Enjoy the convenience and flexibility of earning an online degree from the comfort of your own home with Columbia Southern University.
CSU features affordable tuition, esteemed faculty and supportive staff to help you overcome financial, academic and life’s unexpected hurdles while gaining a quality online education.
Whether you are seeking an associate, bachelor, master or doctoral degree or even a certificate program, CSU can help meet your needs and educational goals. As one of the nation’s top online universities, we are continually striving to improve and adapt our degree curriculums, outstanding customer service and outreach programs.
Online Degree Programs
Get to Know William Payne
Get to Know William Payne
After seven years with the Navy, William Payne decided to put his skills in communications technology to use to launch a career in 1995. He decided to go into information technology and started a company. After many years of business, Payne decided to seek an online bachelor’s degree in his profession in 2009 with Columbia Southern University.
“Education in the technology arena is extremely important. We are competing at an international level. And there are people walking around you that have high credentials,” he explained. As a CEO of a company, Payne thought it was also important to strengthen his education and appeal in today’s marketplace considering the current dynamics of the economy.
He said he chose CSU for its reputation, credibility and affordability. “CSU rates are extremely cost effective. The rates reduced my expected spending to about half,” Payne said.
During his educational journey, Payne faced a few obstacles. “The greatest challenge for me was looking at all of the classes that I had to take when I initially enrolled,” he said. “It was somewhat overwhelming and I had a sense of not being able to complete the program because of situations or circumstances that may arise.”
However, Payne said CSU faculty and staff provided a strong network of support to help him reach his goals. In addition, “I changed my views of what was ahead and looked more to what was accomplished, in terms of class completion. My accomplishments gave me the confidence and energy to tackle the next term of courses until I successfully completed the program,” Payne explained.
After proudly graduating from CSU summa cum laude, Payne felt “receiving a degree from CSU validated my years of technology experience.”
And for those thinking about pursuing an online education with CSU, he offers these words of advice: “Make it happen. Take the first step. You will not be alone. CSU has advisors that will be there for you that will lay out a roadmap with you. There is a support person for you at every stage, all the way through graduation.”
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About CSU
Columbia Southern University, one of the nation’s first completely online universities, was developed to provide working adults with an alternative to the traditional university experience. Our mission is to change lives through education by offering affordable, flexible, quality academic opportunities and extraordinary service, enabling adults to maximize their professional and personal potential, and serve the communities in which they live and work.
Online associate, bachelor, master, doctorate and certificate programs are available in a variety of fields including fire science, criminal justice, business administration, information technology, human resource management and occupational safety and health.
CSU also offers:
- Maximum Transfer Credit
- Accredited Programs
- Self-Paced and Structured Classes
- Textbooks Provided Through CSU Book Grant
- No ACT, SAT, GRE or GMAT Required
- TA and VA Benefits
- Complimentary Tutoring Services
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Accreditation
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Distance Education
and Training Council
1601 18th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-234-5100 |
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Columbia Southern University (CSU) is an accredited member of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. All CSU programs have been reviewed and approved by DETC.
Additionally, the Accrediting Commission of the DETC is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a nonprofit organization serving as the national advocate for self-regulation through accreditation. Institutional membership is limited to nationally or regionally accredited colleges or universities.
Tuition & Financing
When comparing quality and cost, CSU is your best option. Our tuition is competitively priced to make achieving a quality education affordable and realistic for the average person.
* The tuition rate for graduate courses per-credit hour is $250 for all active-duty military members (not applicable for CSU Learning Partners). The lower rate is offered to keep the tuition rate at the DoD cap of $250. CSU Learning Partners receive a tuition discount that is applied to the full tuition rate.
Federal Financial Aid
Federal Financial Aid offers grant and loan programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. CSU participates in several grant and loan programs available through Federal Student Aid. Most CSU students who meet the following criteria may be eligible to receive financial aid. For more information, visit the Financial Aid section of the website.
Military Educational Benefits
CSU is approved to offer DANTES, Tuition Assistance (TA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Additional education funding is available to those approved for TA and eligible for MGIB-Active Duty benefits. In addition, all service members receive an application fee waiver. Immediate family members of active-duty service members will receive the waiver and a ten percent tuition discount. For more information about military educational benefits, visit the military section of the website.
Scholarship Programs
There are many scholarship opportunities available for CSU students. For more information, visit the scholarship page.