Columbia Southern University
Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 895 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 48 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $66,855, higher than 70% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $18,888 in federal loans against earnings of $66,855.
- Affordable: the average student pays about $15,834 a year after grants, cheaper than 68% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 49% of students graduate. 72% of four-year colleges do better.
- Many students leave early: only 71% of first-year students return for a second year.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 594 | $49,149 | $27,550 |
| Fire Protection | 585 | $69,691 | $15,542 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 521 | $67,304 | $28,463 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 256 | $48,667 | $20,549 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 128 | $45,175 | $23,853 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 96 | $48,935 | $22,930 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 93 | $31,839 | $29,495 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 75 | n/a | $21,875 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 61 | $62,260 | $23,772 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 60 | n/a | $21,708 |
| Homeland Security | 57 | n/a | $26,625 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 53 | $58,092 | $25,785 |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 432 | $61,922 | $10,027 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 307 | $69,785 | $16,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 192 | $40,896 | $16,932 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 99 | $41,565 | $23,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 98 | $43,922 | $16,515 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 90 | n/a | $10,500 |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 29 | n/a | n/a |
| Fire Protection | 22 | n/a | n/a |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 10 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost
The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.