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Is Columbia Southern University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Columbia Southern, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Columbia Southern sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $63,534 helps, but median debt of $21,339 plus yearly net price of $14,580 creates a tighter path. For context, Columbia Southern's net price sits about 45% below the typical 4-year, private for-profit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 186 similar 4-year, private for-profit schools
This school
$14,085
/yrAverage school like this
$25,582
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $11,497 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $46,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,580
Median earnings 10 years out
$63,534
Median debt at graduation
$21,339
Graduation rate
35%
At Columbia Southern, a typical graduate carries about $21,339 in student debt and earns roughly $63,534 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $243 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Columbia Southern is a private for-profit school in Orange Beach, AL. In this category, families usually need to look especially hard at debt, repayment room, and whether the long-run earnings picture justifies the price.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private for-profit 4-year
American InterContinental University System
Chandler, AZ
Worth-It Score: 41/100
Median net price: $15,172
Private for-profit 4-year
Crestpoint
Phoenix, AZ
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $15,670
Private for-profit 4-year
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
Worth-It Score: 46/100
Median net price: $13,520
Private for-profit 4-year
The College of Westchester
White Plains, NY
Worth-It Score: 47/100
Median net price: $16,296
Private for-profit 4-year
Northwest College of Art & Design
Tacoma, WA
Worth-It Score: 34/100
Median net price: $16,418
Common questions about Columbia Southern
The median net price at Columbia Southern is $14,580 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at for-profit colleges options in Alabama? See the most affordable for-profit colleges in Alabama →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →