Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Columbia Southern University is a for-profit online college. Columbia Southern University has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Columbia Southern University is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $74,398 10 years after enrolling, 2nd among online schools, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Columbia Southern University bachelor students earn 11% more than the national average.
Columbia Southern University’s median net annual cost of $11,241 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Columbia Southern University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Quality Control & Safety Technician, Fire Protection, Criminal Justice, Health Administrative Services, Human Resource Mgmt. - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$11,241
Average years to graduate
4.4
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.95
Computer and Information Sciences
Rank: #25
Economic score: 1.36
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #12
Economic score: 12.98
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Columbia Southern University - Business Administration, Quality Control & Safety Technician, Homeland Security, Public Administration, Public Health, Criminal Justice - are shown below.
The average student at Columbia Southern University takes 4.4 years to graduate, with 47% graduating within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Columbia Southern University is 3% less than the state average and 10% less than the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Columbia Southern University, Pell Grant recipients represent 22% of the measured graduating class, 13% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Columbia Southern University graduates within 4.3 years.
Columbia Southern University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Columbia Southern University’s economic mobility score of 20.55 is calculated by adjusting the 0.84 economic score of lower-income students by the 22% pell grant recipients within the student body. Columbia Southern University’s EMS of 20.55 ranks in the top 50% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Columbia Southern University pays $11,241 a year, $6,568 less than the $17,809 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $11,241
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Columbia Southern University, 56% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $11,241 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 41% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,701. This is 13% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,701
Pell grants
$3,643
Institutional grants
$621
Full time
67%
83%
Female
52%
59%
First time
24%
59%
In-state
9%
68%
1st generation
54%
35%
White
54%
52%
Black
16%
14%
Hispanic
3%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
24%
12%