Columbia Southern Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit university in Orange Beach, Alabama, with about 12,176 students. Columbia Southern University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $6,760 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $63,534 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $6,760
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,580 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 12,176 65.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 33.28%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 53.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 3.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 21.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 40.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,652
- Room & Board: $9,548 annual estimate
Columbia Southern University: what the data shows
Common questions about Columbia Southern University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Columbia Southern University?
Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, AL (ZIP 36561-9000).
NCES locale classification: Town fringe.
Is Columbia Southern University public or private?
Columbia Southern University is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Columbia Southern University cost?
Published tuition: $6,760.
Average net price after aid: $14,580.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,913 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,455 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,569 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,226 |
| $110,001+ | $17,408 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $27,040.
How big is Columbia Southern University?
Total enrollment: 12,176 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 22,652 students.
Graduate enrollment: 5,550 students.
About 66% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia Southern University?
150%-time completion rate: 33.28%.
First-year retention: 71.0%.
What do graduates of Columbia Southern University earn?
Median earnings: $55,140 six years after entry; $63,534 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,339.
24.19% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Columbia Southern University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (1,847 completions)
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician (1,766 completions)
- Fire Services Administration (974 completions)
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting (613 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (328 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (311 completions)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (245 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (188 completions)
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (162 completions)
- Public Administration (160 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Columbia Southern University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 33.28%; median earnings $63,534 at 10 years; net price $14,580. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$6,760
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Columbia Southern University was $6,760.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,580
2024 Value
In 2024 Columbia Southern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,580.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,320 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,580 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$27,040 4-Year Tuition
$9,548 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$16,308 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$65,232 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Columbia Southern University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
24.19% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
25.78% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Columbia Southern University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Columbia Southern University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,895 | $4,895 | $10,084 |
| 2014 | $5,135 | $5,135 | $8,988 |
| 2015 | $5,175 | $5,175 | $10,502 |
| 2016 | $5,175 | $5,175 | $10,719 |
| 2017 | $5,415 | $5,415 | $10,853 |
| 2018 | $5,535 | $5,535 | $9,910 |
| 2019 | $5,655 | $5,655 | $10,368 |
| 2020 | $5,775 | $5,775 | $11,241 |
| 2021 | $5,775 | $5,775 | $12,474 |
| 2022 | $6,015 | $6,015 | $12,366 |
| 2023 | $5,808 | $5,808 | $14,975 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Columbia Southern University reported total enrollment of about 12,176 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 64% male and 36% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (60.8%), Black or African American (18.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (13.0%). About 24.19% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 53.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
65.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Columbia Southern University in 2024 is 12,176 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 22,652 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,550 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
71.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 60.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
24.42% 100% Completion Time
33.28% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 24.42% of students graduating from Columbia Southern University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 45% male / 55% female
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician: 76% male / 24% female
- Fire Services Administration: 95% male / 5% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Columbia Southern University.
Return on Investment
$21,339 Median Student Debt
$63,534 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
33.59% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
989.40% Return on Investment
3.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Columbia Southern University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 29 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 1,847 completions
2. Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician: 1,766 completions
3. Fire Services Administration: 974 completions
4. Fire Science/Fire-fighting: 613 completions
5. Organizational Leadership: 328 completions
6. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 311 completions
7. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 245 completions
8. Criminal Justice/Police Science: 188 completions
9. Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General: 162 completions
Most popular programs at Columbia Southern University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Columbia Southern University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Columbia Southern University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $4,485
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $1,191
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, AL, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician, Fire Services Administration. Enrollment is approximately 12,176 students. Student body composition includes White (60.8%), Black or African American (18.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (13.0%). The 150%-time completion rate is 33.28%. Approximately 24.19% of students receive Pell Grants. About 53.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Orange Beach, AL 36561-9000
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 33.28% graduation rate at Columbia Southern University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Columbia Southern University located?
Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, AL.
How much does Columbia Southern University cost?
Reported tuition is $6,760 and average net price is $14,580 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,548 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Columbia Southern University?
Columbia Southern University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 22,652 students, White (60.8%), Black or African American (18.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Columbia Southern University?
About 53.5% of students at Columbia Southern University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Columbia Southern University earn?
Median earnings are $55,140 six years after entry and $63,534 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia Southern University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 33.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Columbia Southern University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,339.
Is Columbia Southern University public or private?
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, AL.
Is Columbia Southern University an HBCU?
No. Columbia Southern University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Columbia Southern University a tribal college?
No. Columbia Southern University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Columbia Southern University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Columbia Southern University does not meet that proxy (reported share 1.3%).
Is Columbia Southern University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Columbia Southern University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Alabama college costs
- Alabama colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Alabama
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.