Columbia Southern University

www.columbiasouthern.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,640

2021 Average Net Price

$12,474

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

2.19%

Default Rate

2021 Enrolled Students

16,412

67.7% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

24.3%

110 Graduates

About

Columbia Southern University is a higher education institution located in Baldwin County, AL. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Columbia Southern University were General Business Administration & Management (1,030 degrees awarded), Occupational Safety & Health Technology (384 degrees), and Organizational Leadership (211 degrees).

In 2021, 7,022 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Columbia Southern University. 37.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 62.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,187 degrees), 2.59 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1,229 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Columbia Southern University is $5,640, which is $−17,544 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Columbia Southern University is $5,640, which is $−17,544 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $12,474.

In 2021, 34% of undergraduate students attending Columbia Southern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 26% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,640

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Columbia Southern University was $5,640. The cost of tuition at Columbia Southern University is $−17,544 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

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

Average Net Price

$12,474

2021 Value

11%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Columbia Southern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,474. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Columbia Southern University grew by 11%.

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.

Other Student Expenses

$7,106

Room and Board

$692

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Columbia Southern University was of $7,106 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.83% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $692. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 1.7% during the same period.

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

Financial Aid by Income Level

34%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

26%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

34% of undergraduate students at Columbia Southern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 8.11% with respect to 2020, when 37% 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.

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.

2.19%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Columbia Southern University was 2.19%, which represents 95 out of the 4331 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.

Enrollment

Columbia Southern University had a total enrollment of 16,412 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Columbia Southern University is 11,110 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,302. This means that 67.7% of students enrolled at Columbia Southern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Columbia Southern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 56.2% White, 17.5% Black or African American, 2.52% Two or More Races, 2.48% Hispanic or Latino, 2.02% Asian, 0.902% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.536% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Columbia Southern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (39.5%), followed by White Female (20.7%) and Black or African American Female (8.87%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (28.2%), followed by White Female (18%) and Black or African American Female (13.6%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

67.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Columbia Southern University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 16,412 students. The full-time enrollment at Columbia Southern University is 11,110 and the part-time enrollment is 5,302. This means that 67.7% of students enrolled at Columbia Southern University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.3% 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.

Retention Rate over Time

40%

2021 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 40%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), 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.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
9,229 enrolled students
Black or African American
2,868 enrolled students
Two or More Races
414 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Columbia Southern University is 56.2% White, 17.5% Black or African American, 2.52% Two or More Races, 2.48% Hispanic or Latino, 2.02% Asian, 0.902% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.536% 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 52% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% 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, 2,921 students (17.8%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 1,716 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 (3,187 degrees awarded). There were 2.59 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1229 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Columbia Southern University is General Business Administration & Management (1,030 degrees awarded), followed by Occupational Safety & Health Technology (384 degrees) and Organizational Leadership (211 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (1,492 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,773 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (106 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 (1,031,234 people), Other managers (735,023 people), Financial managers (467,981 people), Chief executives & legislators (366,251 people), and Firstline supervisors of retail sales workers (273,117 people).

The most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University in 2021 are Engineering Technologies (1,492 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,773 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (106 degrees), Business (2,658 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (129 degrees) (as of 2021).

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, Physicians, Surgeons, Aircraft pilots & flight engineers, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Columbia Southern University are Engineering Technologies (1,492 degrees awarded), Protective Services (1,773 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (106 degrees), Business (2,658 degrees), and Public Administration and Social Service (129 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

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 Elementary & secondary schools (574,445 people), Computer Systems Design (506,176 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (490,425 people), Banking & related activities (485,373 people), and Insurance carriers (413,265 people).

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 (2021)

General Business Administration & Management
723 degree-majors awarded
Occupational Safety & Health Technology
683 degree-majors awarded
Fire Services Administration
515 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Columbia Southern University was General Business Administration & Management with 723 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,369

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

2,653

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 4,369 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University, which is 1.65 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,653).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 1135 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University in Occupational Safety & Health Technology, which is 3.18 times more than the 357 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 1163 degrees were awarded to men at Columbia Southern University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.21 times more than the 961 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

11%

100% Completion Time

17%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 11% of students graduating from Columbia Southern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 17% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 18% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (50%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Columbia Southern University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (50% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.73% of graduates (3 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
3,187 degrees awarded
Black or African American
1,229 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
307 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Columbia Southern University is white (3,187 degrees awarded). There were 2.59 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1229 degrees).

27.9% of degree recipients (1,962 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Male
2,255 degrees awarded
White Female
932 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
688 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Columbia Southern University is white male (2,255 degrees awarded). There were 2.42 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (932 degrees).

Operations

Columbia Southern University employs 307 Instructors. Most academics at Columbia Southern University are Male Instructor (178), and Female Instructor (129).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia Southern University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 167 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 100 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 80 employees.

Salary Expenditure

$47.9M

2021 Salaries

8.69%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Columbia Southern University paid a median of $47.9M in salaries, a 8.69% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 35.1M (41.3% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$15.8M

Instructional Salaries

307

Number of Employees

In 2021, Columbia Southern University paid a total of $15.8M to 307 employees working as instructors, which represents 33% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.3%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

307 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

167 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Columbia Southern University was Instructor with 307 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Columbia Southern University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 167 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 100 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 80 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Instructor
Female Instructor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Columbia Southern University was Male Instructor with 178 employees, and Female Instructor with 129 employees.

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