Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, Alabama · Private, for-profit · 12,176 undergraduates
All 27 programs with reported earnings leave graduates out-earning a typical Alabama high-school graduate (about $32,204/yr). Another 30 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $12,913 |
| $30k to $48k | $13,455 |
| $48k to $75k | $15,569 |
| $75k to $110k | $16,226 |
| $110k and up | $17,408 |
| All families (average) | $14,580 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $79,103 | +$46,899 | clears the bar | $39,043 | 0.8 yrs |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $69,343 | +$37,139 | clears the bar | $23,998 | 0.6 yrs |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's Degree | $94,480 | +$62,276 | clears the bar | $23,425 | 0.4 yrs |
| Fire Protection | Bachelor's Degree | $88,735 | +$56,531 | clears the bar | $20,895 | 0.4 yrs |
| Fire Protection | Associate's Degree | $88,114 | +$55,910 | clears the bar | $9,500 | 0.2 yrs |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Master's Degree | $99,847 | +$67,643 | clears the bar | $32,386 | 0.5 yrs |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $87,340 | +$55,136 | clears the bar | $13,910 | 0.3 yrs |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Bachelor's Degree | $70,354 | +$38,150 | clears the bar | $20,209 | 0.5 yrs |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $61,433 | +$29,229 | clears the bar | $16,640 | 0.6 yrs |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Bachelor's Degree | $61,821 | +$29,617 | clears the bar | $23,621 | 0.8 yrs |
| Public Administration | Master's Degree | $74,452 | +$42,248 | clears the bar | $40,144 | 1 yr |
| Homeland Security | Master's Degree | $93,851 | +$61,647 | clears the bar | $37,075 | 0.6 yrs |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's Degree | $66,000 | +$33,796 | clears the bar | $12,140 | 0.4 yrs |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $62,009 | +$29,805 | clears the bar | $16,266 | 0.5 yrs |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $62,061 | +$29,857 | clears the bar | $21,862 | 0.7 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 27 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 24% of students receive Pell grants · 33% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.