 | |
| Type | Private for-profit online university |
|---|---|
| Established | 1993 |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
| President | Ken Styron |
| Provost | Janell Gibson |
| Students | 21,442 [1] |
| Undergraduates | 15,530 |
| Postgraduates | 5,912 |
| Location | , U.S. 30°19′45.26″N87°39′9.4″W / 30.3292389°N 87.652611°W |
| Colors | Navy blue & gold |
| Nickname | Knights [2] |
| Mascot | 'Sir Maximus' the CSU Knight |
| Website | www |
 | |
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit online university in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Columbia Southern University was founded in 1993 by Robert G. Mayes Sr. [3] [4] 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. [3]
Mayes headed the institution until his death in 2005, when his son, Robert Mayes Jr., assumed the presidency. [4] Ken Styron became president on May 1, 2018. [5]
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. [6]
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.
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees, and certificates. [7] [8] It is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). [9]
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. [10] The university is one of approximately 140 schools approved to offer tuition assistance through the U.S. Army's centralized tuition assistance portal, GoArmyEd. [11]
Columbia Southern's 8-year graduation rate is 49 percent. Median salary after completing ranges from $32,000 to $70,000. [12]
St. Petersburg College (SPC) is a public college in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and one of the institutions in the system designated a "state college," as it offers a greater number of bachelor's degrees than traditional community colleges focused on associate degrees. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and enrolled about 29,000 students in the fall of 2018.
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, non-profit online university based in Millcreek, Utah, United States. The university uses an online competency-based learning model, providing advanced education for working professionals. Degrees awarded by WGU are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997, after the idea was formulated at a 1995 meeting of the Western Governors Association to expand education offerings to the internet.
Cagayan State University, established in 1978, is the largest state institution of higher learning in the Cagayan Valley Region of the Philippines.
American Public University System (APUS) is a private, for-profit, online university system with its headquarters in Charles Town, West Virginia. It is composed of American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU). APUS is wholly owned by American Public Education, Inc., a publicly traded private-sector corporation. APUS maintains corporate and academic offices in Charles Town, West Virginia. APUS offers associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees, in addition to dual degrees, certificate programs and learning tracks.
Clarks Summit University was a private Baptist Bible college in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania that offered associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as a high-school dual enrollment option. Besides offering degrees on campus, it also offered undergraduate and graduate degrees online.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university between Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, along with national accreditation for some hospitality, health, education and business degrees. SNHU is one of the fastest-growing universities nationwide with 135,000 online students and 3,000 on campus.
South University is a private university with its main campus and online operations in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1899, South University consists of its School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Professions, College of Business, College of Theology, and College of Arts and Sciences. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) is a private for-profit college with locations in California and an online division. SJVC was founded in 1977 by Robert and Shirley Perry. The college offers certificates, Associate of Science degrees, and continuing education opportunities in the medical, dental, veterinary, criminal justice, and industrial trade fields.
Penn Foster College is a private, for-profit online college headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was founded in 1890 as International Correspondence Schools and presently offers bachelor's and associate degree programs in 22 certified programs, as well as academic certificates.
Northcentral University was a private online university with its headquarters in San Diego, California. It was established in 1996 and is classified among "D/PU: Doctoral/Professional Universities"; it offers bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. NCU was acquired by the National University System in 2019.
California Southern University is a private, for-profit, university in Chandler, Arizona. California Southern University is currently a member of the American InterContinental University System. It offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs online in psychology, business and management, risk management and regulatory compliance, criminal justice, nursing, and education. It is owned by the for-profit company Perdoceo Education Corporation, publicly traded on the NASDAQ under PRDO and formerly known as Career Education Corporation (CEC).
The University of Management and Technology (UMT) is a private for-profit online university headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded in 1998 and offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as certificate programs.
NationsUniversity, also known as Nations University or NationsU, is a private Christian university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It only offers distance education and focuses on "the development of faith and the training of Christian leaders around the world." While NationsUniversity's founding faculty and many of the staff are affiliated with the Churches of Christ, NationsUniversity itself is a nondenominational online Christian university, which offers certificates, bachelor's in religious studies, and a master's degree in theological studies, and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree.
Amridge University is a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Montgomery, Alabama. It was previously known as Alabama Christian School of Religion, Southern Christian University, and Regions University, and is a successor institution to Alabama Christian College.
The University of the People (UoPeople) is a non-profit private, distance education university.
Ashworth College is a private for-profit online college based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The college is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
American Heritage University of Southern California (AHUSC) is an unaccredited for-profit college based in Southern California.
North American University (NAU) is a private university in Stafford, Texas. NAU offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, and Education. In the fall of 2013, the university changed its name from Texas Gulf Institute to its current name.
National University is a private university headquartered in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1971, National University offers academic degree programs at campuses throughout California, a satellite campus in Nevada, and various programs online. Programs at National University are designed for adult learners. On-campus classes are typically blended learning courses, concentrated to four weeks or on weeknights with occasional Saturday classes. The university uses asynchronous learning and real-time virtual classrooms for its online programs.
Purdue University Global, Inc. is a public online university that is a separately accredited part of the Purdue University system. Its primary focus is educating working adults.
