,828 | $23,853 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 204 | $36,217 | $29,495 |
| Security Science and Technology | 3 | — | — |
Certificate programs (14)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 29 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 13 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 17 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 4 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 41 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 1 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | 10 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 1 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 15 | — | — |
| Marketing | 3 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 5 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 37 | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 74 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 1,019 | $86,739 | $10,027 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 765 | $79,903 | $16,750 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 200 | $62,956 | $23,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 232 | $61,493 | $16,515 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 462 | $58,078 | $16,932 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 83 | $37,409 | $20,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 263 | — | $10,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 46 | — | $13,422 |
| Homeland Security | 14 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (7)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (10)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 324 | $93,023 | $46,270 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 883 | $92,492 | $43,907 |
| Public Administration | 306 | $77,521 | $39,442 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2,039 | $75,204 | $46,790 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 114 | $65,408 | — |
| Public Health | 160 | $64,071 | $46,332 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 1 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 53 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 9 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 73 | $134,402 | — |
Graduate certificate programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 7 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 2 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 20 | — | — |
| Marketing | 1 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 9 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 13 | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 34 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Alabama
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | $15,630 | 88% | $59,631 |
| Troy University | Troy | $13,943 | 96% | $49,010 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | $16,801 | 71% | $53,069 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | $17,111 | 78% | $51,004 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | $22,758 | 69% | $72,098 |
| Alabama A & M University | Normal | $18,255 | 58% | $41,266 |
| University of North Alabama | Florence | $17,850 | 87% | $50,557 |
| Auburn University | Auburn | $25,424 | 46% | $73,273 |
About Columbia Southern University
| Type | Private for-profit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Orange Beach, AL |
| Setting | Town (fringe) |
| Undergraduates | 12,176 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 37 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | columbiasouthern.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Columbia Southern University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $20,771 a year (tuition and fees: $6,472). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $15,834 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $15,131.
How much do Columbia Southern University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $66,855 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 4th of 30 similar colleges in Alabama. The best-paid bachelor's program is fire protection ($93,578 a year after graduation).
What is Columbia Southern University's graduation rate?
30% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 71% of first-year students return for a second year.