State Licensure
Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama and licensed by the State of Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. In addition, CSU seeks authorization or exemption, as applicable, in all 50 states, as well as the territories in compliance with federal and state regulations that govern the offering of online programs.
*Updated 2/15/2012
For specific information regarding state authorization contact:
Alexis Banks
Licensure and Accreditation Specialist
Email: alexis.banks@columbiasouthern.edu
Alabama
Columbia Southern University is licensed by the State of Alabama, Department of Post-Secondary Education pursuant to the Alabama Private School License Law, Code of Alabama, Title 16-46-1 through 10 (Certificate number 05-888-11).
State of Alabama License 
Alaska
CSU is exempt from authorization under AS 14.48 as an online distance delivered program and does not have a physical presence in the state.
Arizona
CSU’s programs are not under the jurisdiction of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education since the university has no physical presence in Arizona.
California
CSU is not required to be licensed by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education since the institution has no physical presence in California.
Colorado
CSU’s online programs and activities do not constitute physical presence within Colorado; therefore, Colorado approval is not required to continue offering online degree and certificate programs.
Connecticut
CSU is not required to be licensed by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education since the institution does not have a physical presence in Connecticut.
Delaware
CSU is not incorporated in Delaware and does not have a physical presence; therefore, Delaware Department of Education approval is not required.
District of Columbia
CSU is not required to be licensed by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission.
Georgia
CSU engages in none of the conditions which would cause it to be required by the State of Georgia’s Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) to be authorized.
Hawaii
The State of Hawaii does not endorse, license, approve, or register post-secondary educational institutions.
Idaho
CSU is not required to register in Idaho, since it is an online-only school outside of Idaho.
Illinois
CSU received approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education to operate in Illinois.
Kansas
CSU has a certificate of approval to operate in the State of Kansas (Certificate number 2010276).
State of Kansas Approval
Louisiana
CSU is not regulated by the Board of Regents, since it offers courses and programs fully online and does not maintain physical facilities in the State of Louisiana.
Maine
CSU is exempt from State of Maine approval or authorization requirements to offer, or continue to offer, its online instructional programming to citizens of Maine.
Maryland
CSU is not required to have a certificate of approval from the Commission since its programs are completely online and offered by an accredited out-of-state collegiate institution.
Michigan
CSU has no physical presence in the State of Michigan and is therefore not required to be licensed to provide online instruction to Michigan residents.
Montana
CSU is nationally accredited and therefore meets the requirements of the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to operate in the state.
Nebraska
CSU has no physical presence in Nebraska and is not required to seek authorization to offer online courses or programs.
New Mexico
CSU is not required to register in the State of New Mexico since the institution offers online courses and programs and does not require an internship/externship.
New York
CSU has no physical presence in New York and is not required to seek approval.
Ohio
CSU is exempt from the authorization of the Ohio Board of Regents. CSU is in the process of applying for approval with the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
Oklahoma
CSU delivers courses and programs exclusively through an online format and is therefore not required to be licensed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Pennsylvania
CSU is approved to offer distance education or conduct other activities in Pennsylvania.
South Dakota
The State of South Dakota does not approve out-of-state higher education institutions nor does the South Dakota Board of Regents supervise private institutions that deliver postsecondary degree programs or credit-bearing courses in South Dakota.
Texas
CSU is exempt from the oversight of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since we do not have a physical presence in the state and the board recognizes our accrediting agency. CSU is also excluded from the Texas Workforce Commission’s licensing requirements for enrolling Texas residents; CSU is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code.
Utah
CSU is exempt from registration with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. CSU is currently in the process to complete the new exemption application that is now available from the division.
Vermont
CSU is not required to be approved by the Vermont Department of Education or the State Board of Education since it only offers online programs with no physical presence in Vermont.
Virgin Islands
CSU has satisfied the requirements to provide post-secondary educational services to students in the United States Virgin Islands.
Virginia
CSU can offer postsecondary instruction via distance learning to the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, CSU does not meet Virginia’s criterion of physical presence and is therefore ineligible for certification to operate in Virginia. As such, students who are residents of Virginia do not benefit from protections available to students attending institutions that are certified by SCHEV (http://www.schev.edu/highered/pope/Students.asp).
Washington
CSU is not required to be authorized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board since the institution does not have a physical presence in Washington State, conduct local advertisement and recruitment that target Washington residents, or offer an internship that is required.
Wisconsin
CSU is approved by the Educational Approval Board to offer programs, subject to the provisions of Wisconsin Statutes 38.50 and all administrative rules adopted pursuant to the statutes.
State of Wisconsin Approval
Wyoming
CSU is registered by the State of Wyoming, Department of Education pursuant to the Private Schools Licensing Act, Wyo. Stat. 21-2-401 (Certificate number 12-087-30).
State of Wyoming License
In Process
Arkansas
Florida
Kentucky
Iowa
Indiana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee