Columbia Southern University
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit online university in Orange Beach, Alabama. History. Columbia Southern University was founded in 1993 by Robert G. Mayes, Sr. The university developed its first degree programs in Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health in 1994. By 1996 additional degree programs were developed and offered: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, followed by Computer Science, Criminal Justice Administration, and Health Administration. Mayes headed the institution until his death in 2005, when his son, Robert Mayes, Jr., assumed the presidency. Effective May 1, 2018, Ken Styron assumed Presidency of  Columbia Southern University. Accreditation. Columbia Southern has been accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC), formerly the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), since 2001. On Dec. 2, 2021, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) board of trustees granted CSU candidacy and authorized an accreditation committee in preparation for the final step for membership. Faculty and agreements with other institutions. Currently, Columbia Southern has more than 1,000 full-time faculty and staff. It enrolls and graduates thousands of students annually. Columbia Southern also offers online degrees through partnerships with Waldorf University. The university is  one of approximately 140 schools approved to offer up-front tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd. Students. The racial and ethnic makeup of the student body is 51% White,21% Unknown, 17% Black, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian/Alaska Native, 0% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 0% Non-resident alien. More than 7000 students serve in the military. Academics. Columbia Southern University consists of three colleges offering a total of 26 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels, as well as 21 certificate programs online . CSU also offers a Doctor of Business Administration. Student outcomes. Columbia Southern's 8-year graduation rate is 49 percent. Median salary after completing ranges from $32,000 to $70,000.