Columbia Southern University

www.columbiasouthern.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition
$5,528
5.99% growth from 2022
2023 Average Net Price
$14,085
After Financial Aid
2021 Default Rate
0%
on Student Loans
2023 Enrolled Students
18,487
71.7% Full-Time
2023 Graduation Rate
29.6%
107 Graduates

About

Columbia Southern University is a higher education institution located in Baldwin County, AL. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Columbia Southern University were General Business Administration & Management (771 degrees awarded), Occupational Safety & Health Technology (378 degrees), and Organizational Leadership (182 degrees).

In 2023, 5,778 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Columbia Southern University. 35.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 64.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,203 degrees), 3.33 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (962 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Columbia Southern University is $5,528, which is $−19,047 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Columbia Southern University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 4,270 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMasters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Columbia Southern University is $5,528, which is $19,047 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,085.

In 2023, 25% of undergraduate students attending Columbia Southern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 24% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,528
2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Columbia Southern University was $5,528. The cost of tuition at Columbia Southern University is $−19,047 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Columbia Southern University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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Average Net Price

$14,085
2023 Value
13.9%
1 Year Growth

In 2023 Columbia Southern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,085. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Columbia Southern University grew by 13.9%.

This chart compares the average net price of Columbia Southern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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Other Student Expenses

$8,136
Room and Board

The average yearly cost of room and board at Columbia Southern University was of $8,136 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 7.17% between 2022 and 2023.

This chart compares the average student costs at Columbia Southern University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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Financial Aid by Income Level

25%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
24%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

25% of undergraduate students at Columbia Southern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 21.9% with respect to 2022, when 32% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Columbia Southern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.
0%
2021 Default Rate
0
Number of Defaults

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Columbia Southern University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 4270 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

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Enrollment

Columbia Southern University had a total enrollment of 18,487 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Columbia Southern University is 13,257 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,230. This means that 71.7% of students enrolled at Columbia Southern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Columbia Southern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.9% White, 18.5% Black or African American, 2.73% Two or More Races, 2.02% Asian, 1.87% Hispanic or Latino, 0.936% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.552% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Columbia Southern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (41.4%), followed by White Female (21%) and Black or African American Female (9.32%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (30%), followed by White Female (16.6%) and Black or African American Female (13.4%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

71.7%
Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Columbia Southern University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 18,487 students. The full-time enrollment at Columbia Southern University is 13,257 and the part-time enrollment is 5,230. This means that 71.7% of students enrolled at Columbia Southern University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Columbia Southern University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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Retention Rate over Time

59%
2023 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Columbia Southern University was 59%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), Columbia Southern University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Columbia Southern University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)
  1. White
    10,702 enrolled students
  2. Black or African American
    3,420 enrolled students
  3. Two or More Races
    505 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Columbia Southern University is 57.9% White, 18.5% Black or African American, 2.73% Two or More Races, 2.02% Asian, 1.87% Hispanic or Latino, 0.936% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.552% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2,863 students (15.5%) did not report their race.

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Graduates

In 2023, 1,702 fewer women than men received degrees from Columbia Southern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Columbia Southern University is white (3,203 degrees awarded). There were 3.33 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (962 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Columbia Southern University is General Business Administration & Management (771 degrees awarded), followed by Occupational Safety & Health Technology (378 degrees) and Organizational Leadership (182 degrees).

In 2023,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Columbia Southern University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering Technologies (1,250 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,652 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (80 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Accountants & auditors
Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are Accountants & auditors (1,016,404 people), Other managers (806,969 people), Financial managers (519,089 people), Chief executives & legislators (405,802 people), and Firstline supervisors of retail sales workers (263,721 people).

The most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University in 2023 are Engineering Technologies (1,250 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,652 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (80 degrees), Business (1,911 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (159 degrees) (as of 2023).

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Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Surgeons, Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are Engineering Technologies (1,250 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,652 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (80 degrees), Business (1,911 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (159 degrees) (as of 2023).

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Common Industries by Major

uninformed
Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are uninformed (1,587,781 people), Elementary & secondary schools (623,141 people), Computer Systems Design (586,441 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (511,908 people), and Construction (456,721 people).

The most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are Engineering Technologies (1,250 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,652 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (80 degrees), Business (1,911 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (159 degrees) (as of 2023).

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Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Columbia Southern University.
Most Common (2023)
  1. Fire Services Administration
    580 degrees awarded
  2. Occupational Safety & Health Technology
    521 degrees awarded
  3. General Business Administration & Management
    515 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Columbia Southern University was Fire Services Administration with 580 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Columbia Southern University according to their major.

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Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

3,740
Degrees Awarded to Men
in 2023
2,038
Degrees Awarded to Women
in 2023

In 2023, 3,740 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University, which is 1.84 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,038).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Columbia Southern University by degrees awarded.

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Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 939 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University in Occupational Safety & Health Technology, which is 3.02 times more than the 311 female recipients with that same degree.

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Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 861 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.3 times more than the 663 male recipients with that same degree.

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Time to Complete

18%
100% Completion Time
24%
150% Completion Time

In 2023, 18% of students graduating from Columbia Southern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 24% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 27% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
Two or More Races Male
Highest Graduation Rate (40%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Columbia Southern University is Male and Two or More Races (40% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (74.3%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

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Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)
  1. White
    3,203 degrees awarded
  2. Black or African American
    962 degrees awarded
  3. Hispanic or Latino
    157 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Columbia Southern University is white (3,203 degrees awarded). There were 3.33 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (962 degrees).

20% of degree recipients (1,154 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)
  1. White Male
    2,289 degrees awarded
  2. White Female
    914 degrees awarded
  3. Black or African American Female
    493 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Columbia Southern University is white male (2,289 degrees awarded). There were 2.5 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (914 degrees).

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Operations

Columbia Southern University employs 137 Professors, 93 Instructors. Most academics at Columbia Southern University are Male Professor (78), Male Instructor (61), and Female Professor (59).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia Southern University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 134 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 72 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 58 employees.

Salary Expenditure

$42.6M
2023 Salaries
6.45%
decline from 2022

In 2023, Columbia Southern University paid a median of $42.6M in salaries, a 6.45% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.79% decline between 2021 and 2022, and a 8.69% growth between 2020 and 2021.

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Instructional Salaries

$11.6M
Instructional Salaries
230
Number of Employees

In 2023, Columbia Southern University paid a total of $11.6M to 230 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

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Occupations by Share

Professor
Most Common Instructor
137 Employees
Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services
Most Common Non-Instructional Employee
134 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Columbia Southern University were Professor with 137 employees, and Instructor with 93 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia Southern University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 134 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 72 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 58 employees.

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Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)
  1. Male Professor
  2. Male Instructor
  3. Female Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Columbia Southern University was Male Professor with 78 employees, Male Instructor with 61 employees, and Female Professor with 59 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Columbia Southern University.

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