College Profile: Columbia Southern University
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Description: One of nation's first completely online universities, Columbia Southern University (CSU) was developed to meet the demand for alternatives to the traditional university experience. Established in 1993, all programs are offered online, allowing the non-traditional student to honor their career and family commitments while steadily progressing toward their educational goals. Flexible programs and open enrollment give students the opportunity to begin courses at any time and study when it best fits their schedule. CSU is one of many schools approved to offer up-front tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd.
Location: Orange Beach, Alabama
Student /faculty ratio: Approximately 57 to 1 on average. Class size can be much smaller.
Degrees offered:
Associate Degrees
General Studies
Business
Criminal Justice
Fire Science
Occupational Safety & Health
Bachelor Degrees
Business Administration
-Finance
-Hospitality & Tourism
-Human Resource Management
-Information Technology
-International Management
-Management
-Marketing
-Project Management
-Sport Management
Psychology
Fire Science
Criminal Justice Administration
Information Technology
Environmental Management
Occupational Safety & Health
-Fire Science
Organizational Leadership
Health Care Administration
Human Resource Management
Master Degrees
Business Administration
-Finance
-Health Care Management
-Human Resource Management
-Marketing
-Project Management
-Public Administration
Criminal Justice Administration
Emergency Services Management
Occupational Safety & Health
-Environmental Management
Organizational Leadership
Doctoral Degree
Doctor of Business Administration
*Undergraduate and graduate certificate programs are also available.
Percent of applicants admitted: 98 percent
SAT/ACT scores- reading, math, writing: CSU does not require these exams for admission.
Enrollment: Approximately 28,000
Number of undergrads: 22,315
Gender breakdown: 67 percent male, 33 percent female
Tuition and Fees: Undergraduate Tuition: $200 per credit hour, Graduate Tuition: $265 ($250 for all active-duty military members), Doctorate Tuition: $300, $25 Application Fee (military exempt)
Books: Textbooks provided through CSU Book Grant as long as the student successfully completes the course.
Room and Board: Not applicable as Columbia Southern University is 100 percent online.
Is service accepted as credit toward a degree?
Yes, transfer credit may be awarded for military training and prior coursework. Up to 75 percent of undergraduate courses and 50 percent of graduate courses may be transferred.
Why does the school like military students?
CSU embraces all branches of the U.S. military. With an average of 40% of our student body considered present or past members of the U.S. military, CSU knows the importance of flexibility in earning a degree. That is one reason CSU is recognized again and again as one of the nation’s top 20 military friendly schools by Military Advanced Education magazine. To assist military personnel in their education, CSU waives our application fee. In addition, spouses or dependents of active-duty military men and women receive the waiver and a 10 percent tuition discount. CSU is also a member of GoArmyEd, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and AU-ABC.
What GI Bill/Tuition Assistance benefits are offered/available?
CSU is approved to offer DANTES, Tuition Assistance and Veterans Affairs benefits. Additional education funding is available to those approved for TA and eligible for MGIB-Active Duty benefits. In most cases, these benefits cover the entire cost of your program.
Do you offer online degrees/distance learning programs?
Yes. CSU offers 100 percent online degree programs which include associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees and certificate programs.
What programs/services are available specifically to military students?
CSU is a chapter member of the national Student Veterans Association which provides financial aid, VA benefits, academic support, disability services, employment assistance, social networking and references to veteran service organizations.
What is your policy on involuntary activation for military service?
The call to duty is something we at CSU understand. We offer a Special Circumstances Extension policy that applies to students who have been deployed. Once a request is made for the extension and documentation to substantiate the deployment has been submitted, a committee reviews the request.
For more information, visit http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/
