Is Columbia Southern University worth it?
Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit, four-year institution in Orange Beach, Alabama (small town). It awarded 7,773 degrees and certificates in 2024, most often in business administration and management, occupational safety and health technology and fire services administration.
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- Found employed by class year, 2020 to 2025
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Federal data
Federal context for Columbia Southern University
Published by the federal government for federally aided students. It does not say which employers hire graduates.
Median earnings 1 year after
$68,574
Median earnings 4 years after
$80,589
Median earnings 10 years after
$63,534
Average net price
$14,580
Completion rate
33%
Completions (2024)
7,773
Years to pay back
under 1 year
Students (undergrad)
12,176
Median earnings after completing, by program
| Program | Credential | Median earnings, 1yr | Median earnings, 4yr | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | $70,859 | $79,103 | 721 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's | $58,468 | $69,343 | 695 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's | $78,532 | $94,480 | 455 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Master's | $87,712 | $99,847 | 267 |
| Fire Protection | Bachelor's | $82,718 | $88,735 | 240 |
| Fire Protection | Associate | $75,326 | $88,114 | 215 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Bachelor's | $60,461 | $70,354 | 170 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Associate | $74,871 | $87,340 | 148 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate | $49,820 | $61,433 | 144 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Bachelor's | $51,692 | $61,821 | 143 |
| Homeland Security | Master's | $85,364 | $93,851 | 117 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Bachelor's | $53,843 | $62,061 | 103 |
| Public Administration | Master's | $63,643 | $74,452 | 94 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate | $58,241 | $66,000 | 86 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's | $53,644 | $63,248 | 77 |
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release, and IPEDS. Earnings cover federally aided students only, so they do not cover every graduate.
Awards conferred, by program
| Program | Award level | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Services Administration | Bachelor's | 925 |
| Business Administration and Management, General | Master's | 872 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician | Bachelor's | 739 |
| Business Administration and Management, General | Bachelor's | 668 |
| Fire Science/Fire-fighting | Associate | 587 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician | Master's | 505 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician | Associate | 458 |
| Business Administration and Management, General | Associate | 270 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | Bachelor's | 254 |
| Organizational Leadership | Master's | 214 |
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Sources: federal figures for Columbia Southern University. Federal figures from College Scorecard and IPEDS. Occupation pay from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS for Alabama. Counts under 10 are not published.
Updated September 18, 2026 · Methodology · Report a problem with this page