Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL 36561-9000
About Columbia Southern University
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 findings
- Columbia Southern University charges about 0.4× the national private for-profit median tuition ($6,760).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 33% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 33.28%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $63,534.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Columbia Southern University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 989% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University | $6,760 | $14,580 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Alabama (state median) | $10,024 | $10,721 | 63 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Columbia Southern University really?
Key findings
- Columbia Southern University charges about 0.4× the national private for-profit median tuition ($6,760).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 33% below.
Columbia Southern University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $6,760
Finding Columbia Southern University charges about 0.4× the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $6,760. That is about 0.4× the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the Alabama median ($10,024), sticker tuition is 33% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.6×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Columbia Southern University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Columbia Southern University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Columbia Southern University is $14,580.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,580 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,859 above the Alabama median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $391 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Columbia Southern University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Columbia Southern University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Columbia Southern University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$6,760
Avg. net price
$14,580
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Columbia Southern University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General1,847
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician1,766
- Fire Services Administration974
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting613
- Organizational Leadership328
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Columbia Southern University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Columbia Southern University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Columbia Southern University.
Campus
Location
Orange Beach, AL
City / state
- ZIP
- 36561-9000
- NCES locale
- Town fringe
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 3% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
12,176
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 22,652
- Graduate
- 5,550
- Full-time share
- 66%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,339
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 24.19%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Columbia Southern University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Columbia Southern University graduates earn a median of $63,534 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Columbia Southern University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $63,534. Median federal loan debt: $21,339. Average net price used in cost models: $14,580.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Columbia Southern University graduates report median earnings of $63,534 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Columbia Southern University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (29 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Columbia Southern University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Columbia Southern University graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Columbia Southern University—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.0%
- Alabama median 9.3 pp below median (49.2%)
- Southeast median 19.5 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 18.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $4,485
- Alabama median 0.60× the median ($7,502)
- Southeast median 0.66× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.59× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $1,191
- Alabama median 0.17× the median ($7,192)
- Southeast median 0.18× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.16× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Columbia Southern University at a glance
Columbia Southern University
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution in Orange Beach, AL, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralOccupational Safety and Health Technology/TechnicianFire Services Administration
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian60.8%Black or African American18.9%Race/ethnicity unknown13.0%
Schools near Columbia Southern University
Other campuses in Orange Beach, AL when available, plus nearby institutions in Alabama.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Alabama, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Columbia Southern University located?
Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, AL.
What is Columbia Southern University's tuition?
Columbia Southern University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $6,760 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,580 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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 explains Columbia Southern University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,580), completion (33.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($63,534). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.