Columbia Southern University

I have completed an MBA in healthcare administration this past year from CSU and although the degree was a goal that I have accomplished in achieving an advanced degree which has given me some fulfillment, it has not advanced my career, so far. I have not received any promotions or even interviews with other organizations in correspondence with this diploma. I believe that education is good for anyone trying to advance themselves, but the ROI so far with this degree has been dismal and I would suggest anyone to do the proper research to attain a degree that would be worth the time and effort invested in it. Be leery!

CSU overall is not a bad school. I obtained my first B.S. at APSU and decided to pursue a different direction in terms of my career. I choose CSU mainly because of the low tuition cost and its "military-friendly" environment. I was impressed with the option of receiving an Associates's degree if you are a current Bachelors's degree student, which can come in handy for working adults and those who do not possess a college degree at all. The facilitators are pretty decent. I had a good amount of instructors who were great and was there when I needed them and a good amount who was not. My last instructor was probably one of the determining factors of why I decided to find another school for my MPA. I understand that with some instructors, it can be a hit or miss. Still, I honestly believed that this particular instructor posed a great deal of bias characteristics, especially if he did not agree with your opinion, which was very obvious with discussion boards. I felt that some instructors graded assignments based on what SafeAssign said and didn't take the time to read what students wrote. Another issue I didn't care about was the $100 fee required to receive your degree. After paying thousands for classes, I felt the $100 to be a tad bit redundant. I decided to leave CSU after I finished my second B.S. because I wanted to be able to tailor my MPA degree with classes that will not only fulfill the requirements to graduate but be of use to my career as I progress. With CSU's MPA program, I felt that it was very cookie-cut and was led to believe that I could decide on which courses I needed to fulfill the general concentration requirement. Later I was told that I had to take the courses that they wanted me to take, which was not mentioned when I spoke to several advisors. Now don't get me wrong; this is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for students who either don't have a degree, those who haven't been to school in years or those who need a quick degree for employment purpose, etc. it just wasn't what I was looking for in terms of my goals and plans after graduation. Overall, I don't regret my time at CSU. Furthermore, even though it is not a regionally accredited school, I was still able to use my degree to get into another MPA program at another institution that is regionally accredited, so there was no love lost there. I still recommend CSU, just not to everyone. I encourage everyone to do their research and ask themselves what your goals are after you graduate, and what do you want out of your degree and institution.

After having retired from the Navy, I found out that my joint military transcripts (JMT) enabled me to complete my associates within approximately one year; this school applied the most transfer credits, base on my JMT, over Park University, Saint Leo University, and LeTourneau University by a Significant margin! If your apprehensive about attending this school (when I first started, I was) because it is nationally accredited, then you can transfer to their sister school that is regionally accredited Waldorf; the same classes and curriculum transfer without issue. Also, their instructors [some] are leading industry professionals, for instance the president of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals is one of my instructors this term. I’ve experienced instructors with real working professional knowledge. If you attend this school with the objective to fulfill your role as a student doing all assigned reading, student interaction, homework, and assignments, you will gain a tremendous amount of knowledge that will catapult you beyond your peer group (I speak for the occupational safety peer group). I have found the curriculum to be both a challenge at times, and very rewarding. I was apprehensive about the amount of reading, and essay writing at first, but after a couple of classes I became acclimated, and now thoroughly enjoy my academic experience. Some instructors seem distant in that weekly critiques, frankly, seem automated but they do engage with the students during weekly discussions, and I have had very positive interactions with my instructors when requesting help because I did not understand a requirement or material. If your considering this school because of the OH&S degree(s), at this time, I could suggest no better school. -AM1, USN, Ret.

Hello CSU and CSU students. I am on academic suspension from CSU since the beginning of 2017. I only have 4 classes left and after many attempts, they will not reinstate me. I would recommend not going to this College. I'm a U.S. Army veteran and I wasted my post 911 gi bill at this college.

So this online school is not accredited for transfer of many of the degrees and credits as I learned. Also this school does nothing but scam people especially if you have to take some time off for personal reasons. I start up again in the fire administration degree and learn that once being within 24 credit of graduation now I need 30. I called them and everyone I have talked to basically said oh well that's how it is. No help at all and this is the second time they have added classes needed to graduate. Do not enroll here terrible experience all they care about is money and I have waste so much time and money to this terrible place.

I loved this school and really think it's the most affordable online degree program. Yes it requires a lot of writing and extensive research on most assignments but most of the instructors are lenient and understanding. They will work with you if you really want to achieve a good grade. In my opinion it's a great school to earn your degree and it's very doable with my busy full time job. Highly recommend!!

This school is terrible. I am using financial aid so for my bachelors, instead of finishing in 4 years, it takes 5+ years. The teachers have problems and will give you Zeros for assignments you have completed on time and spent hours upon hours working on. They will fail you for no reason, causing you to take longer than the already long 5 years to complete just a bachelors. DO NOT GO THERE. It may seem fine in the beginning courses but as you get to the last year or so, they will fail you for everything.

When I signed up 10 years ago I was promised that they were seeking RA. Still to this day nothing. They had applied to SACS but now are not listed at all on thenSAVS site. I had kept in contact witht them and followed up and kept being told it was coming. Mayes told me Manjone was working on it but he apparently made zero progress. Manjone would send occasional replies to my reqofor information updates. I even in frustration of not being able to teach any where applied there. Was told that they only consider RA professors. Eventually I got a chance and the staff there were condiiscending. I signed in for a conference call with two employees who thought I was on hold and they spoke disparagingly about the place. How disappointing. Of course Mayes only offered the gig when I was considering starting a class action suit. Manjone is an evangelical zealot who prayed in meetings and subjects people to his faith. Mayes ignores complaints. It is sad they won't even consider their students to be valid. My case is now pending. I spoken to a few lawyers and two who are taking on the for profit college crisis have expressed interest and will be seeking additional complainants soon. So check back. How can the school get away with this? They won't much long. So if you were scammed being told they would soon have RA like myself and 32 other possible litigants that Mayes, Manjone, his sister, and her husband lined their pockets full of your cash, you are in luck! Relief is coming.

I have to say that in the beginning, I was very skeptical about Columbia Southern University (CSU). After having been in the military for over twenty years, and obtained prior degrees from other schools I was not sure. My deployments while in, made it next to impossible until I had time.This school has been a terrific fit and will continue to do so. Very highly accredited professors (especially the fire safety and construction safety) prof's. These professors sit the boards for the CSP. Extremely knowledgeable and take right from OSHA standard. This makes learning true to the point of first hand knowledge. Very impressed by the professionalism they show us as students. If we make a mistake they hammer us to learn and it is not easy. The learning capability that I have gained thus far from this school is truly amazing and humbling. The school is and has prepared me for the challenges of the future and beyond. More to come in the Masters programs and beyond. Thanks CSU!!!

I don't see any current reviews for the MS-OSH/EM degree so I thought I'd offer up my experience. I'm an Active Duty Soldier who works full-time with all of the other Army related time sucking tasks. I'm not breaking rocks, but I am actually working 50+ a week, have three kids, and an hour roundtrip commute to work. Through 27 hours of coursework I have found the majority of the professors (all with Ph.D.s) to be both knowledgeable and fair, and the classes have been challenging with a significant amount of critical thinking and analysis. A majority of the classes require a legitimate 8-10 hours of work per week, which generally consists of A LOT of reading and 4-6 essay questions which require 200 word minimum responses...if you want a C. The average appropriate response is really closer to 800-900 words or the equivalent of a three to four page paper. Some classes require the occasional power point presentation which I believe is stupid for an online class where there is no audience, and especially because 12-15 slides can take longer and not validate your understanding of a topic as well as a five page paper. I've had one professor in one class that was absolutely terrible at providing useful feedback and I'm quite certain he gave me a blind B on an assignment because he was too lazy to read it. I challenged the grade and the support from my advisor and student resolution was equally as terrible. I was told to just challenge the final overall grade and none of my specific concerns were addressed. I went into a four hour ten essay question proctored final exam not having any clue how this guy grades. Pretty bad feeling after ten weeks. I got something like a 90.2% in the class so I rehashed everything in the GoArmyEd and CSU course critique and left it at that. If you've made it this far, a.) challenging, not a diploma mill, b.) a lot or reading and writing, c.) one masters level class is considered fulltime for a reason, some will keep you very very busy.

After completing my MBA with Columbia Southern University (CSU) in 2006, I pursued my DBA with them. However, 9 years of effort went down the drain when, towards the end of the program, my dissertation chair and committee suddenly claimed arbitrary authority to act retrospectively and even repressively. I had my research focus on regime-growth relationship based on comparative historical methods approved in February, 2016 and, accordingly, I expanded and developed my Prospectus into my Dissertation Proposal which I submitted to the committee on or about July, 11, 2016. No major objection was raised saved the request that I make some minor changes to comply with the university's dissertation template. A second submission was made to the committee on or about September 15, 2015. To my surprise, the entire paper was rejected with claims that political economy has no relation to business studies and comparative historical methodology based on secondary data analysis is not acceptable in doctoral dissertation. Exchanges between the chair and me only led to the former getting personal with assault on my political subscription and command of the English language. I was also reminded by the chair that he wields the ultimate power in whether or not to let my paper through. What a blatant threat! It became difficult for me to work with such a condescending, un-knowledgeable, and unprofessional person and any correspondence further thereto will only be distasteful and futile. Therefore, as a final recourse, I referred the matter to the Director for Doctoral Study but, alas, all my objections were ignored and all my questions raised were deliberately avoided and left unanswered thereby bringing the entire deliberative process to a halt. Under circumstances aforementioned, I cannot but suspect a lack in proficiency pertaining to doctoral research activities by those involved in this deliberative process. I regret having to say that the integrity of the entire institution is also being called into question when it allowed and/or condone unprofessional conduct of its faculty members. It is the most unfortunate for a fee paying international candidate to experience such affronting situation. Money wasted can easily be earned back but 9 years of my precious time wasted has no recompense. Therefore, if you are looking to earn a quality and recognised degree then CSU is definitely not a place you want to find yourselves in. I have made all the relevant information including email exchanges available on my Facebook.

Amazing school and highly respected with employers. I got my dream job thank to the Masters Degree offered by this great school. It took me three long years of hard work and lots of assignments but it was totally worth the effort. The tuition fee was very low in comparison to the similar programs but the courses and instructors were high quality. I totally recommend them for any EHS/ OHS courses or degrees.

Here is an honest and fair assessment of my time at CSU in its online, MBA program. First and foremost, let's discuss ACCREDITATON. Decide what you want out of a school before selecting CSU. Yes, it is nationally accredited, and No it is not regionally accredited, nor does it possess any specialized, prestigious business accreditations such as AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). FACULTY. There are no professors that teach classes per se. They can be more accurately described as "facilitators" or "moderators". They don't grade papers stringently, and there are not any required discussion posts to grade classroom participation. When I had a question, or needed assistance, it would be "hit-or-miss" when it came to getting a response from them - depends on the facilitator. For example, I was having technical difficulty submitting an assignment and it was the final due date. So, I emailed the instructor to ask for a one-day extension to resolve the technical issue. I was able to submit the assignment the next day, and no points were deducted; but, I never received a response from the instructor. As far as the instructor's qualifications, they do possess the appropriate degrees that you would think a professor should have - MS, MBA, PhD. But, you're not going to see many that graduated from well-known institutions - at least I didn't notice any while reading all of my professors' biographies. Important to note, I didn't see any professors who were graduates of CSU. STAFF SUPPORT. I believe that the staff was friendly and helpful, and I don't have anything negative to say. I always received great customer service when I called CSU. CAMPUS LOCATION. I actually visited the "campus" at CSU one day as I was passing through during a business trip. I took a 15-minute detour to the location and drove into the parking lot of the campus. That's essentially what it was. It's a two-building campus surrounding a parking lot. Outside the campus seemed very rural. So, basically, it's a college in the middle of nowhere. The university campus looked nothing like a traditional college campus. Most community colleges I've seen have a more convincing campus - as you could imagine, I was disappointed, but nearly finished with my degree, so there was no turning back at this point. COURSE DIFFICULTY. It's not difficult at all. I believe a senior in high school or a freshman in college could easily pass the courses. It was almost too easy, but for me, it was a relief since I transferred from a top-ranked university master's program where I was writing papers until 3:00 a.m. and having to get for work at 6:00 a.m. I couldn't maintain that schedule while simultaneously performing well in my profession and being an adequate husband and father. Plus, I was paying out of my ears in tuition and books. CSU is cheap and the course load is more than manageable. That leaves you time to have a life and be a husband/wife, father, or mother. For me, that held a lot of value. JOB PROSPECTS. What I have to say about this is theoretical since I have had a zero sum gain in job prospects or income since I received my degree. I've spent a great deal of time in the past speaking with HR managers within my organization, and from other organizations, and many echo the same statement on education. For the Department of Defense, they verify if the university who granted the degree is recognized by the Department of Education; which CSU is. For the corporate sector, I have no idea. I also spoke to some talent recruiters at a career fair and one mentioned that they are favoring certifications, in addition to a degree. For example, if you have a masters in project management, you may want to pursue a PMP certification, or obtain a green or black belt in Six Sigma. That alone may still not be the "smoking gun" that lands you a job. I've witnessed, and you may have to, folks getting hired in management positions with only a bachelor's degree, or in some cases, no degree at all. Their experience and personal network were enough to get them in the management chair. When it comes to landing the target job, your experience and network is going to be more solid than your degree diplomas. In summary, jobs that pay well are competitive, and you may need a combination of experience, education, and qualifications. And even then, you may not get hired if you don't interview well. CSU RECOMMENDATION. I would recommend the CSU MBA program to working adults looking to add to their resume at the most reasonable cost possible while still maintaining a family and professional life. If you don't have children, and your job is 9-5, I would recommend looking into a more challenging, and recognized degree program where you would have the time to invest.

I have been enrolled in the BS Occupational Safety and Health since 2008 (yes, 2008), and it has taken me this long because I am older, work full time, lead a family, and balance real coursework. However, as of March 23, 2016, I completed my audit to be conferred an interim A.S. degree the same field on March 31, 2016. I am proud of this accomplishment as I really worked had an earned it! And I couldn't have done it without the support of the CSU faculty, staff, and learning resources along the way. For those leery (or critical) of this university, let me share some key facts. 1. CSU is a private, for profit institution. If you are looking for them to "give" you something other than quality resources, then you are in society's growing majority, so just move along. Earn what you get and consider it an investment in yourself. 2. CSU is nationally accredited. So what. National accreditation is through the Department of Education and DETC, and is not automatically granted. CSU had to go through a rigorous process to earn their accreditation, and still, they are frequently audited to ensure they maintain high standards. Furthermore, if CSU decided to pursue regional accreditation they could, and would be successful. No need; CSU already has regional accreditation through another PRIVATE, for PROFIT university they own - www.waldorf.edu (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)...and guess what? The course work at Waldorf is virtually identical to CSU. In fact, when CSU purchased Waldorf, they transferred their distance leaning programs over AND CSU credit is fully transferrable to Waldorf. So, if RA is really that important to you, go to CSU to complete most of your coursework for a lower cost, then transfer to Waldorf to complete your degree. You'll be paying for RA and validation of the same coursework you get at CSU. You should also consider that CSU was one of the early pioneers in distance learning. Now, we see all of the RA laggers trying to get on the band wagon. CSU is miles ahead. 3. CSU has real professors. When you see the professor profiles, they are virtually all B.A./B.S./Masters, and PhD degreed from RA brick and mortar institutions. One of the primary reasons I chose CSU it that I saw that one of the faculty also happened to be one of the most brilliant CIHs that I used to work for! He was a hard-a** to work for, so I knew he was the real deal. He was no easier in the course. 4. CSU degrees are accepted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) as meeting the educational requirements to sit for the ASP and CSP exams. For those that don't know, BCSP is the most prestigious safety and health credentialing organization in the WORLD. It is the certification that virtually every practitioner strives for, and every employer looking to hire a safety professional wants. There are fewer that a handful of schools like CSU that BSCP recognizes. Reason 2 for selecting CSU as my school of choice. Personally, I don't care if naysayers choose CSU or not. The facts above are real facts. I'm proud of the degree I earned, and know the value of it. IF you are intent on a degree from an RA institution, then congradulations. Go get your degree You'll work hard and complete hard coursework, no doubt. Meanwhile, I'll take my 24 years of career experience and walk into my boss's office at the world's biggest heavy equipment company with my worthless degree and walk out with a minimum of 5% salary increase, while you'll be standing in the entry level line with a RA degree hoping to make a salary high enough to pay your student loans.

Columbia Southern University is about maturity as a student. When I first inquired about the program I spoke with an individual with knowledge that supported the University and had the skills to explain the process to me with great ease. Some students have to be spoon fed. Unfortunately, I look at some of the Discussion Boards set up by Professors as a basic requirement in each program and I wonder about some students work ethic. Students make careless mistakes in their work they present which reflects highly on their behavior and performance skills. If students would take the time and learn patience, CSU Administration and Student Resource section will gladly take time with you. It is how you present yourself for people who find them rude. I have never encountered a rude worker at CSU. I would be upset and have to calm down because they were being so nice. Columbia was my selection after evaluating 457 school's graduate programs online. This University is so consistent that you have to be a big dummy to not follow through. Some professors are stricter than others. Same at the brickhouse University. Nothing different. All professors expect the student's work to be complete, accurate and professional using proper format prior to submission. Some may give you some lead way, depending on the situation. I have found every professor at CSU is easy to contact than my other University where I could knock on their door. If they grade hard, it is because they want you to be successful. Learn from your mistakes and move forward. I feel CSU supports its students to the utmost. If you are a young student, you must listen and pay attention to detail. You will go far at CSU. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around. However, students who submit tacky mispelled work in Graduate school should not move forward if they cannot follow directions. My advice to students is to study and for God's sake, PROOF READ YOUR WORK BEFORE SUBMITTING IT!!! HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PROOFREAD YOUR WORK IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND!!!!

I have read many reviews that talk about National vs Regional accreditation and I for one am not concerned. I am an older student who already has a successful career, but to plan ahead for changes in the job market, I have decided to obtain a Health and Safety certification. The organization who issues these certifications is the Bureau of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), and they list Columbia Southern University as one of only a handful of Associates Degree programs allowed to sit for the prestigious Associate Safety Professional(ASP)and Certified Safety Professional(CSP) exams. In addition, the company that I work for (big oil) has an agreement with CSU, so I get a discount on tuition, and the company will even pay for 75% of that. Because of all of this, I am very happy with CSU. They serve my needs, and I believe that they will serve the needs of most students that decide to get a degree from them.

I was already entrenched in my career but witthout a college degree. Because I worked for a private firm, there was no degree required. Once I decided to get a job with a large firm, I enrolled in CSU to complete my last 50 credits. I did so in about a year. Classes are not very challenging but they do take time and it is busy work. After I completed my degree, I began my search at a large firm. By no means did my degree get me any interviews, my experience did...but never once was I questioned about accreditation (which it is) or about an "online" school. It checked the box quite adequately and at a very affordable cost. I recommend CSU highly if you arre in a similar situation. You need to check the box as having a degree. This is not to say the education was not valuable, it was...but for me it was about getting through the credits. Good luck!

I see that there are a few students or former students that think that their degree will not get them to the utopic job that they are searching for, it's not happening. Education is when the mind expands, not when the mind memorizes. A degree is not a piece of paper that allows you to walk into a organization and throw down the degree and say "Hire me, I went to college". Name dropping schools does not get you hired any faster. At CSU if you learned anything, apply what you learned. Remember education does not override experience. If someone went to college for the sole purpose of getting a job you only fooled yourself. Education is an enabler in helping you to perhaps get your foot in the door for an interview, the degree or college does not walk in there with you. I attend CSU for both of my degrees, Bachelors and Masters. Everything that a person learns in college may not be applied in the real world, just like HS. I never end my day saying "Dang, I didn't get to use calculus or trigonometry today", or for the past 5 years. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at CSU and would, and have recommended it to other of my friends. It is one of the only colleges that accept military experience and applies it to credits. Sure you have to write papers but that is part of being in college, especially since no student has to team up with other students that determine their or the groups grade. Some people are just looking for things to complain about in life. Maybe that why some people are using the excuse of not being able to get jobs is because of attitude not education

Having recently graduated from CSU, I have been more than happy with what I committed to in obtaining my degree. Being in the high tempo area of the Army and able to take my work with me anywhere was a huge plus and would not have stuck with it if that was not the case. Be aware, you WILL have to earn this degree and it is not given. I wrote more papers here than I would have liked, and trust me when I say I hate writing or research papers in APA. Ughhhh...never again, HOWEVER, I just may get my Masters from CSU because of the quality and service I was afforded. I did read a few other reviews here, and I hear the grumblings. First understand this is NOT Harvard, Ohio State, etc. If you are looking to land a job with no experience, get in line. Plenty of folks are still in the civilian work place...or lack of, and cannot find work. The economy is NOT what they would lead you to believe. Why do you think I have made a career out of my current service? Thanks but no thanks to the unemployment line. Use this school for current advancement, not as a "name-drop" to get you attention from a prospective employer. Next, FEE's are at every school My wife just graduated from American Law School, and I had to pay for the grad fee. ALL schools do this, and even when I went to the U or Akron, OH, we had to pay fees. It's a business based on education folks. Bills have to be paid; get a clue. All in all, I have enjoyed my experience with CSU and recommend them to anyone looking to better themselves if they are in a current career and are looking for a flexible and reasonable school to aid them.

I completed my BBA and MBA here, and I worked REALLY hard; do not think you can skate through- it is tough! I enjoyed the experience. I was never alone: the instructors, the writing center, everybody was always available to help if I needed it. I read a lot of the negative reviews and do not agree with most of them. It may be that you got a degree and could not get a job, but do not blame the school. The school is excellent and if you are planning on attending, speak to an advisor first. they can answer any questions you have. I am grateful for the education I got. I live in Houston and could go anywhere, but the ability to get a first class education AT HOME OR ANYWHERE was the key for me.

I appreciate all the reviews that were written. after coming from a school that wasn't regionally accredited I decided to do my home work before enrolling into another school. I read where some people experienced negative attitudes from some of the administration. I can testify to that. I had called for some information on some of the student fees, in particular the petition to graduate fee? I had never heard of it and was curious about it. I was then told by an admissions rep the fee was something us students paid in order to obtain the degree we had already EARNED. She went on to state that the fee allows the school to review our records to ensure we have met all the required courses needed to graduate. I found they also keep up with our grades, they know if you've passed or failed a course, so why are they unable to simply pull up our grades to see what we have or have not completed? Anyhow, I questioned the fee and was instantly greeted with attitude. the rep became irate and stated if I did not pay the fee I would not receive my degree. I simply stated "fine!" I will not be attending your money hungry school , and hung up. I perceived her attitude and this fee to be a warning of things to come years down the line. I will simply scratch CSU off my list of considerations... I hope all of the reviews posted will help some one else from making a terrible mistake. to all who have claimed to have had a good experience from this school, GOOD FOR YOU....I'LL PASS ON CSU.

This is the real deal. I was skeptical of online colleges until I took my first exam. It had to be held at a place with a certified teacher. I was put in a empty room and given my allotted time to complete the exam. The instructor took the test when I completed it and sent it back to CSU for grading. It was all very professional and official. Online College is not for lazy people. It is a lot of individual work and review. You must be dedicated to completing the course. As any college, getting a degree from CSU DOES NOT guarantee you a job. You get your own job. The degree just shows the employer that you have determination and the ability to learn. How you present yourself during the interview speaks a lot to whether or not you get the job. I would never have been able to complete my degree if it had not been for online schools. I am a mother of 2 that had a full time job and still was able to study at my own pace and complete my degree. I even took a trip to orange beach, Alabama to visit the school, once I graduated! They were extremely friendly and courteous. I got a tour of the college and some souvenir items for my trip. I HIGHLY recommend this school.

Completed my degree with the college and two years latter I am still not using this degree. I have post my resume and still no calls. I am still working at the 7.25hr job I had when I enroll in this college. The only thing I got is a high student loan that NELNET charges interest on daily. I wish I never attended this college. This college is good for individuals who are currently employed and looking for a rise or advancement in their current job. However, for someone looking for door to open then attended a college that can give you internship. Columbia is not that college. Good Luck!!

I never had any issues with CSU. Serving in the Military with a high deployment tempo I was able to complete my course work without any issues and if I did have any issues CSU was there to assist me in every way they could. I can honestly say my degree from CSU helped me transition from an Enlisted Soldier to an Officer. I would definitely recommend CSU to anyone; as a matter of fact I'm going to obtain another degree from CSU to assist me in my transition out of the military.

As a person that attended a regionally accredited, nationally known brick and mortar school for my bachelors degree, I feel qualified now after completing my MBA at CSU to voice my opinion on the comparison of online schools vs classrooms as well as national vs regional accreditation. Completing a degree online was much harder than sitting in a classroom, it took much more discipline and time management to study and complete assignments. It's very tough to read, comprehend and be tested on material without being able to ask questions of the professor or get the perspective of others in the class. With regards to the knowledge gained, I also feel I got more out of the classes online since I was forced to take my time and understand the material which lead to much greater retention of the information. As for the accreditation, rarely do employers ask about this, as a hiring manager I never have! I check to insure the school has an accreditation accepted by the Dept of Ed and that's it. If DOE accepts it, it's a degree plain and simple. Of course there are some programs and graduate schools that won't take nationally accredited degrees but I'm betting there are more that will than won't. It's imperative that you do a little research before making the commitment to any school, CSU is no different. Everyone learns differently so online classes are not for everyone. During my young and stupid years, I don't believe I could have handled online classes but most adults that are completing their degrees online are dealing with "real life" issues and have a mature perspective on education and why it's important. CSU is a great school for adults looking to finish up or advance their education. The degree is recognized by the DOE and I for one can tell you it is not easy to get. You will work hard and get out of it what you put into it...ironically that's no different than at any other school online or B&M.

Due to what I read online in various reviews, I was concerned about my CSU degree being nationally accredited through DETC. I am very happy to be able to say that I was accepted into a state school with one of the best distance learning programs in the nation, to pursue my graduate degree. The university I'll be attending is regionally accredited and they had zero issues taking my CSU degree. I am completely satisfied with the education I received at CSU, and have no complaints. A note to prospective students: be prepared to write! I took about 25 classes here, and the average amount of writing was 15 APA formatted written pages per class. Just because its a distance education school doesn't mean you get a free ride to a degree; you will have to earn your grade here.

I have just completed my second Master's degree from Columbia Southern University and I will tell you that a degree from this institution is earned. The staff, professors, and all of those in student services made the learning experience GREAT!!! A lot of hard work and long hours went into completion of all degree requirements. For me CSU is far and away an excellent university worthy of their standing among other Universities.

Great school, the teachers are very helpful and always respond to emails within 24-48 hours. The books are always recent, I haven't had one more than 5 years old. Plus, the books are all free. Courses consist of posting on a discussion board every week, and responding to 2 classmates. There is reading required each week, with assessments due that normally consist of 200 word written responses and multiple choice (depending on the class). About half of the classes required proctored exams, which you simply use your computer's webcam and use remote proctor now. Many of the classes also have between 2 and 4 research papers due, typically 3-4 pages in length. I am now pursuing my BSBA, and should complete it within the next 6 months. My only concern is the national accreditation through DETC. I'm thinking about going to Bellevue or Eastern New Mexico University for my Masters, since they're regionally accredited and accept CSU's Bachelors, to maybe offset that "con" in employers eyes.

I am currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Environmental Management program. I researched other schools for several months before deciding on CSU. It was very difficult to find an online school that offered this degree; it was the main reason for my deciding on CSU. But there were many factors that helped me decide. I would love to share my current experience for anyone that may be considering CSU. I cannot say enough about the quality of customer service. I received a complimentary evaluation of my previous credits for all my general education and electives. I was given full credit for previous work, which only left me needing my core classes to graduate. Once I decided to enroll, I was taken through each step regarding financial aid. The cost per credit hour is $210. The textbooks are included at no cost, provided you do not fail or drop the class. CSU offers 3 different options of enrollment. They have standard 8 week terms with determined start and end dates. You have a week in between each new term, a little longer if you complete the term early. By the way, 2 classes per term is considered full time. They also have what is called the per-course enrollment option; these are taken one class at a time, and you have 10 weeks to complete. Keep in mind, if you choose the course option, you will not qualify for financial aid. Per-course enrollment is self pay only. They do offer a flex enrollment for veterans, but I am not familiar with the details on that. In addition to the assigned coursework, you are required to participate in weekly discussions on what is called the Blackboard. The professor will post a question, and you post your reply. You are also required to respond to at least one other person's post. Most of the time, I responded to several people. This really helped establish a connection with the professor was well as other persons taking the class. It can also help if it happens to be a topic you might be having a little difficulty with. The instructors are very friendly and you can ask a question outside of class any time you need help. The coursework is challenging, but can be completed if you work your assignments diligently each week. The courses that have a final exam are usually open book, but do not let that fool you. The final exams are not just a set a questions you look up the answers to. They are designed to see how well you comprehended the material, as well as practice for strengthening research and writing skills. CSU uses a tool called Turn It In, which is used by many other online schools to detect plagiarism. Do not attempt to copy and paste anything from the web for an "easy" grade. You can end up failing the course, or even be expelled for not completing your own work. Another thing, when you are enrolled in classes, you have a dashboard that shows your courses and what your weekly progress is. Each time an assignment came due, I received an email reminder. I thought this was very courteous. Online classes are supposed to be completed by the student, with each person keeping up with their assignments. It was just another reinforcement to me that CSU is committed to helping students succeed. I also received emails for when my books shipped for the next term. Each student is also assigned an academic advisor you can email when you have a question about your account. CSU has exceeded my expectations for my education goals, and I plan on completing my degree here. CSU has a once a year graduation in mid October, and I plan on attending mine in 2015. For anyone that might be considering CSU, I highly recommend them for service, course content, and instructor quality. GO KNIGHTS! (CSU's newly acquired mascot).

I just graduated July, 2014 from CSU with a BS degree in Business Administration/Project Management. I researched on-line colleges for several years before I decided to pursue my degree with CSU. There were two reasons I chose CSU. The first was the fact that they took every one of my community college credits previously earned and transferred them into the BS program. I earned an associate’s degree in 1988 in IT and some of the programming classes were obsolete by today’s standards and they still accepted them as electives. The second reason I chose CSU was the price. It was about 1/2 the price of other on-line colleges and they even include the text book for free! I even joined one of their partner associations for $35 per year to receive a 10% discount on tuition. When I first started, I decided to just pursue a certificate program in Project Management as I had not been to school since 1988. I signed up for the per-class option where you have 10 weeks to complete 8 units of work. This work can be accelerated if desired. I found that it was extremely challenging work which did involve a great deal of writing. Writing essays proves you know the material and understand it. I would rather write essays than have to cram my brain with facts only to dump them out on a test like regular colleges require. Another plus is the work can be completed at your own pace and time. They give you a suggested schedule to follow which includes two break weeks if you want. I did not take the break weeks and continued on with the next unit hoping to finish in 8 weeks instead of 10 as allotted. I never knew how much time one unit would take me. The unit assessments for most of the classes included 10 multiple choice questions along with 4 essays. I did have one or two classes that had all essays and one or two had a combination of multiple choice/essay/project of some sort. Some of the classes required me to do research on particular topics as well as citing multiple references. As I progressed further into 4000 level classes, they seemed to want me to produce more work. This is by no means an easy degree. I worked my butt off week after week. I had only two classes that required a proctor for a final. I did not like this very much as I had to find an approved person who would come to my house and sit while I took my final. CSU did start a proctor program where you could use your computer and they would monitor you through your computer's camera, but I did not go that route. Most all of my professors were great. I did have one or two that were really picky with my work or seemed aloof at times. I put a great deal of hours into my work as I was determined to get an A in all of my classes which I did. Once I finished the certificate program, I decided to keep going to get my BS. All of the credits received in the certificate program transferred into the BS program. It took me 4 years, 2 months to finish 20 classes for my BS program and I did put in a lot of sweat. I could have easily produced crappy work just to pass a class, but I wanted to prove I was better than that. I had no problem with registration or financials. I took one class at a time and had it set up to pay 1/2 up front and then the rest of the tuition after 5 weeks. They automatically charged my credit card. I graduated in July 2014 with my BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. My degree has "Summa Cum Laude" printed under my degree name indicating I graduated with a 4.0 gpa. CSU offers many great degree options and they even have partner colleges that you can transfer to if you wish. From the beginning, my advisor was great and walked me through what classes were required and then which classes I could pick from for electives. They even had tutors that can assist with writing and citing your work which I used several times. I would recommend CSU to anyone who enjoys working at their own pace and time.

I have had an excellent experience with this university...the classes and materials exceeded my expectations. I have had either fantastic professors or awful professors...it seems it is always one or the other, but mostly they have been quite great. The IT classes were relavent and the professors seemed to want to teach and enjoy teaching. My only snag was that my employer did not recognize their accredations for employee tuition assitance...

CSU is a good school. However, the school has national accreditation status. This is a problem for foreign (non-US) students and for those looking for jobs outside the US. The degree is recognized in the US but will be rejected by the concerned embassy during the attestation process since it is not regionally accredited. Degrees with US national accreditation are also not recognized in Canada. Schools/degrees that have regional accreditation are a safer and better option for foreign students and for those seeking employment outside the US.

My experience was / is both enlightening and challenging . I would not have it any other way . I have worked Lon NGO and hard for this degree and it as been worth every tear I have shed. Nothing in life comes free or easy . If you want to get out of degree program the effort you put into it . Columbia Southern is the place for you !!!

I am almost done with my undergraduate degree in Occupational Safety and Health and I have to say it has been a lot of work. Prior to CSU I completed 18 credit hours at another regionally accredited college and let me tell you, it was nothing compared to CSU. This school is going to be one of the premier online universities in the near future.

I love receiving my B.S. Degree from CSU, the only down fall is that its does not meet the requirements to qualify for the Certified Safety Professional board's Graduate Safety Practioner designation. Had CSU met the requirements, or standards, the ASP would have been exempt prior to taking the CSP exam. Oh well I still have my B.S.

I graduated with my BS from a regionally accredited fairly prestigious university; I have been in the work-force for about 18 years and I am a Director at my company. I wanted to complete a MS Degree solely for personal purposes b/c I like learning. However, I have a full-time career and a full-time family and did not want to commit to the Executive MBA programs that are offered in my area due to the very high costs and the large amount of time required (every other weekend plus homework. I was also told by both Universities that a MBS would not make any difference in my future career opportunities b/c I alreaady have an excellent pedigree and work experience. Note that if I was in my 20's, I would have chosen to complete the Executive MBA Program at a highly rated University. CSU was simple and barely took any effort to complete the cousework for the MS in Organizational Leadership. I completed my degree in less then 18 months with all A's. I received permission to take 3 classes at a time in order to complete the degree in a shorter amount of time. Each class took me about two weeks to complete while working full-time and managing my family. The only class that I had to put thought into was Quantitative Analysis but that is b/c my brain is not wired for this type of statistical analysis. I think that you have to think long and hard about what your purposes for attending CSU are before attending. I hire people in my position and I look very closely at where Undergrad Degrees are from and I don't give a lot of acknowledgment to advanced degrees that are not regionally accredited.

I graduated this university with bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership. Soon after, I had much more job opportunity ... then I got transferred within my company to a place that I like in California. Even though this university is nationally accredited, there are universities (ie - Liberty University Online) that accept students from Columbia Southern. Good education at affordable price.

It is sad to hear that to obtain a college degree you have to get into debt. In our nation people are going into debt to sometimes flip hamburgers or simply not finding the dream job. Most of us work at small, medium and large companies and not at Wall Street. The accreditation system was designed for colleges and not by or for employers. I graduated in 2001 with a Bachelors in Management (from a National accredited institution). I have climbed the corporate ladder and I make almost a six figures salary. It has not been easy and I worked hard for it. I decided to complete my MBA in Human Resources. I was searching for flexibility and a quality education. I researched many colleges and universities, but most were very expensive (I am paying for it). I needed a college that was accredited and not expensive. I decided for Columbia Southern. I am on my fifth class of the MBA in HRM and I have been challenged from the very beginning. CSU is a school designed for busy professionals, family oriented individuals, military personnel (THANKS for your service) and those who do not have the time to waist to sit down in a classroom. I attended a brick and mortar school for my undergraduate degree and I feel more challenge online. In reality at a brick and mortar schools you do all the work at home (online), the same way you do at CSU. At the brick and mortar school you are even paying fees for the parking lot where you leave your car to attend classes. At CSU I do not pay for those expensive fees and my books are included in my tuition. America, please wake up from the lie that to obtain a good education you need to go $100,000 in debt to land in a good job. Most people choose an expensive school to impress their friends or employers, who do not even look at the school you attended or do not even care. In 20 years of career none of my three employers asked my what college I attended. As a police officer they paid me extra for having the degree. At my current company I am in the process for a promotion as soon as I complete my MBA. CSU is there for the ones that want to grow as professionals and are smart with their money and future.

A good school overall, not great. Support and value are great. Got me where I wanted to go, a legit degree, a job in IT and acceptance to FSU's graduate school.

Look, if you're on the fence about attending CSU like I was while researching the school, know that this is not an easy degree or a scam. You will be challenged, mentally engaged, and rewarded in kind for your work in class. To claim that it's a scam because the unit quizzes are all open book..well, so are the tests for ASQ professional certifications. It doesn't mean that the questions on either test are all based on simple recall ability. The two essay questions on some of the quizzes will leave you scrambling for relevant sources to use outside of the textbook. The test questions will force one to think critically about the question being asked. The use of simple recall ability, or the back of the book answers, will not help you to pass. You will have to actually read and understand the course material. Harsh I know, but it's ok. You can do it. To believe those previous posts that claim completion of a class in one day or a week is just outright ridiculous. If you have nothing to do and have zero responsibilities then maybe, just maybe, a class can be completed in two to three weeks. If you can complete an entire class in a day then maybe you should consider attending MIT, not CSU and possibly dare to venture outside your mom's basement more regularly. Bottom line, I think this school is great. The staff is almost over-supportive and the course expectations are clearly laid out for you. It meets my needs perfectly. If you can't or won't do the work however, do not think that you will just "get" a degree, CSU will make you earn it.

I graduated from ColumbiaSouthernUniversity (CSU) in Aug 2009 with an MBA. Based on previous online classes taken through Colorado State and Embry Riddle, CSU provided the same quality of instruction and critique throughout the course of study. What CSU did provide was flexibility to study when and where I had the time or computer to do so. As an active duty military officer who deployed over 800 days over the past 6 years, traditional education did not and could not work for me. The majority of people in the military complete their Professional Military Education in the same manner that CSU uses. Or what we in the military call by correspondence. Very few actually attend advanced education in person. Uncle Sam decided he could not afford nor require all officers to attend graduate level and advanced education in residence and therefore established a manner where by military officers were exposed to the same level and concepts that their "in residence" counterparts were exposed to. CSU provided an avenue that allowed me to receive a quality education at a great value to the tax payer while still being exposed to the required lessons and concepts required to complete the curriculum. Is this type of education for everyone, definitely not. But if you are looking for flexibility and value then CSU is good for that. I can honestly say that some instructors were more challenging and thought provoking than others but you will get that no matter where you go to school. I think CSU can definitely improve on their online lectures and do more to maximize their use of technology.

I have one more class left to complete for my MBA in Project Management at CSU. This school has everything I was looking for, accredited, affordable, and my preferred degree of study. This school is not a walk in the park, however there are some classes that are easier than others. Occasionally, there will be a course that takes almost 2x as long as a previous course. This is due to the instructors and level of difficulty of the material. The school provides a lot of assistance, if needed, and constantly checks up on you through emails and phone calls to make sure everything is going well. All in all, this school has served me well. It is a GREAT investment. You could pay over $40,000 for a graduate degree at a traditional school, or $12,000 at CSU. The level of education you receive is equivalent to what YOU PUT IN, like most schools. I don't like hearing people gripe about how this school didn't afford them the opportunity to learn. The textbooks are TOP-NOTCH business books, most retailing for over $100 (which you get FREE). So if you can't learn from having a great text book and decent teachers that is your fault. I landed a job paying $50k a year with this school on my resume FYI, and I'M NOT EVEN FINISHED WITH THE PROGRAM YET. Don't buy into the hype that you must sell your soul in student loans for a good graduate degree.

I am so glad I choose this University. I am a new student here in the Occupational Safety and Health Master's Program. I procrastinated for a very long time trying to decide if this was the best program for me, at my age. I also was a little concerned about accreditation.My research proved me that there was no need to be. I am absolutely impressed with Columbia Southern University. Its challenging, but they lay it all out for you to easily understand the material. There's a lot of reading but that's expected. I am so impressed with this school so far. I will keep you all posted on my journey here at CSU.

This school prides itself on assisting military students, but I have been ripped off by the for-profit school on multiple occasions. It’s quite clear that they lack the true understanding of service and compassion for Soldiers who have unpredictable situations arise. Accreditation is important if you desire to attend a private or state school. Overall, I would suggest looking for a school that is dually accredited, and stay away from CSU.

No real complaints, 1 or 2 teachers not so hot maybe, good service, suits my needs, recommended.

Good middle-of-the-pack school, not the best not the worst. Accredited/legit. Good value. Very fast-paced but quite doable if you focus. The BS-IT program is very well-rounded and comprehensive, I don't know about other programs. Be ready for timed proctored tests on most tech classes. Most professors were OK. GREAT support. Recommended.

I made the mistake of thinking this was a real valued university. it isn't by other 4 year state schools and business's alike. Sure it is cheap, easy, but in the end you are NOT doing yourself any favors by attending this school. My problem is I found out too late when I got one of those professors who was indifferent about teaching the subject at hand. Now I get to finish my degree somewhere else IF they will take my credits from this PUPPY Mill of a university.

CSU has a good reputation and is a great value, especially good for working adults. The classes are very fast-paced but I was able to take 2 at a time with not much trouble. Recommended.

I chose CSU after careful and thorough research on National vs. Regional Accreditation. I spoke to various colleges from Human resources Department, from large and prestigious companies; more than 90% said that they didn't ask or care what accreditation the degree had. So long as it was accredited and based on your resume, you had the qualification. Regional schools get evaluated and re-certified every 10 years, whereas National schools do it every 5; from the same accrediting agencies. That said the school administration is excellent. Always responsive and very courteous. The school is by no means a walk in the park, as was said. You are basically on your own. You receive hard copy books, which is covered in their extremely low tuition ($200/undergraduate, $265/graduate,and $300/Graduate,per credit. It's ridiculously low when compared to other school. As I was saying you have two weeks (out of 8) outlined, and available to you, at one time. You have your assignments on the blackboard, and from your course syllabus. You MUST read, be responsible. It's not as easy as a B&M school., which I have attended. It's up too you to be responsible. You also have to log in the discussion boards, and comment with other students. But if you do everything on time, you should have no problem. I am finishing my BSBA in Human Resource Management, and I have truly enjoyed my stay here , and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good accredited school, with excellent service, and outstanding tuition.

I am really hoping my experience will be positive but right now I'm very concerned. I have been trying to enroll here for 4 months. I have been given 3 enrollment dates, filled out 2 FAFSA's and keep getting bumped around and told "they will get back to me soon". I then have to email again asking what's going on. I'm currently less then a week away from starting classes and they still haven't sorted out my enrollment!!!! While they get back to you right away when you email or call they keep telling me "you will hear from us soon." This should have been sorted out a long time ago. I've attended college before and have never had to wait until the last minute to know what is going on.

I love this education. It has completely changed my world view and helped my communication skills. The classes were tough, but the support from the staff is so well organized that is almost feels seamless. I already have a job, but when the economy tanked I realized I needed an education to further myself and protect my family. This is one of the schools recognized by the BCSP, so you can sit for the ASP/CSP after you complete your degree. I just received my letter to sit for the ASP, so everything is completely legit with this education and its acceptance in the workplace.

overall, for a military or federal worker, this university is a good deal. it is considered by the federal govt as accreditated so your degree from CSU is treated the same as any other degree, that is, it is legitimate. the course work is not as hard as a brick and mortar school but on the other hand, with web and their on line library, i was able to do a fair amount of research and learn considerable in my field (MOS = environmental studies). I think this is the future of education; my MS at CSU cost less than $10k and I did learn a fair amount.

I have 7 classes left and for ease of enrollment, Military Tuition assistance, and support I recieve while working toward my degree is superior. The book grant really makes CSU stand alone in the way they help military personal achive their educational goals..I highly recommend them to anyone...

Ive taken several credits here toward an MS in OSH. Let's get the National Accreditation things out of the way. The National Accreditation status of CSU is NOT an issue for me, nor will it be an issue in this field. So far the classes have been great. The instructors have been great as well. The ONLY issue I am having thus far is that they have a Graduate Orientation class that is getting in the way of my real classes. This class has regular assessments, a research paper and the like. THIS CLASS IS NOT NEEDED FOR EVERY STUDENT AT CSU. Have an option for students with a proper background and experience to waive this class. I believe that when one has taken online classes prior AND has used the Black Board format previously that they should be afforded the opportunity to waive that class. A few other students in the orientation class have expressed what a waste of time this is for them since they had already graduated from CSU with a bachelors degree.

I would have to say that I thought online school would be easy because everyone says that it is...well they haven't worked full-time, raised children and gone to school full-time. While you do miss out on the interaction you have with the professors they are there for you via email and phone, and they are very helpful. You have to do a discussion board with each class that requires you to interact with other students. You also have to have really good discipline to get online courses done and anyone that does that should pat themselves on the back! I would refer a friend to CSU!

I attended CSU (and still plan on getting a Master's degree from CSU) to prepare myself to one day become the chief of a fire department. I chose CSU due to the affordability and because I could work at my own pace. I recently completed my degree in Fire Science and made very good grades. I feel that I drastically improved my writing ability and reading comprehension; and would recommend CSU to anyone! Some of my concerns: I hate the regional vs. national accreditation and feel this detracts from adult students desiring a quality education. I did not get much out of the CSU Online Library and had a difficult time navigating through the various pages. This seems like something that needs drastic improvement! All in all though, my journey with CSU followed the tradition mindset of "you get what you put into it," and I am proud of my degree! Jason

If you have every found yourself in a college course and you had no time to complete an assignment by the deadline or if you have been in a class that you wish you could complete faster than the set time, CSU is for you. They are the most military “schedule” friendly school I have ever attended. CSU requires mil members to enroll in their “term” class which is synonymous with “self-pace”. You still have to complete the course within the given timeline but they include extra week(s) in the schedule to make up assignments that you could not complete. The course are complete and engaging. They provide the appropriate level of difficulty fitting of a college level course. The best part is if your deployed or in a remote area away from a “testing center” you can have an approved supervisor or higher ranking (mil or civilian) proctor your exams. So there is no reason that you cannot complete a class and finish your degree. In the current military we have, civilian education is where the cuts will be made. Finish your degree, get promoted and continue your successful career. Huge added bonus… you never pay for your books… they are included in the cost of the class. Good luck, stay motivated and finish your degree!

I received my BS from CSU. It wasn't too rigorous but it took me more than two years with a lot of transfer credit. And honestly there is a lot to be said for a school that will work with your schedule. I finished my last 5 classes while on deployment. It was hard but I did it. People are saying that they lie about accreditation. Not so. I knew the risks going in. When I realized I wanted to go to grad school I knew I might have problems. I was accepted into programs at two different RA schools. My two first choices. It took research and planning and obviously you aren't going to Harvard after CSU but you can get into a pretty decent seminary. I have just completed my seminary degree and quite frankly I am going back to CSU now for an MBA to use up all my VA benefits.

I am currently a student at CSU in their bachelors degree program for business administration. I have nothing but good things to say about the university. I have completed my associate's degree with a traditional institution and also took some classes for my bachelor's degree at a traditional institution. I feel that the classes at CSU are just as comprehensive and challenging as any other courses I have taken at another traditional university. The university also uses blackboard for their online format which was used for online classes with the traditional university that I previously attended. I am scheduled to complete my bachelor's degree August 2012 and I am thoroughly enjoying my experience at CSU. The student service representatives have been prompt and helpful as well as the professors. Also, there is no other online university that I have researched that offers a book grant. A+ rating from this student!!

I completed my BS Fire Science in September 2012 and have nothing but good to relate regarding the CSU experience. Entering with an AA from a local community college as well as other classes allowed me to complete by degree with 16 additional courses. Florida has changed their policy and now does not accept non-regional accredited programs but in my case, that really does not concern me. My reason for completing my degree was personal satisfaction along with wanting to add this to my resume for work after retirement. For me, it is perfect. I do not believe you will find an educational experience anywhere with more helpful staff than CSU. They truly care about your progress and making sure you are successful. For my money and time, CSU was the best fit for me.

Before you consider any college, take the following into consideration. 1. Regional Accrediation. It's the gold standard hands down 2. Do credit courses at the college transfer to other institutions? 3. If it's a masters program, most legitimate programs require a 3.0 undergrad, GMAT or GRE exam,and a thesis or comprehensive exam to graduate. DONT SELL YOURSELF SHORT. 4.Cost per credit. Some colleges that have lowered standards such as lowered GPA's, and life skills credit to eliminate course work have an extremely high cost per credit. I know a co worker who paid more per credit for a bachelors program than I paid for a masters program. 5. If it's a for profit college, go somewhere else.

OK so I took advantage of the military tuition assistance (Army Reserves) and transferred my 60 AA units from a CA community college plus another 12 from another brick and mortar and got some credits for OSHA certificate courses and my E7 course work credits and had to take 12 more classes for 36 more units. I have worked as a civilian in the OCC Health and Safety field for close to 20 years so of course I finally needed the parchment to move forward. Take this college for what it is. It is challenging for some and not so much for others. For those that complain about open book or easy course work lets take a look at real life. So when I run across a toxic substance issue at work where do I turn? Reference materials like MSDS files, chemical dat sheets, online resources. HMMM Open book. We bring in a new material that requires the use of PPE so what do I do? reference the MSDS and manufacturers recommendations and purchase the correct PPE by what? Looking up selection guides and chemical resistance guides for gloves etc etc.. HMMM again open book. Spills? How do you handle them? Fires well OK training involved and muscle memory of using extinguishers but storage of materials. AH reference OSHA guidelines as well as state and local requirements. I am a bit older than some and remember not using a calculator in math classes. Now my 10th grader uses one in calculus that is like a computer. Do we not allow accountants to use software programs? The world has changed. If you know where to find the answer you will go far in business. Knowing it is great. Understanding it is necessary but without the ability to reference and communicate an employee is useless. My advice to any student looking for a degree is yes you get what you pay for but you only get as much as you put into it. The material they use for their Safety degrees are up to date, relevant and have all the information you will need to understand to be a good safety representative. Only experience can make you great in this arena so start with the class work.

Great Doctorate Program! I was skeptical about using an on-line formate, but I have come to learn that it is very effective and I am very impressed with the program and the institution as a whole!

I currently have 6 classes left to complete my BA in Human Resource Management. I have had no bad experiences with CSU. All of the staff and teachers are extremely helpful. I would recommend this school to anyone. I am a USMC wife with 2 kids and a full time job. If you make the time it will work. It is not a walk in the park but the teachers will work with you.

I started classes with Columbia Southern University a few weeks ago and I love the school! Through the admissions process to quality of education it is AWESOME!! I have learned so much thus far and look forward to learning much more. On the road to graduation at one of the best schools ever!!

CSU helped me get started on my road to education after over 20 years of putting it off. I completed an Associates of Applied Science in Business with them first, followed two years later with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and now I'm currently in the Master's Program for Organizational Leadership. All i can say is that I've had my share of pressure and stress that a full time schedule and school can put on you. So this was no cakewalk. I've had to sacrifice parties, reunions, weddings, football games, ect. in the name of pursuing my degrees. CSU did not hand me anything, but made me earn it. If you do not open the book, you will not make the grade. Simple. This is online education at it's best. The price can't be beaten, free books, and the best customer service (I have used it on more than one occasion) so I should know. They have been here for me and that's what's matters to me. My degree is accredited and validated. Thank you CSU for helping to reach my goals and now to set them even higher.

I am currently enrolled in the MBA program after completing my BS HRM. The school is great and employer are hiring veterans with degrees and that is all that matters. Keep wasting time and you will be left behind while we continue to get our education on. US Army Soldier

Okay so I have read many of the posts on here before and after attending CSU. I can honestly say that it is not a cake walk within regards to their course load. I have attended other NA programs in which you could complete everything in less than a day. CSU is not like this. The courses are actually similar to the model of my B&M courses. There are many research papers and they also almost require you to respond to discussion forums in APA format. I do not know of requirements at other schools but APA format for discussion forums seems a bit excessive to me. I love that I do not have to check in on a daily basis or at a certain time to complete my assignments. As long as I submit everything before the required deadlines and do everything that is required of me I am fine. On average I would say that I spend about 15 to 20 hours per week reading my text, completing assignments and preparing for the next unit. This school has everything that most B&M or R/A schools have and honestly for the life of me I can not understand why they are not RA but he I will take them as they are. You get your books sent to your home free, your instructors are responsive, they are priced extremely well and you get to complete everything on your time. What more can you ask for? This is my first review as I am just starting out. I will post another one when I graduate or am near graduation.

Wow reading the post by Mr. "Be careful" above implored me to review my new school and it's accreditation. I too am in the Occupational Health and Safety program. So far it's been GREAT, and the coursework is no harder or easier than my B&M counter part education. To clarify any misinformation about national accreditation (NA) allow me to respond this way. First, NA is accepted 110% by the U.S. Government, and the U.S. military, local and county governments, as well as 1000's of civilian employers. One can become a military officer with an NA degree - simple. Can one transfer NA credits to an RA school, yes. It is a as easy as transferring RA to RA credits of course not, why because it's different accreditation. What I can tell you is some RA schools are seeking both NA and RA accreditation to accept a larger student population ( Thomas Edison State College, Excelsior College name a few and they take BOTH RA and NA credits without question). Saying NA is a "buyer beware" situation is like saying U.S. institutions do not accept credits from overseas universities. Let me say that they absolutely do, AFTER a transcript/course evaluation is performed. Which consequently they do with NA credits for transfer to an RA institutions. I hate to be the bearer of bad new but not all RA credits transfer to RA schools - that is a fact. So in short, do your homework before you tell folks that NA (DETC) is anything but credible accreditation because it 110% is. As for my experience here: So far the instructors and the classes are great, the structure and materials work well with my assignments. And they treat veterans like myself outstanding. Do not choose or reject this school based on what some "don't know" about the types of accreditation out there, AND most importantly what they mean. Because what I can tell you is most folks that post on this subject have no idea what they are talking about. You just see a lot of "I've heard", "I have been told by" and so on. Do yourself a favor and see if NA accreditation fits your plans. I chose NA not because it's NA but because A) my two other degrees are RA accredited, B) this school has the program I NEED to the letter, and C) The U.S. Government accepts it 110% for my position. Any questions?

I thought that the master’s course work was rather easy, but of course I am a top performer. I graduated from the University of Arizona and achieved high marks. I withdrew from this school because I wanted to challenge myself more, paid more money and earned a second masters from a regionally accredited school. However, the Columbia Southern program that I was in would have met my intended need. Because I recently got hired for a job, and the title “Dr.” would have paid me another 10% I am considering this school’s DBA program. I enjoy teaching at the community colleges, and I do not desire to ever teach in a traditional university, so why stress myself?

I enrolled at CSU over a year ago and decided to include my review. This is a good school for a very good price. Also, the work is difficult. I've attended brick and mortar schools and other distance learning programs. I have an AA from a private, regionally accredited university, and CSU programs are as challenging. There are several papers to be written for each course and they are intended to test your critical thinking skills. While I become frustrated with all the writing, you definitely are stretched in your thinking and that is what makes a good program. The professors are awesome and the student support is first class. You have several people who support you throughout your program, and they check on you periodically. I researched several schools before enrolling at CSU and find this to be the best school for the price. Don't be fooled by some of the negative reviews, this is a real university expecting hard work from their students. My goal is to complete a Masters and then DBA here at CSU. The school has exceeded my expectations and I would recommend this school to working adults.

I graduated at CSU with a Associates first then aBachelor in Healthcare administration. I felt the college was very good . You know exactly what is expected and have a week to get it done. The work is sometimes challenging but most of the time easy if you put some effort into what your suppose to do. I thought they were very fair if problems arise. I am now starting my Master in Healthcare in September. I have been looking at other schools for two months for the Master program. Alot of them have more classes than you need , close to 30,000 and books are exspensive, some are turning to ebooks if you like constantly reading a book on blackboard. CSU is a good school, very fair, and very affordable After looking at other colleges for 2 months and listening to alot of lies to get you in there schools Im back registering at CSU. The only other schools I find good are the ones you can complete the masters in a year, one very exspensive the other two fast change classes evry 4 weeks. CSU can be finished quicker if you take 2 classes at a time which is aloud if you GPA is high enough,,CSU is a Great college , with a great affordable price. And I really dont believe employers care what accredidation only that the college is accredited. Great College

I'm finishing my BS in Environmental Management currently. The support provided by CSU continues to amaze me. They walk you through the entire process from day one and are always there. The course work is laid out in an easy to use fashion. Books and material arrived ahead of time. Assignment scores are emailed directly to whatever email you provide so you know immediately what you scored. I'm very impressed with CSU and recommend them to anyone serious about obtaining their education. Books are paid for through a government grant which helps anyone attending as long as grades are maintained. Pricing is extremely reasonable compared with what I've seen out there. I've seen comments where people talk about how other schools are better. I really have no idea how a person can go school to school bad mouthing schools. Like what does that even mean? Usually you apply with a school and attend. So comments referring to other school's being better do not make sense to me. Matt,

I have been impressed but alarmed at all the research you must do. I love it because I have learned more being required so much research and I know it will help me in my career. I will say you must be able to effectively manage time and be committed. I look forward to being with them til I earn the MS. The instructors have been so helpful and their student services are second to none

I have attended CSU for almost four years now; I am working on my second degree from them and soon will go into my graduate level courses with CSU. It's a good school for the self learners, if you have practical working knowledge of society and how things work their system of incorporating the educational factor will be an easy fit for you. It's a practical school that works. They do have the free book thing but don't let that be your only factor of consideration, it's just a plain decent school to attend if you're a working person, heck I've continued my education with them through 2 deployments to Iraq. So If I can manage that, I'm sure you can find the time to get yourself educated too.

Excellent school. they are truly involved in the law enforcement/ public safety world in the south.I thought they did a great job with mixing up class requirements such as article reviews, essay questions, research topic, somewhat difficult questions and final exam all in the same 10 week class. If I had to nitpick the instructor reviews are general.I had a killer psych class so the classes arent all a breeze. All in all a great value to get a accredited Bachelors in CJ-law Enforcement Administration.

CSU should be teaching other schools how to run a college. The customer service is routinely phenomenal, the coursework challenging and at a pace that makes sense. I work my butt off and guess what? I actually master the material. When I get out of CSU I will be an effective leader in my chosen field with the competence and knowledge to run circles around other grads at other schools. Cocky? I think not. It's confidence. If you are reading this and on the fence, just look at the myriad of positive responses. CSU has PROVEN to be superior in so many way. Good luck to everyone.

Very good fit for me as I work full time. I just completed the Certificate program in Occupational Safety and Health. I plan to continue my education at CSU and obtain my AAS in OSH. The Materials used in my courses were very informative and the course content was excelent. Chris - Virginia

I graduated back in July of 2011 with a BSBA from Columbia Southern and I could not of asked for anything better. I retired out of the military and immediately found employment with a company called Biomet in Warsaw Indiana and was placed as a packaging Supervisor of 35 people making very good money for the Indiana area. This degree did everything that it was suppose to do. I had the leadership experience, I just needed the degree to get my foot in the door. Columbia Southern is meant for the working person that needs a boost. It worked for me

It's a decent legit school. Best things: support, value, transfer policy, and their online system. Can't think of anything really bad, it's very fast-paced but that's what I wanted. Some professors are great, some average, some indifferent. Had no real problems. Just a good middle-of-the-road school.

I recently withdrew after seeing for myself how poor CSU is in education quality and level of difficulty. No job recruiter should take this place seriously. All tests are OPEN BOOK! The whole curriculum is based on you writing short papers. Like others that have commented, I feel that this school is a waste of time and money. The instructors are mostly "adjunct" professors, they are part-time and lacking the experience that is necessary to instruct. I also was perplexed with how poor one of my instructor's grammar was. These people are supposed to be grading you on grammar and spelling as part of the rubric. Ha! It's a scam. Go to a regionally accredited school so your degree will be taken seriously.

This is not the school for you if you require hand-holding, you have to be self-motivated. Lots of military and ex-military go to this school. The pace is fast and furious and you can get left behind quickly if you don't keep up. But the payoff is you can get it done relatively quickly if you load up and run with it. Support is exceptional. I was accepted into FSU grad school with this degree too so don't believe the disgruntled or uninformed naysayers. Very satisfied.

Let's be clear, Columbia Southern University is just as challenging as any regionally accredited school that I've attended. I graduated with a B.A. degree from Thomas Edison State College, a (RA) school and CSU's cirriculum and workload is structured the same. I totally agree with some of the other comments that if you are looking for an ivy league school or obtained your degree from some other big name (RA) school, then CSU is NOT for you! Go spend mom and dad's money or get yourself a loan and go to Duke or Yale. Don't kid yourself, there is no big difference between Regional vs National Accreditation (Go to DETC.org) Distance education is not for everyone, especially the young kids coming out of H.S. or those who could not make the grade at the big schools. Both accrediting bodies are approved by the Dept of Education for title IV funding, GI Bill and student loans and both have rigorous approval standards. What is most important is the price. The tuition and fees are far less cheaper than attending schools like Strayer or University of Phoenix. Don't believe me check it out for yourself. By the way both of those schools are RA and will accept NA credits. Please do you homework and check out CSU thourougly before giving them a bad rap. If the school work is too easy for you then obviously you are not working full-time, holding down a family, and trying to earn a reputable degree all at the same time. Go sit yourself in a classroom. Thank you CSU!

I found Columbia Southern University on our company's career/education portal about 2 years ago. Just to make it more clear, I work for the largest retailer in the US and Canada and have for the last 11 years. I talk to a friend, had him evaluate my two choices and he gave me a thumbs up for either school. Stating they'd both help me reach my educational and professional goals. The choice was mine in the end..... I am now a current CSU student and must admit that at first the classes I was required to take to meet my DAP requirements were not that different from the Tech School I'd attended when first graduating high school. As time has progressed CSU has implemented a few new requirements when you are working towards receiving your education. They are taking their students education and learning objective to whole new level. I believe the professors have continued to make me and my classmates work much harder to reach our goal. There are no longer just 20 question assessments but the professor are challenging you with full on discussion and essay questions that require more than a once over. You have to have depth and understanding there are no easy As. You now have projects and article reviews due every other week, if not weekly and for someone who works fulltime these things are no easy task. I have enjoyed my time at CSU and have recommended it to other friends and family as way to reach their educational goals. The low-cost tuition, book grants, CSU library, and Success Center are only a few of the great things you'll find at CSU. If you're interested in reaching you educational goals at lower cost to you then Columbia Southern University is the place to be. But don't take my word for it Research, Research, Research. In the End ....."the choice is always gonna be YOURS."

I graduated in November 2011 with a BS in Fire Science from CSU. The degree, without a doubt, aided me in getting the job at the fire department I wanted to work for. I get so tired of reading all the dreadful reviews from unsatisfied students on here who don't understand what this school is intended for. Columbia Southern University is not for recent high school graduates wanting the college experience, Ivy League graduates wanting a Masters degree to help get into Law School, or those seeking PhD's from the "Regional Accredited" world. This school is intended for people like me, a WORKING Firefighter who can't attend a traditional campus and earn a degree in my respective field. It is meant for adults with families trying to better themselves. Do you think that my Company Fire Officer cares at 2 a.m. during a fully involved structure fire whether or not I completed 6 credits of English from a Regional school, or took enough Western Civilization from a Harvard grad professor?? NO!! He cares whether or not I know fire patterns , pump pressures, strategic hose lays, and proper fireground communications...which is EXACTLY what I learned in my Fire Science classes here at CSU. I live 7 miles from the University of Alabama. Unfortunately, UA does not offer a degree in Fire Science. The program in Fire Science at CSU is widely accepted in the Fire Service. My state fire academy has even partnered with CSU, allowing for transfer credits from previously earned credits. I took a class at the Fire College to get my pumper certification, later I took a class at CSU similar to the outline of my certification class....SAME BOOK. In saying that, the quality of education at CSU and the resources used (books, outlines, etc.) are superior to my needs. Not once was I asked about the accreditation of my degree. If I wanted to be a lawyer, I would have gone to Alabama...but I am a firefighter, so I went to CSU. I'm not chasing prestige....I'm chasing knowledge!

I completed my MBA with CSU in 2010. Compared to the course load and level of knowledge required at the traditional four year university (UNC School System)I attended for my BA, CSU required next to nothing. Which among other things left me questioning CSU's accreditation... CSU is nationally accredited but not regionally. What does this mean? The issue is the transferability of credits from one school to another. While nationally accredited institutions will usually accept credit from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, regionally accredited schools often do not accept credit from nationally accredited institutions. Traditional institutions use regional accreditation and have far more stringent acceptance policies. In short I have aspirations to attend Law School and my MBA from CSU is of no value in the process. If a person desires and MBA with little to no effort; I graduated from CSU in 18 months Summa Cum Laude with an estimated 4hrs/week workload.

This will be my second degree program at this university;and the bad comments are funny because with so many colleges fighting for your money just pick one that suits your needs and go. Columbia Southern University is not for everyone and maybe if I was 20 then a brick and mortar would be OK but for working older adults this is great and besides unless you went to a elite university "Harvard, Yale" who cares where your degree is from.

I am not sure why people are posting that CSU is easy? I've been working on my MBA for 4 years! I have one class to go and I've had many papers to write that were minimum 10 page reports. Let me make it clear. CSU is flexible. You need to do the work in order to complete your classes. The Professors are always there to assist you and answer questions. The text books are current and relevant. It’s up to you to make your experience the best it can be… I recommend CSU to anyone looking to complete their BS or MBA. Be positive and know that it can be done. I have a wife and children, a full time job, play music professionally and I still am going to graduate “Magna Cum Laude” with a 3.8+ GPA because I work hard! Don't hesitate, just do it. Time goes by so fast, and before you know it, you'll be feeling great about your accomplishments.

I am very impressed with the quality of instruction, lesson plans, and teachers at CSU. The English Composition class taught me more in 8 weeks than I ever learned writing a paper every week for 13 classes with another popular and very expensive online university. Very good support and assistance are offered by student services. Overall, this is a great university with quality instruction, very reasonable costs, teachers, and employees.

I chose CSU because of the free books,low tuition cost, and flexibility of classes since I am Active duty Army and usually deploy and work long hours. Choosing CSU has been the best choice I have ever made I just finish my associates with them and now going for my Bachelor's. The teachers and staff responds back immediately to any questions you may have. I would recomend this school to someone who wants to get a quality degree without having to pay a ridiculious amount of money for an education.

I have recently started my MBA program with CSU. I have previously obtained a MA from the University of Phoenix, where I attended in a brick and mortar format. Drawing on my previous experience, CSU appears to be very challenging. I would not call it easy on any aspect. The value you receive for the cost of tuition is very high. I spent a considerable more amount of money at the University of Phoenix for my MA. I am retired from the AF and know of many individuals who have utilized CSU with no complaints. All are happily employed with no issues regarding their degree. I look forward to graduating.

So far, So Good. I am military officer that is in pursuit of a DBA. One day I will retire and would like to open a business with my wife (hopefully a pastry Shop!). Anyway, CSU is waht you make of it. I can point you in the right direction. If you want a better school than CSU and regional accredited school, pay more for it! Otherwise, I think CSU is a great institution. One day, it will be regionally accredited!

My employer provides tuition reimbursement and CSU was one of the schools they covered. I decided to apply with them because they had very affordable tuition. What sealed the deal was the excellent treatment I received from the staff. I never had a single problem and they always handled questions and requests promptly. I found the text books to be very relevant and not full of "filler" material. The professor gave good feedback. I enjoyed interacting with the other students. The assignments in my first class were challenging. I think you get out of the classes what you put into them.