Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit four-year institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama, in a town fringe setting. The university enrolls 28,957 students (IPEDS 2023) and holds a quality score of 33.17 out of 100. Its completion rate is 37% (IPEDS 2023), and its retention rate is 59% (IPEDS 2023).

The university offers programs in occupational safety, healthcare administration, and emergency services at multiple credential levels. Bachelor's and associate programs include Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician, with certificate options also available. Other associate programs include Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance, Health/Health Care Administration/Management, and Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic), the latter also offered at the certificate level. A certificate program in Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder is additionally available.

Based in Orange Beach on Alabama's Gulf Coast, Columbia Southern University delivers the majority of its programs online, serving a large national student population. Its focus on occupational safety, healthcare, and emergency management aligns with workforce demands across public safety and industrial sectors.