Columbia Southern University

I think that Columbia Southern is a great school to go to. I have already contacted TVA, one of the best places to work at in Tennessee and surroundings states, and they said they recognize CSU as an higher education school, and that some of their employees have graduated from there. So for those who have doubts about CSU, let them go and attend the school.

Do your own research. Yes CSU is nationally accredited but that is neither less than regional accreditation nor is it illegitimate... It's just different. Actually, NA is a more stringent process and is harder to get. RA is exactly what it says; regional. That means the institution is larger and makes more money-college is a business like everything else and those thAt make large profits want to keep it so they will tell you don't go NA.
CSUs OSH&H degree is accredited by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and is the premier accrediting body for the safety industry; if your degree isn't accredited by them you are not eligible to sit for industry certifications. Most major industries are like that and you should pay attention to your DEGREE accreditation. Research your field, check out the certifications and WHO accredits them, they will be able to guide you to degree programs they accredit. Example, the american library association accredits worthy degree programs in library science. Also, education requires backwards planning-know your final objective (or at least have an idea) beforehand so you can plan the most efficient path to it without wasting time, money, and credits. You're going to have problems transferring NA to RA because the accreditation is different not because NA is illegitimate. As long as you transfer NA to NA, you're ok...same for RA.
As far as poor class facilitation or easy work, that's on the instructor and you can get a bad one anywhere including the biggest colleges. CSU curriculum meets or exceeds the standard but some teachers are just easy, that's a part of education and life for that matter, everyone is not the same.  And if a student actually felt the teacher was lenient, they don't have to go along with it; write a 600 word essay instead of just 200. Account for & challenge yourself, instead of blaming the teacher for not pushing you enough...wow.  
Finally, no employer is going  to deny employment  because of an NA degree, it's legitimate, legal, and accredited. As with any other job, it's your impression in the interview that makes the biggest difference...always has been.
Go to the Dept of Edu website and familiarize yourself on accrediting bodies they recognize, there are many and recognizing them requires effort. Also, you need to be careful because there are companies that still assign themselves prestigious sounding names or important sounding accrediting bodies and will award you a worthless degree but CSU is not one of them. Let's not even get started on tuition costs; CSU is accredited and affordable. You're getting the same education with CSU that you'd get at an RA on campus program for a fraction of the cost.   
Take the time to actually educate yourself rather than go on someone else's word  with no knowledge or research of your own.

I had an employee who completed the environmental management program.  He used to claim to be an environmental engineer, but now claims to have a "four-year degree".  He has a glowing letter from CSU stating that his final research paper was the best they had ever received.  Unfortunately, he left the paper out for me to read one day - the spelling and grammar were horrible and it did not even make sense, changing subjects in the middle of a page and never going back to complete the thought.  If his work is typical of that of a CSU 4.0 student, then this cannot be a legitimate school.

1 typo: I meant OS&H degree :-)

@ Walter,

"Arguing with a fool, is like mud wrestling with a pig; you get all dirty." In other words, don't waste your time debating the mortgage crisis from someone who gets all their news from fixed, I meant fox news. Don't bother providing written facts from congress. A certain demographic only wants to acknowledge what is told to  them from Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Joe Scarborough and Rush Limbaugh because that is what they like to hear. I recently lived in Flagler County, FL and Houston County, GA. There are many people who have had homes foreclosed in those areas. All you have to do is check out the demographics in those areas hardest hit by the mortgage crisis and it gives you an idea of just WHO are defaulting on loans and losing homes, lol!!

Good school for the budget-minded individual and full-time parent and employee. Exceptional student services and reasonable course work. It may not be the college of choice if you are not currently employed or have little to no work experience. Though recognized by CHEA and USDOE, a majority of regionally accredited schools will not recognize CSU credits so do your homework if you intend to transfer your credits later on to another institution. Better yet, don't enroll if you don't intend to finish your studies in CSU. There's absolutely no use whining about it afterwards. The same goes for people looking for immediate employment with this degree. CSU will help you get a degree and an education but the rest is up to you. A degree is only part of the resume, and it is not the ONLY deciding factor in getting hired.

The credits won't transfer anywhere, so if you plan on having a higher degree from a genuine school, don't go here. Sure, they offer a degree, but employers don't count this school as a true 4-year college. If a school has to pay more attention to lying about their accreditation than anything else, it's a scam. Please be aware of this before letting them take your jobs education money or your GI Bill. 

Good solid school, reasonable tuition, great support.

I may strongly consider pursuing a CSU DBA if CSU attains regional accreditation...

I'm attending a CSU graduate program with two more classes to go until graduation. Online at CSU is great. And you can't beat the no-hassle textbooks mailed to your home! In my opinion, there is no difference in quality of the education between online and the traditional classroom.  By the way, I've interviewed people for positions at my organization over the last few years. Never once has regional versus national accreditation been an issue.  If they are accredited, they are accredited...period.  When I have been on interview panels, never once did anyone stop the dicussion say, "hold-on, what type of accreditation does this university have? It better not be national."...really?? If you think most organizations are placing that much weight on national versus regional accreditation, you're fooling yourself.  Be smart in the interview, highlight your accomplishments, be eager to learn, and you'll get hired.  Education is just the first step.     

I believe the only thing that CSU lacks is the regional accreditation status. Overall, an excellent online school.

Good school, I was accepted by a number of regional grad schools with my CSU undergrad degree. This number is increasing all the time. VERY helpful staff.

hello, i am doing B.Sc life science in Bhutan. For years now i have heard of this university as my uncle went to this university once. From distance it is clear that CSU is dissolving into the Choas but is there anything that can be expected for frre online from here. Every man u meet in life, is fighting a dearly war

I recently had my CSU MBA credential evaluated by WES Canada, and was disappointed with the report. The report stated that WES Canada would only recognize degrees accredited by the six regional US accreditation agencies. Although DETC is recognized by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), they are not recognized by a number of agencies and companies. 

I had thought about registering for classes at CSU.  They had me to fax documents to them several times. I have some college credits from another college and thought some would transfer. They asked me for my high school transcript.  Why do I need to send a high school transcript when I have college credits for an associate degree?  I told them to shred all documents that I sent to them.  Other colleges have not asked for high school transcript.  It should be a no-brainer that you do not need to sent a high school transcript when you have college credits.  Also I have been out of high school for 26 years.  

About 1/3-1/2 of the final exams require a proctor, depends on the program. I had a great experience getting my BS in IT degree from CSU. They provide a lot of support and always respond very quickly, even the professors. Some classes were hard, some were not so, depends on the professor and your own experience and work ethic. And it is good enough to get me accepted into a number of regionally accredited graduate programs. And you will not go broke either.

I am a prospective student of CSU.  I just want to know how often I will have to secure a proctor for my exams.  If a former or current student would be willing to tell me that would be great.  I have asked all over, including facebook, but no one seems to have the time to answer.  Thanks in advance.

Some students that attend this school don't understand that this type of college was meant for the working adult. I graduated in July with a BSBA from CSU and I busted my ass over the last 1 and half years to complete it.  If your young I would recommend a traditional school.    I absolutely enjoyed my time at CSU and would definitely recommend this to anyone that is in the same situation as me.  Most jobs don't look at where you went to school especially if you just completed 22 years in the military.  All they care is you took the time and had the motivation to complete your degree!!

Funny, the Marine Corps Institute, the Army Center for Professional Development and Western Governors University are all accredited by detc.  The sec of education in Jan 2011 in a published letter said there was no difference between a national accreditation, a regional accreditation or a special accreditation - just the scope of what it covers I.e. Detc would be more appropriate than a regional accreditation.  Don't ask people for their interpretation
Of the facts, go to the source and get the actual facts.

The air force ots web page says it accepts regionally OR NATIONALLY accredited degrees.  So all that dod talk is just fiction.  

Have a nice day.

Mike

The Air Force accepts degrees from Regional and Nationally colleges or university for Officer Commissioning (OTS/LO). The cumulative GPA, moral character, physical health, AFOQT score and credit check are also taken in to consideration during selection. So, I don't understand why you are all arguing about RA and NA. Perhaps, it isn't your NA degree that didn't get you promoted...

CSU is an affordable quality school. The national vs. regional accreditation debate is nonsense and a mere waste of time. Education is what you make of it. Plus, as long as its recognized by the US DOE and CHEA, it's a valid degree. What's more, most employers recognize nationally accredited degrees. Plus, only close-minded universities do not accept its transfer credits.

I cannot believe how well the staff at CSU treats there incoming students.  I am a DBA student.  Textbooks are relevant.  Instructors are helpful.  Why did I take so long to find CSU?  The absolute ONLY drawback I see is national accreditation vs. regional.  That matters to some, but not to all.  Overall, great school, I get the high ratings now.

I do not have the ability to commit to a standard class schedule so the flexibility CSU provides is ideal.  It's not easy...oh no, it's not easy.  It is doable but you have to be committed and self motivated in order to succeed.

I've never attended a school where the staff was so incredibly helpful and supportive as CSU. It's a pleasure to be a student here after some of the other miserable institutions I've attended.

CSU is great for working adults who want to get an accredited degree without going bankrupt. That's the market segment they serve. And they do a good job at it. If they are not prestgious enough for you then go elsewhere, plenty of choices these days. Anybody who is trying to further their education deserves praise and encouragement.

CSU is not a bad school. They are accredited and the coursework is somewhat challenging. I did not expect a degree that would be on the same level as Harvard, Yale or MIT. I did plenty of research beforehand and realized their way of doing business (and EVERY college and university is a business, don't forget it!) is what I was looking for: flexible hours, open enrollment, accredited, inexpensive.

The regional vs. national accreditation discussion: if you want to get a degree from a regionally accredited school, your credits from CSU probably won't transfer, so go to a regionally accredited school! Do your research. The whining and crying on these review sites is just ridiculous. If you don't know about accreditation and transferability before signing up for classes through ANY school, you should probably take a course in common sense first.

The degree doesn't make the person. It's similar to a resume getting you an interview and then YOU get the job. A degree is no more than a piece of paper that says you can learn and that you have theoretical knowledge of a specific field. That's it. I know plenty of people who have Master's degrees from brick and mortar schools who have no clue about their chosen industry. If you get a degree from an online school and your friends laugh at you because its not from a "real" school, then you and your friends need to grow up. As long as it is nationally accredited, you have a legitimate degree. Bottom line, its about the person and how you apply the knowledge you gain. Expecting to land a good job with a huge salary just from a degree will result in disappointment and utter failure.

I would agree for the most part on everything you say. But a National Accreditation is nowhere near as good as it coming from a Regionally Accredited school and although in and of itself getting a degree is good getting it from a Regionally Accredited school holds a lot more weight in the education world (transferring of credits) and employers do look for that regional accreditation. Not one from a diploma mill that holds a "national" accreditation. I'm not saying that is what this school is but I would be looking for a online school with regional status without a doubt.

Good school, classes on average are medium-difficult, some professors more demanding than others. Good trtansfer policy. Very reasonably priced, staff is incredibly helpful and responsive compared to other schools I have attended. They let you know exactly what you have to take next so there is no danger of taking unnecessary classes like at other schools. Proctored exams. Responsive high-quality professors. You will end up with an accredited degree recognized by employers, government, and military. I wear my CSU t-shirt proudly!

Before enrolling in CSU, I believe prospective students ought to meticulously review the particular program of interest to determine if it suits their personal requirements and educational goals. Students should (of course)look elsewhere if these conditions and prerequisites are not fulfilled initially...

Legit school, accredited, great for working adults or deployed military, doesn't cost a fortune..what more do you want?

Regional Accreditation??? Not a "National" accreditation which does not compare to regional at all!

Legitimate or not, it does not qualify you for officer's program. Unfortunately, that is goal of many enlisted personnel who pursue higher education. SO, look elsewhere if that is your goal.

That is complete BS.  I am a signal officer in the US Army because of the school.  I was an enlisted E6.  Thank you CSU.  Half way done with my Masters using TA.

It is the prerogative of the DOD to distinguish between RA and NA degrees but this does not make NA degrees less valid. I also find it strange that DOD pays TA for NA schools but considers it invaluable in the end. On the other hand, you will also find that a lot of DOD personnel have NA degrees. I guess as long as the DOE recognizes NA, NA degrees are still legitimate.

It is the prerogative of the DOD to distinguish between RA and NA degrees but this does not make NA degrees less invalid. I also find it strange that DOD pays TA for NA schools but considers it invaluable in the end. On the other hand, you will also find that a lot of DOD personnel have NA degrees. I guess as long as the DOE recognizes NA, NA degrees are still legitimate.

I agree with the latter statement. If DOD stop declining request for TA for the schools that are only NA, then NA schools will be force to apply for both accreditations. Then and only then we'll know if they are worthy. It's that simple.

The truth will set you free; remember DOD is not DOE. DOE may not discrimate between NA and RA, but DOD does. Well, I suppose it's time to jump ship, and remind your enlisted TA users that if they are looking to become officers, CSU or any NA schools are not the way to go. Their work will be more suited and appreciated elsewhere. Check out Thomas Edison College, it's inexpensive and highly respectable undergraduate school. More importantly, with a bachelor from TE, you can go to any Officer's Program, granted of course your degree meets the need. NA accreditation should be abolished, RA should be it! DOD should stop paying TA for NA schools since they don't take them anyway. What for, just to say we have the highest educated ENLISTED force in world? It's a waste.

The Marine Corps will not let enlisted Marines commission with a NA degree either. I personally dont understand the problem since TA is paid out to both RA and NA schools. 
I have had better interaction as a grad student at CSU than I did at the very expensive highly accredited Hawaii Pacific University. 
If you plan to transfer to a RA university you may need to do some investigating on credit transfers, but I love CSU. 
I think the BS from the RA universities just allows the academia to feel a bit more elite. 

alright, launch your drones because of my typos but not on my points of argument.

peace, I am still proud of being an enlisted man with a degree. However worthless, it makes my wall looks good.

Well, I suppose Navy Officer recruiting is also being biased because for some reason, the Navy only accepts RA degrees. I received my HCA degrees from CSU and I have been putting in my Officer package three times now, all three times I wasn't selected. Before CSU defenders start launching their drones on me, allow me to expound. I had a straight 4.0 average from CSU, I have been selected as SNCO of the year, but yet I wasn't given a quota. However, the guy from Univ of Washington with a "B" average and not even close to being a runner up on SNCO of the year was selected. I was told because Army Baylor accepted his application for MBA and not mine. That leads me to a conclusion that, yes, they say it is not a disqualifying factor, which is true, but it cannot compete with any RA degree when quota is limited. In short, like being an NBA player, starting fives are the HARVARDS, reserves are the STATES, well, the CSUs are still NBA players who never see minutes. Good enough to be in the profeesional basketball, but not enough to actually play. Bummer. 

othello1 pretty much sums up the entire RA NA debate i.e. "The government (DOE) does not discriminate either way. Nor do most employers. *Only when attempting to transfer credits from a NA school to a RA one might one encounter difficulties*..." and "There is no question that CSU has valid and legitimate accreditation, as does any DETC (NA) school. DETC accreditation is fully recognized by the US Department of Education as being absolutely valid. RA denigration of NA institutions is purely political and not in any way related to academic rigor or legitimacy."

I would also like to add the following points: 
(1) Don't go to an NA school/university if you're particularly concerned about school name recognition or prestige.
(2) Don't go to an NA school/university if you plan to transfer to an RA school later on that does not recognize NA credits.
(3) Do your research/homework before posting obtuse opinions and comments about accreditation in this thread.

Fact: US DOE and most employers do not distinguish between RA and NA degrees.
Opinion: RA is the gold standard for educational accreditation.

In the end, "Education is what is left after you've forgotten everything you've learned." - Albert Einstein.

I find it difficult to believe that a graduate of a particular college would then come to a site like this and then proceed to slam them. These types of posts are highly suspect. If anything, one would expect the opposite to occur. At any rate, some of the below posts are correct in stating that only the RA institutions themselves may denegrate NA accreditations. The government (DOE) does not discriminate either way. Nor do most employers. *Only when attempting to transfer credits from a NA school to a RA one might one encounter difficulties*. I have attended both types of institutions and find them both to be sufficiently rigorous, and both are absolutely valid. There is no question that CSU has valid and legitimate accreditation, as does any DETC (NA) school. DETC accreditation is fully recognized by the Department of Education as being absolutely valid. RA denegration of NA institutions is purely political and not in any way related to academic rigor or legitimacy.

You guys make some decent points about accreditation. However, in my own experience, it seems as if a person's possiblities are endless with an RA degree and extremely limited (if any) with an NA degree. You can pretty much go to graduate school anywhere you want with an RA degree (if that's your goal). NA degrees are such a gamble because no one who knows anything about accreditation (employers, colleges, etc.) takes them seriously. In some instances, it is almost like having NO accreditation at ALL...

While RA degrees may have seemingly endless utility, it is NOT as if NA degrees are "no accreditation" degrees.  Most employers only want to be sure that there is SOME sort of accreditation attached to your diploma.

Come on guys. That may be so, but as it stands right now, NA is still in losing end. Also, the other accrediting bodies such as AACSB, ACSBP, NCATE,  CCNE, etc., wouldn't even consider NA institutions. CSU has a long way to go. Similarly, so does AMU since all it has to show for is NCA and DETC. It is not being said that because CSU is lacking this types of accreditations, it is also lacking credibility; it's just hasn't been tested and proven its credibility. The first step is get both RA and NA, then think about shooting for the stars.

Phil you cast light on the dark secret of the RA vs. NA debate, the only people who see RA as being superior are the RA accrediting bodies themselves. The DoE sees no difference. Personally I would choose a school that had both, like AMU, to avoid any perception problems down the road. But CSU is a fine school too.

National accreditation is actually more rigorous than regional, and they require recertification twice as often. The myth of RA superiority is only being perpetrated by the 6 RA counclils themselves, for self-protection ($). They do not want the myth to evaporate, but it will.

This NA and RA issue needs to stop. CSU needs to prove that it is worthy. CSU, are you worthy? Or are you just going to validate what Jake said. Your move CSU. Are you just going to sit there and lick your wounds? Or are you going to shoot back?

Pathetic, simply pathetic...

Jealous? Why would I be jealous? FHSU's ranking has nothing to do with why NA degrees are not consistently regarded as equal to RA degrees. I actually have an AS and BS in psychology from an on-line NA college. I found out after the fact that no one here where I live on the East coast will acknowledge an NA degree for the types of employment I desire (law enforcement, teaching, etc.). That's my fault I did not double check before earning those NA degrees. FHSU is not perfect and I have had frustrations with some of the instructors, but I have worked hard and maintained a 4.0 average. I speak greatly of Fort Hays because they are the cheapest, yet highest quality regional college I have found after searching high and low. They may indeed have some bad reviews, but it is difficult to please everyone and I do realize that any institution out there can and will disappoint students sometimes. 

I'll be getting my CSU masters degree hopefully next month. All I can say is that my experience in CSU was well worth my time and money. It has also helped me career-wise.

If CSU does not meet your expectations, then go somewhere else. Don't finish your degree here and subsequently whine about it. 

Having spent more then 2 years at Columbia Southern University, I am taking my transfer credits and hitting the high road to another university. The first year was great, no problems but as things progressed - the consistency of the professors has become awful in grading (One giving you all A's without even trying and another cutting you close to failing the class when you do give it your all) - the work is far too easy that half way through the 8 week course I'm praying the final weeks open up because I'm bored to death and just want to get the course over with. There are just too many problems to speak of here. Thank goodness the university that I am starting has already set the challenge bar to where I need it to be and I know that I can go to any university in the country after I graduate. 

Don't listen to Jake. He's just jealous that FHSU didn't make it to onlinedegreereview's top ten list. Moreover, the US DOE recognizes both regional and national accreditation; plus, nearly all employers do not differentiate between regional and national accreditation status. FHSU is a great school but apparently, according to the feedback in this website not everyone agrees. CSU is not for everyone but it has helped many people in terms of career and professional enhancement.

If you want regional accreditation, affordable tuiton, and actually want to learn something from an established university with a great online program then look at Ft. Hays State University (fhsu.edu). It is the best value by far. I have been attending online there for 2 plus years with no problems whatsoever. Undergraduate courses are $500 per class. Graduate courses are $675. School is over a hundred years old and the online program is about 20 years old. DO NOT waste your time with nationally accredited schools when an opportunity like this is available to you!!!

Time is of the essence.In a nutshell, CSU must adapt to divergent demands, mainly to students' needs to remain competitive. I believe Grantham university is also attempting to attain regional status. So far, these 2 DETC schools are similar. Their facebook accounts also show a comparable number of fans. IF CSU achieves regional status, then it will join the dual RA NA list along with AMU, EU and WGU. However, I believe CSU is farther better in terms of costs, flexibility and student services... 

Your move CSU.

Still not RA yet huh? Bummer! See you CSU, I am out of here. I am tired of waiting, and I am taking my TA and GI Bill with me. Plus, I will tell all my troops to look elsewhere. Or better yet, I am just going to simply disapproved their request for VOLED if the school they chose is CSU. Of course, I will give them a different reason to make it sound legit, like "Mobilization" "alerts" Work-ups" etc. How is that for fighting fire with fire? "IF YOU WANT DRASTIC CHANGE, YOU MUST TAKE DRASTIC MEASURE."

If you guys want RA, then please convey this to CSU!!! CSU must get regionally accredited this year if not next year!!! CSU must compromise. Plus, I don't mind 20% more for tuition as long as the book grant, course work, and quality of student services and education remains unaffected.

Go CSU!!! :)

Yes, the school applied for RA last year, however, it was found wanting...RA did not like the idea of "per course enrollment." There, I said it. If you don't believe me, call the school and find out for yourself. The school will fire me anyway for leaking information like this one. Also, CSU tried applying again this year but since it hasn't realigned the "Per course enrollment" yet, I doubt it is going to get it. If RA is what you guys are after, I suggest look elsewhere because it will be a while for this school to get such accreditation. This school is definitely making positive changes though, just not enough. Compromise is not in this school's vocabulary. In the long run, the school will only hurt itself and the students. I honestly think that this school is good enough for RA, it just need a little bit more push from the students, but be prepared to pay a little extra (around 20 percent increase in tuition).

Are we RA yet? I haven't hear anything...I am so excited!

To expedite this need for CSU to be regionally accredited, its students must take part in this process as well by expressing their concerns directly to CSU. And the best way to communicate this message is through CSU's facebook account!!! Also, CSU will only instigate this process if it sees that its stakeholders (i.e. students) really want/demand it. 

I believe CSU is worthy of Regional accreditation status. However, will CSU accept the challenge? or will it continue to be stagnant with DETC accreditation? 

Miss Optimist and Mr. Pessimist, you guys are both right. It is good that talks such as this one come up, which means, if there's smoke, there is fire. RUmors like this one just don't surface without some sort of basis. The question is, whether CSU is worthy of such accreditation in the eyes of the "Commission Members." Let's hope that it is true.

IF CSU gets regional accreditation, then it will be good news for the school and even better news for students. Plus, it will definitely attract more applicants which means more revenue to improve CSU operations. Besides, in the long run, CSU needs RA to remain "strategically viable". In other words, CSU RA equals good business strategy... 

Then again, seeing is believing.

I sure hope the rumor about CSU plans for SACS accreditation is true. 

However, it will take CSU at least 18 months to acquire the regional accreditation status. That means, they could be regionally accredited as soon as 2013 provided that they apply this year. 

And I agree with the statement below. Once CSU achieves regional status, a lot of online schools will definitely have to work harder to attract and retain students. When it comes to student services and tuition costs, more students will simply choose CSU.

Good luck CSU :)

To all,

Don't you guys just love it when everyone can express their own opinion? I know I do.

CSU is a great school, but it can be greater once its request for RA gets approved. There are some insider information going around (it's a secret, shhh) that they are after RA after all. I suppose the call to arms, I mean the call for RA by its students finally was heard. Imagine the sudden influx of students once this finally happens, it will be huge. Open the flood gate, that is all I can say. 

In addition, AMU, TIU, Ashford and the rest of the online universities will be facing a stiff competetion. CSU programs are great, the students are satisifed, however, the only one thing that hinder it from being the top-notch online school is its lack of RA accreditation, and once that roadblock is gone we all know sky is the limit with school. Just like what a great president once said "SACS, tear down that wall and let this school be the best school it can be and destined to be," ok, mybe no president said that but you got my point. It's coming soon!!!

Oh, and @honest truth, chill out, I heard you got someone fired!!! Oh well, that's what happen when you hire an AMU graduate. LOL. 

CSU has a facebook account. You can also address your complaints there.

Personal experience, I had my transcript re-evaluate for a change of degree plan, but when it was completed (within eight days, efficient right?) the result was nowhere near the the original. I have already taken 18 credits from them and have tranferred 72. So, I figured by following their program, I might have to take additional 6 credits since they were considered required courses for the new degree plan to complete my new concentration. However, I never expected that some of the courses that I have previously credited for just disappeared and I have to take them again. It would have been fine if they were just not included because of duplicity, but that was not the case because they were still listed as courses for me to take. Incidentally, I brought up my concern to CSU, but the resolution is yet to come. Sure, the customer service may be fine, but some of their employees are just plain inept. There's no quality assurance, just speedy inaccurate answer to all issues. I, personally, rather have an accurate answer with a decent turn around time as opposed to "go ahead and give them the answer whether right or wrong as long as it's timely" mentality.

Get it right, that is all I am asking so negative posts such as this one do not get brought up. The school is already facing challenges in terms of the credibility and accreditation, and good customer (should I say student?) support is the only good thing going for the school, I am sure you wouldn't want to ruin that as well, otherwise your students are going to keep jumping ship.

Regional,

Maybe CSU is not worthy of such accreditation...that's just my baseless observation.

So far, only 3 institutions are RA and NA accredited - WGU, APUS and EU. EU, however, has trouble with its regional accreditation. Why can't CSU be on the RA NA dual accreditation list? That should be their next strategy i.e. RA = More students = more revenue :)

Congratulations CPT, now may I ask how did you do it? Can you be more specific on the procedures, maybe points of contact to recruiters, referrals, web-sites or whatever? I don't mean to be skeptical, however, I contacted the Navy recruiter here in Washington state and I was disappointed. You think Fort Lewis Army people can help?

I will research and get the POCs needed.  Give me a few weeks,

CPT "G"

RA or NA is a legitimate concern. If CSU is really worthy of both, then why not? You say your RA school is awful (but since we are lowering our standard of conduct here, I prefer to say "$HITTY"), then how come you don't transfer to CSU. Furthermore, with all due respect, Sir, this forum is everyone's business as it is yours. If you hate your RA school, come and join us at CSU, but I warn you, we are only NA accredited.

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. 
Robert Frost 

I'm almost done with my MBA and I'm thinking about doing my second masters in CSU. I have truly benefited from a CSU degree and the education is simply what you make of it. I have already applied what I've learned at work and the results are more than what I expected. 

The school is not well-known but then again, most employers only want to know if the school/degree is legitimate i.e. accredited (NA or RA distinction insignificant). Overall, CSU is worth every penny and I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking an affordable, flexible quality education.

Oh I forgot. Now that I am starting my second lifetime career (older student) I have been signed on with a major Hospitality management company who takes on properties in distress from owners and banks and turns them around to make them successful. I am being trained for management and I have not even finished my degree yet.. Chaching

Hello
I have been taking courses for my BS in Hospitality and Tourism for the last year and a half and I have just started my last term to graduate. I had researched many schools keeping accreditation and cost as prime targets. I came across Columbia Southern University and compared with Kaplan and Phoenix the accreditation was identical but the cost was less then half. I have learned since then by talking with other online students from Phoenix that the curiculum that I am taking is actually more difficult as I believe the reason for this is that Columbia Southern is more motivated by student success rather then higher addmision fees. Because the school is still unknown to many as the higher priced online schools have more funds for advertising CSU stands superior. It has migrated as a prime candidate for government agencies and applicants of the military. The best kept secret... The students are more disciplined and determined to acheive their goals. Just from the time I have been in the school I see it has grown a great deal and the tuition has only risen 5.00 per unit. It is where you can go to get a degree completely covered by financial aid. Online school is not for everyone as you must be disciplined and understand and adhere to due dates. Most of my Professors have been superior in feedback and know what they are teaching. There has only been one professor out of several classes that I found inadequate and I just needed to stay on top of my assignments and question the feedback to prove my theories. I have now read several reviews of students who have now gained the essential tools from Columbia Southern University to start thier careers and are very happy with the results. I had already completed a little over a hundred units from a previous AA and Cert and I was able to transfer 78 of the those credits over. If your weighing out the different Universities you should heavily weigh the possibility of CSU.. Plus all my text books were included (and I get to keep them).. As you know that is big, big money saved.. 

Boycott, thanks for your input, and yes! It's better for my diploma to have regionally accreditation, I think your right. I hope I didn't waste your time, but If I could pay you one dollar for every word you typed I would of paid you about $207.00,not bad. huh! I will look into Waldorf, but didn't undersand about the religion classes, are those resquired? (rhetorical) I'll call and find out myself. 
Hey Boycott, did you take online classes from CSU, if you did, did you like the program they used? Or anyone reading this that wants to comment please feel free. Thanks

RA or NA, who cares, NA accreditation is not inferior it is just different accreditation and that is why RA colleges may not take NA credits. It is just different requirements, period. I am pretty sick of the RA versus NA crap. I currently attend an RA University that is awful, horrible teachers, bad customer service, and this is the gold standard? And, it is not the schools responsibility to hold your hand; you need to find out what their accreditation is. It is usually right on their school website, if not then run. I am pretty sick of the bitching and whining by those who did not even bother to find out the schools accreditation and now are pissed, give me a break. This is your fault and not the schools. As tuition soars and these over priced RA schools keep raising their tuition these NA schools will have more students turn to them for their educational needs. If you want the debt that an RA school will leave you in by all means bypass CSU. Someone else will be more than happy to take your spot. Quit putting down people who want to attend an NA school, what business is it of yours anyway?  RA, NA, and most employers I talked to do not really care as long as it is accredited. 

It's too bad CSU has no current plans for regional accreditation... tsk tsk  :(

@Ms. Unsure, Waldorf is NCA, however, its on-line BSBA doest have a concentration...that's another drawback. Plus, those religion classes...oh well, it's all up to you... ^_^

I hope CSU gets regional before I graduate... 

@Ms Unsure, if you haven't started yet, I suggest do your research first. Waldorf is also inexpensive (not cheap, but inexpensive) just like CSU, but with a few drawbacks, i.e, residential seminar...but at least you are sure that it is a real college, what I mean is "regionally accredited." Going to Nationally accredited school limits yourself exponentionally. 

No doubt that CSU is a great school and I have heard or read great things about it, but in this day and age, perception can have a negative impact. Ask yourself, would you rather have DETC or SACS under your diploma, especially when you are required to put the same effort to get it? CSU is a challenging on-line school, probably more challenging than every other B&M school, but it doesn't negate the fact that it has major limitations, particularly its accreditation. 

In addition, to go BSBA, there are alot to consider. First, rational vs regional. Next Regional vs AACSB, then AACSB vs ACSBP...in short CSU being national, in terms of BSBA is in the bottom of the totem-pole. CSU BS in OSH, however, can be competitive. I hope this helps, if not, I am sorry to have wasted your time (and mine so to speak).

I am about to finish my BSBA from CSU, I guess we'll see if it's worth something eh. Trust me when I say, I will personally start a hate-group towards CSU if its degree doesn't serve me well. I spent two years with them and foregone my chance of going to AMU/APUS or even TIU or UMUC just so I can have my degree before I retire from the USMC.

To say the least, I am beginning to worry about its acceditation...I know I went through it without out-of-pocket expenses but I am beginning to wonder if I should have just spent them elsewhere. Damn, I should have stayed at UMUC.

I wish CSU is regionally accredited, I could have been a proud Alumnus of this school. But hey, worst come to worst, my diploma can be a good wall decoration.

BOYCOTT is right. Go to Waldorf College for your BSBA instead - http://w w w.waldorf.edu/Online/Academics/Programs-of-Study/Business-Administration. It's regionally accredited and the price is reasonable as well. It also means you'll have better luck getting accepted into a regionally accredited MBA Program later on. 

Then again, if you plan to acquire your Masters or MBA in a DETC accredited institution afterward, then go ahead and enroll in CSU for your BSBA. Btw, the US DOE doesn't distinguish between regional and national accreditation and considers them to be the same. Certain employers (not all), however, prefer regional accreditation. Overall, CSU is a great online school. If you want a degree and don't have adequate funds, then CSU is for you.

Hey Boycott! are you enrolled on campus
or online studies? Are you saying that
this school is not worthy because of
it's accreditation? Can somone please 
comment more on this and if you like 
the online classes?
and if your happy with the instructors?
I haven't made a decision and this seems 
to be resonable in credit price. I just
want to get my Bachelors in Business Admin.
I'm not interested in transfering credits.

Enough said, CSU must get its regional accreditation to prove its worth...AMU did it and still able to keep its costs down. Unless of course CSU does not have what it takes to qualify...I think that's it. @Ms. Unsure, go for Waldorf instead. Check it out.

How come CSU is not regionally accredited? Is it not worthy of such accreditation? How can AMU/APUS acquire regional accreditation but CSU cannot? I don't know, I am a little skeptical about this school. By the way, I am a current student of this school and I am just looking for a peace of mind. No hate-mails please, I am a little sensitive :)

Can someone comment about the Business Administration program, I'm reserching several schools and it's really
hard to choose, especially when you read all the bad comments about the financial aid problems and 
instructors being rude. This is the "Adult World" 
and why so much drama! Don't understand it. I just 
to get my bachelors degree & finish. This is suppose 
to be a very good school from the comments I've been
reading from 2007. Can someone comment please! All 
comments are welcome, but if you are an employee
of CSU or an insrutor, just be honest. 

great school, even better when you join sheriff association you get a 10% off yearly discount off tuition plus donation is only $25.00.  Well worth it!  8 wk class structure accred. school, great teachers, love this place!

Quality education at an affordable price. Nuff said :)

I am in the psy program and its great!!!

Any one here in their Psychology program and if so, how do you like it?

I have completed almost half of the course work towards my DBA degree with CSU. The courses follow a defined curriculum, and the textbooks are current and from some of the top textbook publishers. The online assessments range from multiple choice questions to short essay answers. I can't speak to the undergraduate programs, but the doctoral program also requires case studies and article critiques in proper APA format, with resources from beyond the course materials. The assignments are challenging, but I have experienced more difficult course work in some of my Master Degree courses at a traditional B&M university. At the doctoral level, the challenges are often self-imposed; essentially you get out of the program what you put into it. At this stage of my life, the completion of a doctorate degree will not impact my employment, so I'm completing it to fulfill an individual goal. The accreditation issue does not really affect me, as I have had the CSU program evaluated and it has been accepted as the equivalent of a PhD in Canada, so it meets my criteria. I would like to add that my undergrad degree was completed by distance at a fully accredited Canadian university and was accepted for admittance to one of the top B&M universities in Canada. I am currently the Program Director for an online degree program at the same university where I completed my undergrad degree, and find the CSU courses on par for content and academic rigour. Distance education is not for everyone, but it serves a purpose and the entire process should not be discounted simply because it did not meet one's expectations. 

Scott
I am thinking about starting the DBA program also, and I live in Canada. How or where did you get the DBA program evaluated? Can you send me the links? 

Thanks

I did it through World Education Services (WES), which is one of the major academic evaluation services. I work at a Canadian University and ran the WES response past our Registrar and it was good enough for him. You can contact me at scottb@athabascau.ca for more details.

To anyone who feels CSU may be a scam:

If CSU is such a scam, then why does the Board of Certified Safety Professionals accept the AAS / BS in Occupational Safety and Health?

Also, the Military accepts accredited degrees.  CSU is accredited.

CSU can receive financial aid.
CSU can receive Montgomery and Post 911 GI Bill.

Not exactly what I would call a fraud or a scam.

HM2 (FMF) Wolfe

I was surprised that the classes offered were as challenging as they were, I expected it to be breezy because it was an unknown online program from the south. While online classes aren't for everyone and you have to train yourself to actually do the course reading, I think the program (especially for the price) was really worth it.  I took some transient classes for my school and plan to look into their MBA program.  

Professors are decent; however, my experience with their office staff have been a little rocky.

Wish they were regionally accredited...

Go to CSU for both, its a fine school!!! Don't let anyone tell you anything different!!!

Should I go for CSU or Calu for my masters? Both have good reputations.

hmmmm... 

Dear "@Pam",
I think you mean "TAM" and you are exactly correct. This individual has been posting on this forum ranting and raging for years. Also, check for TAM on other schools reviewed here at online degrees and you will find it is not limited to just CSU. Your assumption is probably correct....

CSU is awesome! Great support from everyone! 

OMG...WOW. I just read through the whole list of comments posted here, and found that you, Pam, had regularly posted numerous anti-CSU comments for about two years!!! WHO DOES THAT AND FOR WHAT REASON!!
Are you sure you are not working for some CSU competitor university (RA or NA or whatever) who are paid to write s!!ts about (other)online universities?
If you have had a bad personal experience with CSU for any reason, leaving a couple of negative comments will be sufficient, but hammering the school with your s!!t comments for years is not normal nor appropriate. 

I am fully aware that CSU is not an Ivy League but there are tens of thousands of students who take great pride in the school. 
 

"It is my belief that a degree from ANY NA university will not allow you to study at the graduate level at an RA university." - This is NOT true. The decision lies with the RA university concerned. There are several RA universities that consider NA degrees into their graduate programs. In addition, check out Higher Education Transfer Alliance (HETA)list.

This seems to be a university that has a great number of satisfied students. The reviews have been for the most part excellent (I counted under a dozen so bad reviews out of 135!). There is one very important point here that needs to be made. It is my belief that a degree from ANY NA university will not allow you to study at the graduate level at an RA university. Therefore, if you are not planning graduate studies at an RA university than CSU is probably a fine choice.  

I've spent the last two years working on a MS degree(Occupational H&S/Environmental Management) and petitioned for graduation with success. 

You have a a right to be leary about online schools but i can tell you that this is the real-deal. Classes are 8 weeks long with heavy interaction with students and the professors. Classes are challenging and some even require "out-of-class" site visitations and really force you to incorporate what you're learning with your job experience. I was pleasantly surprised about the quality of education offered and have learned a great deal. Above all, i've been able to apply what i've learned to my career.

Some degrees, i agree, might not be practical to acquire online. But if you have the drive and motivation to stick to a schedule on your own, are willing to ask for help when needed and can find the validity og what your'e learning without being handheld then i'd recommend Columbia Southern University.

The staff and counselors were incredibly helpful and quick to respond back. Professors were readily available and supportive. The admin staff were always available via e-mail and phone.

When i first was looking at reviews for CSU and read things about scams and how they aren't accredited i was put off. But after doing some research and corresponding with the CSU i decided to go for it. I don't regret it at all. Again, classes are geared towards students who are already working f/t and have some prior industry experience. It was great meeting classmates who came from all walks of life and who had the drive to further their education as well.

Accredited school. Affordable tuition. Exceptional customer service. Quality Education. What more can you ask for? :)

Some people seem to think that only a brick and mortar degree is valid, so what should working adults do, quit our jobs and take out a $50,000 loan and go to a b&m full time? Ridiculous. I went to a b&m for my first degree, and to tell the truth, that was the joke degree, my CSU degree was more difficult. AT a b&m you sit there falling asleep while an instructor talks, and there's always someone available to help you. You are herded through. Not so at an online college, you have to be much more self-motivated. And according to FAFSA, CSU only has an 11% graduation rate, it's not a breeze through trust me, it just doesn't have the fake prestige of a b&m.

Nikki, to answer your question, I received my final transcript 2 weeks later and my diploma about 4 weeks later. You are not required to attend the commencement ceremony.

I wanted to state that I did not continue with CSU for my MBA because I wanted to be challenged at an extreme level that would be highly applicable as an executive in mid to senior level management. I searched for a hard program and I understand now why. I spend about 20 hours a week in my Executive MBA program currently. I am, however, earning what normally takes 2 years to obtain in 1 year flat. CSU's MBA program is not student interactive and I desired that.

Tam, you stated to speak to military recruiters about OCS and that CSU would not be acceptable for entry into the OCS program. This simply is not true. For everyone on this forum, I AM an Army recruiter and I have been for 6 years, who after seeing this forum I asked recruiters of other branches in offices beside me and they stated that the college had to be accredited and whether it is nationally or regionally accredited is not important. I, 3 months ago enlisted an OCS candidate with a bachelors degree from a nationally accredited distance education only school. YES it can qualify you for OCS though you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.  I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSU on june 15th, 2010 and I got accepted into into a regionally accredited school, which is Grand Canyon University in their Ken Blanchard Executive MBA program which is also ACBSP accredited. I initially was a little worried about getting accepted at first after reading that it may be difficult for acceptance from a NA school into an RA school but in the end I have not found a single roadblock. In looking at other graduate schools, I was accepted at Southeastern Missouri State University and Texas A&M (both regionally and AACSB accredited). I chose Grand Canyon University because it is taught in part by Ken Blanchard, focuses on servant leadership, and is taught in a cohort format. For an entire year, there are only 13 other students in my class, which is a $45,000 1 year program, and I am 1 of 2 people in my class with a degree from a nationally accredited university. I have enjoyed my experience at CSU. It is not the most difficult school I have attended, though through an online format it requires you to learn the material yourself. I have spoken to many corporate recruiters and they state that the degree must be relevant (if applicable to the desired position) and accredited. What sets schools apart from each other is the reputation of its programs. There are hundreds of schools out there that WE have never heard of and if the school is accredited and the potential candidate can articulate their learning experience, their work experience, and why they would be an asset to the organization, is it so critical on whether or not the school is NA or RA? The Army paid for my undergraduate education and is paying $45,000 completely for my Executive MBA through the Post 9/11 GI Bill while I am an Army Recruiter.

Perfect answer Matt. Thank you for sharing your experience. This completely answered my question.

Seems to me like it's a perception problem, in my experience online degrees are harder to get than brick and mortar ones because there's no one to help you, you have to be self-motivated. CSU is a great school. I had a friend who went to Rutgers and she said it was a joke it was so easy. Who are the degree mills now? State universities.

CSU is not planning on getting RA. Sad but true.


CSU credits may transfer to the UNA MBA program. You'll need to contact the CSU Admissions Department to verify this. GMAT might be required. Also, take a look at UNA's MBA Admission Requirements for Fall 2010. 


Price difference? - check out this link = h t t p s : //mycsu.columbiasouthern.edu/una/inforequest/


A CSU MBA will not get you laughed at interviews. It is a genuine accredited degree. Then again, it depends on who's doing the interview. If the guy conducting the interview is RA bias and NA ignorant, then you're pretty much scr*wed.

A CSU MBA may or may not get you your dream job, however, it will open doors for you. If you're looking for a prestigious university to add to your resume, then look elsewhere. Overall, your 'university' choice depends primarily on what your "goals" are.

Quick questions does CSU plan on getting RA? If so when? Next question is will my credits transfer to UNA MBA program? What is the price difference between both schools if I am active duty military using TA? I am currently in my second class at CSU in the MBA program and my brother who has graduated from Michigan State University MBA program and recently passed the CPA test said a MBA from CSU will get me laughed out of interviews. He has always been my mentor and never steered me wrong so I am just nervous about putting all my time into a program that will not fulfill my goals.

Your bachelors degree from CSU will transfer to UNA for the MBA program. I live in Alabama and I'm currently studying at UNA on campus for an MBA after I received my BSBA from CSU. You do have to take the GMAT and have a decent GPA in order to be accepted, but CSU being nationally accredited is not a factor since UNA and CSU are educational partners. Honestly, your brother has a point about the MBA from CSU. I love CSU and I do not regret getting my bachelors from them. I have learned a lot and I feel like I am at the same level, if not better, than my peers here in graduate school due to my CSU education. The issue is the competitiveness of where you get your MBA from. Even an MBA from UNA or Michigan State are not that great compared to the top 20 business schools in America. I doubt that a UNA or a Michigan state grad would work for a major investment bank in New York such as JP Morgan or Goldman Sachs. That will just not happen unless you get your MBA from schools like Harvard or Stanford. With that being said, A UNA or Michigan state MBA can still compete for upper management jobs in smaller companies. The same thing could be said about a CSU MBA, however, since the demand for MBA's today are so low, it is hard for any non top 20 Business school to get that dream job. When you see MBA's getting laid off since the economic meltdown of 2008; I just do not think that there is a place in the market for a CSU MBA, however great the the quality of education may be.

Don't believe the naysayers here. Probably disgruntled failed students. Here are the facts:
-CSU is accredited by the DETC,
-CSU is recognized by the CHEA, DOE, and DOD.
None of this would have happened were they not a real college. The real proof in my case is that I went there and took the classes, passed the tests, and got the degree, so I know it is very real. And the Army paid for it. The Army does not pay for fake degrees.

From my experience back in the day the university conducts a thorough audit of all classes completed, degree requirements and financial obligations.  I believe the audit can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks...maybe a bit longer depending on your file.  Once the audit is complete the degree will be conferred.  You should have plenty of time if you wish to attend graduation which I highly recommend.

This is a little off topic, but does anyone know about how long it takes to physically get your degree when you complete all the required courses? I will be finished in April, but I know that the ceremony isn't until October. Will I get it before that time?

Somebody explain to me, if this is a "degree mill", then how come I have to take 20 8-week classes (after I transferred my A.S. degree to them) to complete my B.S. degree for 120 credits. And nobody told me they were ACCREDITED (ick). Also, they have the nerve to send me ACTUAL TEXTBOOKS, which they expect me to read. And I have to take ACTUAL TESTS at the end of each week, and write ACTUAL APA ESSAYS, and some even have a FINAL EXAM! What a  nerve. And to top it off, they assign me ACTUAL PROFESSORS who, get this, EXPECT ME TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL AND PASS THE TESTS! Also, the Department of Education recognizes this "degree mill", and the Department of Defense will pay for its members to go there! Here I thought I was going to breeze through a "degree mill", but I really got conned big time. This is more like a "real" degree, which I wanted to avoid, what a rip.

Just to let you all know CSU is accepted for OCS for the United States Army im living proof.

Why all the CSU-slamming? Here are the facts: CSU is nationally accredited (DETC), is recognized by the DoE and DoD, has a valid higher learning license from the State of Alabama. They are not Ivy League or prestigious, nor do they claim to be. They are a valid online degree-granting college. They are not a diploma mill. The degrees they grant are real and valid. I am a student. The classes are real and vary in difficulty according to the professor. They are not usually crazy-difficult but nor are they a breeze-through either. If you want prestige go elsewhere and waste your money, if you want a valid degree at a reasonable price try CSU.

"Love the school, I student?" WTF? You can't even compose a proper sentence! "a perfect 4.0"? are you serious? Are you even a CSU student? Why not post your comments in the "Write a Columbia Southern University Review" section? Get real...

The following "real schools" as TAM puts it will accept a B.S.B.A from CSU into their graduate programs:

Liberty University
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
University of Oklahoma
Bellevue University
University of North Alabama

I haven't looked at this website for over a year and I see TAM is still plugging away and as spiteful, bitter and emotional as ever. For someone to hang in there that long, fuming over the CSU topic with such passion, makes me tend to believe that TAM is somehow affiliated with another school. This is not normal behavior....wow.

I hope Waldorf College starts providing online GRADUATE programs soon!!!

About: As for OCS: Recruiters from all service branches have said NO to CSU!

Where is the Proof?

Please name a REAL University where CSU credits are accepted.  And when you do, I WON'T believe you.  I feel so sorry for people who enter this world of so-called higher education.  It's such a trap.  Such a rip off.

As for OCS:  Recruiters from all service branches have said NO to CSU!

TAM,

I am a CSU grad of '08 with a BSBA/Marketing.  I am also a CPT in the US Army and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School.  

What more proof do you need?  

When I encounter individuals like you I just have to remind myself that I took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution".  This translates to ensuring that people like Tam, bless their little hearts, have the right to free speech as well!

America, America.

Tam spews her anti-infectious hatred towards CSU based on personal bias, lack of quantifiable backing and ignorance.  She claims to be the “truth detector” but has only provided a lack of knowledge and has labeled herself as a self-proclaimed guru in knowing that everyone anonymously posting here is somehow associated with the university.  The only one knee deep in the BS is Tam!

Prove it!

Check out APU's (American Public University) Master of Arts in Psychology. Plus, it's regionally accredited.

For DETC accredited institutions, check out California Southern University, California Coast University, Kona University, and the University of Philosophical Research...

I am currently working on my BS in Psychology from CSU and was wondering what colleges I could transfer to if I wanted to pursue my Master's in Psychology since CSU does not offer that program yet?

No branch of the military accepts a CSU diploma as acceptance to Officers Candidate School.

Don't believe a word anyone says about CSU credits being accepted at a REAL University.

CSU is a JOKE!

Posing as me to discredit what I say?  How low!  Welcome to the sleezy world of CSU.  I suppose you people want me to really lay into you with both barrels, eh?  Keep it up and see what happens.  You're either a CSU enrollment counselor or a slimey government employee scamming your career with a bogus diploma from CSU.  SICK!  You're all SICK and PATHETIC!

NA degree acceptance:

Federal government (civilian)--yes
Military--yes, usually
State and local governments--lots of them, yes
Private (commercial and not-for-profit)--hit-and-miss; I suspect more hits
Academia (administrative)--hit-and-miss; I suspect more misses
Academia (faculty)--almost always no

Sorry about that. I was off medication. I currently suffer from multiple personality disorder and CSU envy. Don't believe anything I say.

Time for my Haldol and Celexa...

Yeah, it's me again.  The lady with truth detector talent on loan from GOD.  

To all innocent visitors to this review sight thinking it's an open forum to get objective reviews on CSU....WRONG!

This forum is still a one-sided sales tool with entries by CSU associates.  They just want your money.  Don't believe what you read here.

Seek out the ultra-negative CSU comments here for the truth.  "Positive" comments here about CSU are mostly BS!

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.

The University of Nebraska at Lincoln will accept a CSU B.S.B.A for entry into their MBA program.

The University of Oklahoma will accept a CSU B.S.B.A for entry into their Master of Arts in Economics program.

These are facts.

I have to agree with Ex CSU and the post before me. I graduated with a business administration degree from CSU. The open book curriculum, with 10 multiple questions and a couple of essays per week is true. And if you do not take initiative, it is really easy to cheat your own learning experience. But I had to do it, since CSU is one of the cheapest and I was working full time. 

The curiculum is like the guy before said; very easy anyone can get a perfect score every class. Everything is open book, NO time limits on the quizzes, you can have them open ALL week, and then copy paste the answer from the book. Anyone can do it. This is not necessarily a bad thing; I couldn't have gotten a degree otherwise. But what frustrated me was that I couldn’t transfer any credit to none of the public state universities in Georgia. Similar to ex CSU guy couldn't transfer anything in Minnesota state schools. Or the guy from the post before my one. His description of the school environment was spot on for me.

A good ending note, I do have a great managerial position that I love, and maybe some of credit to this degree. And I am also much more confident in certain ways. I think this school could have been better if the curriculum was fixed, and they did not market target people who hasn’t been in school for decade or who are work full time. It seems the CSU staff actively good posts reviews here, I found that a bit odd.

A have been a student for a long time now. I have tried many different online schools. CSU was one of them. Truly, it is not exactly like the degree mill schools found in Alabama. But it is very close.

Firstly, the curriculum. There were about 8 to 10 units per class. At the end of the week, you are asked to answer 10 multiple choice questions and 2 short essays as a quiz. That's it for an entire week. There is homework problems assigned, but never had a class where homework was due. In all honestly, even a smart middle school student can ace every course offered in CSU.

Everything is open book. Sometimes to make the courses a bit more challenging, they assign papers. It is really a hit or miss depending on the teachers. Surprising some teachers are really good and knowledgeable, but the curriculum is so easy I do not know how they think students are learning.

Every week I opened my weekly quiz, looked at the book glossary for an hour and then I was done. Never did any homework. Aced every class. So if you not self motivated to learn and read the text, you will not know anything. 

It may be a bit of challenge for someone who hasn't been in school for 15-20 years. And most students who enroll are exactly just that. You will know when you everyone introduces themselves in the discussion board.

Now about the accreditation. They are DETC accredited. But what does that mean. Not very much. You will be able to transfer your credit to most completely online schools. But you won’t be able to transfer anything to any state schools or a good private school. I have called to ask about transferring credit to most of public school in Florida (UF, FSU, USF, UWF, etc...), they will not accept them. You can't really blame them.

I got a really poor score GRE, but GRE is not even a requirement for the masters program, not do they ask of any recommendation letter. Anyone can be in the masters program as easily as bachelors. 

Now about the professors. Some of them are very smart no doubt. But others have graduate with their degrees from this school with MBAs or other completely online schools. The level of difference you notice is scary.

So to finalize, CSU can be absolute be a good experience if you want an easy degree and feel accomplished after haven’t being in school for years. And there are many companies who do not care where you got your degree from as long as you have one. But it was not it for was me. 

I wanted to get in good PHD program someday from a state school like FSU. But that I am doing my master in FSU you can truly see the scary difference of learning. If I had to rate CSU for how much a student learns on average is probably 20/100. And you ever switched from this to a state school; you will have a really hard time keeping up. It is nowhere in the same league. 

Respectfully, Nicholas.

Liberty University accepts CSU bachelor's degrees for entry into their graduate programs.

This isn't always the case...I've known CSU grads to get accepted into well known universities throughout the U.S. and abroad.  I know of someone who attended a DETC Nationally Accredited school and got accepted into Yale.  Anyone can make the attempts to cheat in distance learning and this falls on ALL universities whether they are nationally, regionally accredited or strictly campus based.  You're only cheating yourself out of your education and if you ever got caught, you can be sure you'd probably be expelled from the school.  There is technology that's been developed to thwart any attempts at cheating and I'm sure more universities will be implementing this type of technology to reduce this issue.

No degree in this world is "universally" accepted by everyone and anyone and to think this is false.  There are limitations at any school that you go to and this goes for even the ivy league schools as they carry there own stigma.  It's the individual who will determine their level of success, not the university they attended although many people tend to get this backwards thinking the degree will open all the doors they need to be successful.  The degree is such a small factor, but too many people have pursued this "credentialism" factor thinking if they go to the most expensive and top schools this is their ticket to success.  Many times these people are still waiting for their ticket to get punched because they relied too heavily on their education and less on the other important factors.

Sp. error in my previous post. Should be "his" not "hie" in the parentheses. I have seen some vicious attacks here on spelling, punctuation and syntax....just covering my butt...hahaha.

There are RA schools that accept credits from CSU, but they are usually the more obscure ones that have much lower entrance requirements. I can only speak of Minnesota where none of the UM system schools will accept CSU credits. I initially started at CSU due to a friend taking classes through there but became disillusioned by the very low accountability of students (my friend even used a fictitious proctor for hie exams). When looking for a school that accepted my credits I found none. I think that for someone with more integrity than my friend the classes are worthwhile and have great personal development value. I do believe that there is a large difference in what schools are actually accredited through DETC. An RA school seeking this is already established as a reputable institution, a NA school may not have that status. I will not specifically knock CSU as I did begin to further my education there, but there is no question that a strictly NA school does not carry enough clout to compete with a RA school. I am nearing completion of my degree at a Minnesota institution and will leave with a highly respected and universally accepted degree.

If you look at the job announcement in the market, it doesn't necessarily says Regionally or Nationally accredited.  It only says, "Accredited College/University."  Go figure!  Unless you are looking for professions like medical or engineering then you still have to get appropriate licensing within your States.  Degrees are overated these days...  So sick and tired of the Webtyco and chat on line classes!  Total waste of time and there's always this one individual being the most outspoken one whether he/she is right or wrong...  Sorry folks, I rather learn more by other ways.

Too much weight has been placed on accreditation more than ever before, especially in the world of distance education being that this form of study has been considered less than desirable even when studies have shown and have been proven that those who learn at DL schools learn just as much if not more from that of the traditional schools.  DL schools have been aggressively aligning themselves with the regional bodies because the regional accreditation stamp of approval are those that accredit the traditional schools, so the goal in this is to try and defeat the naysayers of DL by saying the same regional body that accredits Yale or Harvard accredits this particular DL school.  It's false advertising to think that these schools are in the same ball park when it comes to recognition and academic rigor.  Bottom line is that accreditation exists to meet minimum standards of quality and to receive federal money for school loans.  It's up to the individual school to go beyond the minimum standards.  CSU is properly accredited by a recognized accreditor and a big reason for their continual success and popularity is that they continue to go beyond the minimum standards set forth by their national accreditor.  The true measurement of a school is not who they are accredited by, but more about who the graduates are and what they're doing in their lives after school.  This is considered an outcomes assessment that measures how successful a school was/is at preparing a particular graduate to enter the working and professional world.

PM, Amen to you!

To those who are bitching about CSU’s accreditation, give me a break. Where did you get the idea the school has to tell you their accreditation? It is clearly on their web site. It is up to you as the student to do your own research on these schools. Those who have written nasty reviews on this school probably think life owes them and they will complain about any school, RA or NA. And who ever wrote the 4th review from the top,
“very disappointed with Columbia Southern” has been all over the Internet bashing CSU. Grow up buddy; you come off as a big jerk. You did not like CSU, so what move on.I also compared class for class for their Environmental Management degree with another Universities. They were the pretty much the same and this University charges over $500 per credit. By the time you are done you are looking at a degree that can cost you around $70,000.00, and that is just for a bachelors. CSU looks like a pretty good deal to me.

You can't post weblinks here on this site so just Google the following to answer your questions:

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
CHEA HETA
Colubmia Southern University Partners
National PONSI

Also consider the following information from the CSU partner website:

Transfer Credit from CSU

•Waldorf College
•Masters International School of Divinity
•Capella University
•Kaplan University
•The University of North Alabama
•The University of West Alabama
•TUI University
•Touro University International
•University of Phoenix
•Henley Putnam University
•Neumann College
•Community College of the Air Force AU-ABC 

Conditional Acceptance of transfer credit will be based on a course-by-course basis using criteria such as credit amount, course title or grade received at the following universities.

•American Public University System
•Bellevue University
•Calvin College
•Cardinal Stritch University
•Defense Acquisition University
•Jones International University
•Lake Area Technical Institute
•Langston University
•University of Phoenix
•Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
•Tennessee Temple University
•Touro University
•TUI University
•Upper Iowa University
•Vincennes University
•Walden University
•Western Governors University

There are many other regional colleges and universities that will accept CSU as transfer although you'll need to contact the respective university you're interested in.

I've just completed my BS at CSU and am now entertaining the idea of pursuing an MBA or EMBA. Does anyone have suggestions on a B/M Regionally accredited school that accepts a CSU degree without issue? Now that CSU has purchased Waldorf, do they have an MBA program (online) coordinated with CSU? Last question; University of North Alabama used to be listed as a partner for their MBA program, but I've noticed they are not on the CSU website any longer. Any idea what happened or if they still accept a BS from CSU as a qualifier for their MBA program? Thanks for the time

Does anyone know if CSU degrees are recognized by regionally accredited universities? If so, please list a few so that I can check it for myself. Thanks a bunch!!!

You might want to enlighten the navy recuiter about the following partnerships with CSU (see below).  

In addition, CSU is nationally accredited by the DETC which is a recognized accreditor through the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.  

Recognized as one of the top 20 schools for military education by Military Advanced Education, more than half of students enrolled at CSU are members of the U.S. military. Completely online programs, open enrollment, flexible courses, and affordable tuition allow Servicemembers to achieve a quality education while preserving our nation’s freedom.

Military Discounts

All Service members receive an application fee waiver. Immediate family members of Active Duty Service members will receive the waiver and a ten percent tuition discount. 

 
Credit for Military Training 

Transfer credit is awarded for military training and prior coursework. Up to 75 percent of undergraduate courses and 50 percent of graduate courses can be transferred.

CLEP Courses

Educational Benefits
CSU is approved to offer DANTES, Tuition Assistance (TA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Additional education funding is available to those approved for TA and eligible for MGIB-Active Duty benefits. In most cases, these benefits cover the entire cost of your program. You can complete seven undergraduate courses or six graduate courses annually without exceeding the DoD annual ceiling of $4,500. The CSU tuition rate for undergraduate and graduate courses is below the DoD semester hour cap of $250.

Memberships
CSU is a member of GoArmyEd, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and AU-ABC.

You can also tell them how the same accreditor that recognizes CSU also accredits three military schools to include the Air University Extension Course Program, Army Institute of Professional Development and Marine Corps Institute.

The navy websites states the education requirements to become an officer is:

Education
To become an Officer in the U.S. Navy, you must have received a four-year BS or BA degree from an accredited university and have strong grades.

DETC is a nationally recognized through the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.

Just contacted another Navy recruiter: 

Me: Where can I get info on colleges accepted for officer candidates? 

Recruiter: Any regionally accredited college no online degree's accepted

Maybe this is why the Navy has so many young idiot officers running around....They join to pay off the remaining balance of their college tuition...that their parents did not pay. 

I still think CSU is a great school!

Congrats on the MBA. I just finished the B.S. IT program with CSU. Last year I spoke with a Navy Recruiter to see if CSU would be recognized as a legitimate college for an Officer program. They told me no. Of course the question was asked over the internet to idiot Navy Counselor. I even told the recruiter I was prior enlisted (8 years Navy), but they did not want to provide any additional information. By any chance do you know where the Navy (or any military branch) keeps a list of college that are accepted for officer candidates? 

On another note. I have taken over 13 courses with CSU. It has been a great learning experience. As others have mentioned, it can be a challange. By the end of 8 weeks a student could easily have writen over 5000 words.... I actually decided to continue my education for a MBA in Project Management. Good luck!

5 STARS*****                           Columbia Southern University.
PRO’s
 The U.S. Military recognizes the accreditation and the diploma you get from CSU, so if you want to become an officer in the military than this is a great school for you. It is 100% a legitimate college.   It is a great college opportunity for a person who works full time. 
 Courses take about 40 hours to complete, some take more some take less.  You have 10 weeks to finish each course. If you receive financial aid you have 8 weeks to complete the course.  The Federal Government gives out financial aid to go to this college. If you have the GI Bill you can use it here as well.
The course instructors are extremely qualified teachers. A lot of them have Doctorial level education.
 The flexibility to take a course is by far the greatest advantage with CSU. You can do a little bit of school work here and there stop take a break, start back the next week and do a little bit more. You can start and finish a course in a days, weeks, or months (3 weeks to official be done and receive your grade). 
CSU easily accepts college course from just about any college out there. 
Cost’s of college doesn’t get much cheaper than this.

CON’s
It is school and requires work.  You will write a lot of papers.  
You can only take 4 classes in 10 weeks. So if you plan on just doing school work (like attending a school or college by being in a classroom) full time you will be limited. But on the flip side of that you can technically take 20 courses in a year’s time. 

Attitude
 I just wanted a piece of paper that said I have a college degree. I wanted to buy a diploma if I could, and I really didn’t care if I learned anything or not.  Since the start of CSU till now things have changed. I was forced to learn against my will. The more courses I take, the more respect I have for all the people out there that have degrees. It is work. A diploma doesn’t make you any smarter than someone without one. It means you did X amount of school work to get this piece of paper that says “Degree”. 
I have found that I truly am learning from CSU and I am very happy with the opportunity I had with them.
 Learning is up to each individual, what you put into it is what you will get out of it.

Regional Vs National just has to do with what agency accredited it.  Both are recognized by the US Dept of Education.  Certain states may require regional accreditiation for certification in certain career fields, but that is changing fast.  Because both are recognized by USDE, the U.S. Government in terms of hiring people does not recognize a difference between the two.  More and more, the biggest naysayers of DETC and most for profit colleges are those who spent $1000's more at regionally accredited brick and mortar schools.  Most managers and business owners who know what they're doing won't discredit an applicant based on what agency accredited the college you went to.  I would even say anyone who does is a moron.  They will look at your entire body of work, job history, experience in your field, etc.  
We pay taxes online.  We bank online.  Now we go to school online.

I'm currently a MBA student at CSU, residing in Canada. I agree with some of the worries regarding CSU accreditation and how accepted the MBA degree from this university is. Is this university recognized or not? Regional or national, I don't know the difference. Can someone please enlighten me a little on this? What is the difference in between a state university and CSU when it comes to the recognition of the MBA degree by an reputable employer in US? I've seen people saying that they work for US government and the MBA helped their career. Others say this is not a recognized MBA degree and needs the MBA equivalency test. While I believe CSU is least expensive, it is at the same level as other online universities I reviewed, but if the MBA degree is not accepted by major employers in US, inexpensiveness would become irrelevant since all money spent would be wasted. Thank you for your replies.

Hello All,

CSU along with other on-line universites have a different accrediation affiliation than traditional colleges. At the same time they DO meeting the standards of the Dept.of Education to qualify for student loans and grants. 

I have been attending CSU for almost a year now.  The textbooks are developed and printed by the same companies that make ALL college text books. McGraw Hill, Pearson Education, Prentiss Hall etc.  

The instructors must have masters degrees or above.  The overall quality of your education is based on how much effort YOU are willing to put into it. 

I love CSU and will continue on to get my Master Degree at CSU as well.  It is convenient, easy to navigate and I have been successful.  The exams are open book, so provided you have actually READ the content, you can answer the exam questions.  You must make an effort, and you will be rewarded with good grades and a quality education.

I also intend to go for my Ph.D after earning an MBA from CSU. I'm thinking TUI University or maybe Northcentral. However, I'll need to check with the schools (later on) first to determine acceptance into the Ph.D program...

working on my MBA so far so good. When I'm finished I want to go for my Ph.D  Does anyone know of anyone with a MBA from CSU getting a Ph.D if so where did they go I would like to check it out. I'm not really interested in the DBA.  Thanks

To the people looking to continue their education whether to apply for a job or to learn more about the job they are in…CSU is a great place to enroll.  I have a BS in Business from Edinboro State University and an MBA from NDSU.  After retiring from the military I took a position as a safety officer for a military unit.  To get a better understanding of safety I took and completed the BS degree in Occupational Safety and Health.  The course was very well laid out and helpful for my position.  Being a distance learning school allowed me the flexibility to continue to do my job and continue to learn and get a better understanding of the field of safety.  The professors were helpful and knowledgeable in their fields.  I was lucky that I was able to transfer many credits from my previous colleges toward my degree, but I still had to complete about 20 courses…all of them worth taking since they applied directly to the safety profession.  

Since then, being in safety, many of my co-workers will ask me questions about environmental issues.  Environment and safety are two different fields, so I have elected to educate myself further in the environmental field.  To do this, I have enrolled in CSU again to get the BS degree in Environmental Management.  Why?  Because CSU delivers a good product, at a decent price, and allows me the flexibility to continue to do my job while taking college classes.   

To those who are looking at education to get a job.  CSU will get you a degree.  You need this to get your foot in the door to even talk to the human resources personnel to interview for the job.  How well you do during that interview will depend on how much you applied yourself while pursuing your degree.   Where you went to college will take a backseat to how well you can converse during the interview and how well you know the subject material.  A brick and mortar school is great, if you have the time and resources to complete it, but CSU can give you that knowledge also.  If you participate in the discussions and complete the essays and get the proper interaction with the professors, you can confidently convey your message during that all important interview.   CSU is worth checking into.  

One final note… it is a shame the spammers have filled this site with such negativity.  I do not know if it is sour grapes or disgruntled ex-employees or students, but I will go back to the human resources interview situation…if you were an HR person conducting an interview with some of the spammers you have seen on this site…would you hire them? Regardless of where they went to school?

CSU is a great online school. There are employers and universities that WILL transfer credits from this school and WILL recognize degrees from nationally accredited schools. Do your homework. Moreover, education is what you make of it. If you believe a prestigious college or university is the key to your success then you've got another thing coming to you. Don't enroll in CSU if you're after college/university name recognition.

I don't know, but in my many years I've attended Fordham U, John Jay, H Lehman and too many US Gov't on line training schools to mention. Everything in the workplace is on- line now to save $. Having take courses at CSU I saw no difference in what they did verse my prior learning experiences. What I have learned is that CSU teaches you discipline. It also forms a basis of knowledge for one to use (yes, we all use the internet for research even the older generation). It is not a hey I've got an MBA from Ivy league, it's hey I know that and can do it, not as well but better. Like anything else if you still can’t articulate and formulate a PA (Plan of action) you will not succeed (BTW 145K is where I'm at). Hard work, basis of knowledge and how to use it is all you need. Which by the way is something the younger generation is missing. CSU keeps you sharp, works the mind and sometime presents information the other schools left out. Lastly disgruntled ex-employees are the worse (jealousy?). People who can't adapt and work hard are always the ones who find excuses and many things wrong with everyone else, but never look at their own failures. This is life. Be a jack of all trades (learn as much as you can from wherever or whomever), know where to find the answers, mentor, stay sharp and attend CSU not for what the misguided individuals say, but for you and what it may give you. You'll succeed.

CSU is a growing institution and organization and with that comes growing pains.  Any organization that is growing at CSU's rate is going to encounter some challenges, but this is to be expected in any organization.  Having different supervisors with varying views is very common and as for the policy changes, again, CSU is growing expotentially at a very rapid rate and this requires adjustments within the policy and procedures.

If you think a well known college or university is the key to your success you've got another thing coming to you.

Since CSU bought Waldorf  and they are RA will it transfer over to CSU.

I am an ex-employee of CSU. I enjoyed working with the common staff and all of the students I encountered are awesome.  The common staff are all under the a microscope as Conner stated.  It is hard to understand that in CSU's stated "Christian" enviornment that the common employees would be treated the way they are. I always had an uneasy feeling.  The supervisors and managers, kiss the right butt I guess. They were given these positions without any management skills or experience, they just know how to cut someone's throat without a conscious with their own selfish agenda in mind. I was not willing to do that, I have integrity and work ethics. You are given direction from one Supervisor and then a few minutes later another one would change it on you. Policy changes so often you can't keep up with it. It is literally the most unorganized organization I have ever been employed by. Please pay attention to Avoid Columbia Southern's posting and especially Ben S. If you are considering working for CSU, Ben is right on like Connor stated.  I also would recommend avoiding CSU.

Ben Stiller is right on!  He hit the bullseye! "Get Your Facts in Line" is not obviously speaking from expericence.  Employees at CSU are under a microscope, it's like working in a sweat shop all for their almighty dollar. He's right about the underqualified managers.  The young managers use their titles and the backing of Directors to mentally beat their employees to death, they take the joy of life right out of you. It is a very satanistic cult like environment. I have read many of the postings and Avoid Columbia Southern is also very right.

Listen up Stiller...you're either an obviously disgruntled employee or student that didn't get your "needs" met and has a bone to pick; it's too bad because you sound like an immature douche bag which is why people on this forum will never take you or your comments seriously.  You're the joke!  CSU just bought...let me repeat...just BOUGHT a 100+ year old state residential school called Waldorf College and guess what - Waldorf is regionally accredited...in addition, CSU has partnered with many different traditional and online schools (both regional and national)..and just read the continuously growing list of schools that have partnered and continue to partner with CSU.  Take the time to read DETC's latest publication dispelling the myths between regional and national accreditation...if you don't think the regionals are in this for the money you're head is shoved way too up your ass to even understand what's going on...and KJ - you should continue studying those business classes to understand where CSU might strategically land..you're taking one class to "see how it is" and then transfer to another school?  Seriously, if CSU is not the right fit for you move on to another school and spend twice as much on tuition for the same education...good luck to you!

CSU should end the debate and get RA it's that simple..or is it?? I believe it's part of CSU's business plan why get RA spend the time and money while they alread have thousands of students without it...and enrollment seems to keep increasing...CSU if you want to be taken seriously get RA and get the MBA program accredited as well...I'm in the process of taking 1 class to just see how it is after I'm done I'm transfering and guess what I look at 4 differnt schools and none would transfer the class a waste of money but I did get a little out of the course so not a total waste.

I would like to say this school is a sham.  I had a friend that worked there, and basically they slave drive their employees into sucking money from your pockets, for basically a degree that is worthless.  They run facist type management, and are cult like in their supervisory behavior. There are twenty year olds given management positions dressed up in their mothers power suits whipping their suppordinates with vicious facades, and their own greedy ambition.  Its a school more based on feeding the greed, and power then a students education. Its all about money not you.  Besides most companies check to see if your degree is regionally accredited nowadays, and guess what CSU and their hitler toting flag bearers don't want you to know that they are not. They are only nationally accredited, which sounds better, but really isn't. Its a joke people.

My name is Nick Lees and I am the Associate Dean for the College of Safety and Emergency Services, along with acting as Chair for the Undergraduate Occupational Safety & Health and Environmental Management Program. My Master's Degree is from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Nuclear Engineering with a Speciality in Radiological Health. I worked in Atlanta for about 17 years in corporate (mostly), consulting and governmental regulatory positions as an environmental, safety and health professional. Some of those companies included Georgia Power, Georgia-Pacific, PPG Industries, Bio-Lab, and Clorox.  
I started my career at Columbia Southern University as a course writer in March 2005 and, because of my background and experience, moved quickly up to coordinator of the OS&H and EM programs. Later I became an Assistant Dean and now I am an Associate Dean. I have also just started a PhD program with Capella in Emergency Management. 
My responsibilities at CSU include management of our programs for over 3,500 students and over 31 Adjunct Professors who teach our courses. I'm assisted by a Graduate Chair OS&H/EM (a former Asst. Area Director for OSHA (17 yrs experiences with OSHA), and an OS&H/EM Coordinator.
I would be glad to speak to anyone at anytime about our programs, our accreditation, our professors, and our courses. I will be totally honest with you in letting you know if CSU is the right college for you or not. With me, you will get the truth directly from the horse's mouth, instead of a disgruntled former student. I can be reached at 800-977-8449 x311 (we are changing to 4 digits soon; so the extension will become x1311). Respectfully submitted, Nick Lees, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, AL

I just completed another class with Columbia Southern University; working towards my Masters in Criminal Justice Administration. I must say it was a very educational class and I took a lot from it and I had no problems communicating with my professor. I am very pleased with CSU!!!

I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management program at Columbia Southern University.  I withdrew after three classes and a TOTAL waste of my money!  The quality of the courses and instruction were far below par in comparison with other schools I have attended.  I almost felt that it was a joke.  The questions on the tests seemed to be written by someone that doesn't have English as their first language, and the materials were littered with grammatical and spelling errors. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. Meanwhile, they are supposed to be grading you on grammar in your essays with APA rules in mind. ALL THREE CLASSES I TOOK HAD MULTIPLE ERRORS IN THE TESTS. They were grading me wrongly, even when I chose the correct answer.  I ended up spending alot of time trying to contact professors to alert them of the errors, as well as petition them for credit that was rightfully due to me. That's right, all of a sudden it was my job to QA every test I took and report to the school all of the errors I encountered.  I paid alot of money to basically do their jobs for them.  People, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!  Also, this school is NATIONALLY accredited.  If you want to pursue a Master's or Ph.D. at any REGIONALLY accredited institution out there, you will not be able to.  Your degree from Columbia Southern WILL NOT be accepted during the admission/application process. Again, do not waste your time at this dead-end school like I did.  I am now enrolling at a regionally accredited school to complete my bachelor's so that I may choose to pursue a Master's and above after I finish.

What would you consider as the best and worst thing associated with or about Columbia Southern University?

I am just over half-way through my Masters in Criminal Justice Administration with Columbia Southern University. And I must say it's a perfect fit for me. I work full time and have a family commitments; so my time is limited. CSU, in my opinion is perfect for anyone that has time limitations like me. CSU is a GOD send...

I am in my third term at CSU and I must say that so far the courses have been much more challenging than at my previous online school. I have learned a lot so far and am quite pleased with the level of communication I have had with the staff.

I graduated from CSU a couple of years ago with my BS. I was very pleased with my experience and it allowed me to advance my career. Now I have decided to get my MBA, I am looking at a couple of schools, but knowing the quality of the education I recieved at CSU, I am leaning heavily in their favor and it doesn't hurt that CSU is a LOT more affordable than the other programs I have looked at.

I graduated from a traditional school in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science degree in business. 6 years later I still owe $5000 to the federal government to finish paying for my $70,000 education. 
 My husband started CSU in the spring of 2007 because he can't attend day classes at a traditional school as he works full time and has a family. He will graduate in April of 2009 with a BA. He does receive student aid, and is currently attending on grants. His education is going to us about $10,00 out of pocket. And no, it has not been easy! Classes are 10 weeks long, and can only be finished 1 week early. He has weekly exams to take, papers to write, and mandatory discussion assignments online. For anyone claiming this program is easy, I encourage them to try it out! 
 CSU has given my husband a chance to better himself by earning a degree that will help in his line of work. Not everyone has the money, time, or leisure to attend an Ivy League school. 
 BTW, my father is an HR manager who currently employs 1,200 employees. Never does the difference between RA or NA factored into hiring decisions, but education level and experience are major factors.

I received an MBA in Project Management earlier this year from CSU and I received a promotion and very nice pay raise. Additionally, I passed the PMP certification exam a few months ago. Now that I am eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, I thought I would get another Masters degree in Logistics. I am currently a program manager for the Department of Defense working in a logistics position (GS13-0346). Therefore, I signed up with a regionally accredited university not only to get another degree to help me further my professional development but also to see for myself the difference in National versus Regional universities. I wanted to answer the debate for myself and clear up the issue finally. I plan to document my experiences and share them through a book that I am writing to help people explore their educational options.

I have finished one course and half way through the second course. So far, the work at the regionally accredited university is no different from that of CSUs. Moreover, the tuition is almost $300 more per course. However, I will say that with my current university I have received more interaction and feedback from my current professors than with the CSU professors.

My coworkers have asked why I would want a second degree. I don't really need it but since the Post 9/11 GI Bill is paying for it why let a free degree go to waste. Besides, getting a Logistics degree will help me move up to a GS-14 in about 2 years. My goal is finish my book in two years, make GS-15, and if possible break into the SES world. The point I am trying to make is that education is what you make of it. Education coupled with your life experiences makes you what you are. People, including those who interview you, can tell what kind of person you are by your reactions and responses. As a supervisor and hiring official, employers want real people with both education and experience not a robot who can regurgitate what a university textbook states. They want people who will tell them what they are thinking.

I am pursuing my B.S. in Business Administraton from Columbia Southern University and will get my degree after I finish the last three courses that was on my evaluation report. I must say that it has been a very satisfying educational experience and I will definitely recommend this school to anyone who has the determination to complete a degree in the CSU format, it has been said before and I hold it as true that CSU is very challenging. I went to B&M mortar schools before and I find CSU to be challenging in some ways. I dont remember having to read a whole textbook page by page when I was in a B&M school, but in CSU you have to in order to pass. I currently work for a fortune 100 company and they are reimbursing me for the tuition as well. Im happy I went to Columbia southern university.

Yes, In my mind Coulumbia Southern University is the BEST ONLINE UNIVERSITY FOR ME!!! All I am saying is Give CSU a chance.

Jeff October 17, 2009 at 5:05 p.m.

Columbia Southern University is the BEST ONLINE University out there. Save your time looking and attend Columbia Southern University.....

  :D Only in your mind

Columbia Southern University is the BEST ONLINE University out there. Save your time looking and attend Columbia Southern University.....

I am currently attending CSU persuing a degree in Business Administration.  I obtained my AA from a local community college and was at first concerned about the difference between regionally and nationally accredited.  Since my state recognizes nationally accredited I enrolled and now a year and a half later, I am 6 credits from my degree, I am satisfied that what I have done did not come from a diploma mill.  The work was hard at times and there was no difference to the courses from CSU than the online courses that were available from the community college.  I know that I have earned what I have done. The price per credit was something that I could afford since I did not have any employer reimbursement.  If CSU does become regionally accredited, I am sure the price will go up considerably.  I also figured that if the military was accepting it, so should I.

I am in the same boat as you, I have been pretty happy with CSU, the cost compared to other online schools was much easier to afford and the classes were actually better in my opinion than the few I took over at Capella. I am leaning towards the new MS in Organizational Leadership. I have been reading online that its becoming a hot degree for people wanting to get into any type of leadership role with any organization. Not sure I will always want to be a parole officer.

I'm just three classes away from BS in Criminal Justice Administration.  I'm really excited about getting my degree and it thrills me to know I got it all online.  As far as how the school is accreditated isn't important just as long it is accreditated.  If a person plan on attending the school only for a few semesters and transferring then maybe that should be a thought for someone.  I do have a question for anybody that wants to answer.  I was thinking about getting my MBA in Project Management from CSU or an MBA in Acquisition Management from Webster University.  Although Webster cost a whole lot more, the degree is still in the same field I'm working in.  However, I'm leaning to stay at CSU and take the program online.  Has anybody taking any classes in Program Management online in the MBA program?

I am Vietnamese student, I am rolling the BBA degree of CSU. In my opinion, the education of CSU is good, we have a lot of real cases to analyze and get many experiences. However, I see that because we study online, sometime I feel that the professor's grading is unfair.

I have attended and graduated both a B & M school and CSU. The state of Florida recognizes them both to receive government employed compensation of $1200 per year for a BA degree. By the way, I used my CSU degree for it. I went to a top notch college as a younger man. After all the research into the difference between national and regional accreditation it is my opinion that the only difference is them having an actual classroom to attend. Brick and Mortar is just what it states. A place to attend a class. These types of institutions were not prepared for the explosion of online learning. With that being said, I have contacted some local law schools and RA schools for a possible Masters program and have met with no resistance in regards to my CSU degree. LSAT and GMAT scores are all that matter.  If you start at CSU, finish with them. You may or may not have a problem with credit transfer. This is only a problem at some B & M schools. CSU will in time just like Keiser Univ achieve an RA status. Tam had a good point. It is all about money. It does not matter what school or accreditation. Schools are in business to make money. PERIOD..... Do your research, call and talk to everyone and anyone to make your own intelligent, educated decision. Remember when it comes to time, plenty of RA schools have online programs where you can finish a class in a month. What is best for you. Some people need to sit in class. Some are not motivated to self study. Do not take my word for it. Do your research. The pursuit of higher education comes in many forms, none of which can be negative. In my own situation the CSU degree worked for me in my professional advancement, and made things easier class wise with the flexibility due to having a wife and two kids. Good luck to you all and never stop learning.

Tam, It's probably the years of HR work that's driving this... but in the interest of constructive feedback, you are embarrassing yourself.  Your comments read like those of an 8th grader.  Your comment on football implies that extracurricular programs are where you place your value of an educational institution.  

I presently work with honors grads from 3 of the top brick/mortar institutions in the south, along side West Point Academy grads, and multiple online degree program grads... ultimately one's education is valued by many, many factors. Factors which include how much the person applied themselves to their studies, their own intellectual ability, certainly the content/quality of the classes/instruction they receive/participate in, as well as work/life experience that provides enrichment.

Where ever you went to school, clearly you were not taught much about objective analysis/thinking, and writing/grammar... or you chose not to learn.  Again, the school you attended should not be judged by you alone.  A psych analysis of your comments indicate personal vengeance -- perhaps a bad relationship with someone from CSU or else a financial argument, who knows.  But clearly you have a proverbial axe to grind.  It's a shame you can't find another forum to vent and rant.

Well Tam.....sorry to say that this CSU graduate probably makes 3 times as much as you......it's not about where you get your degree from....it's not about national or regional...it's clearly a mixture of your education, experience and common sense.  And as far as those individuals with a degree from a "real" university...they ALL work for me....lol....maybe you will one day....

This is call funneling.

I just wanted to let everyone know (for people on both sides of the fence), CSU is purchasing a B & M REGIONALLY accredited school in Iowa, and will be offering online classes through them as well. This is public knowledge and you can read more about it by looking it up.

Wow! You really went to a school with a "Division 1" football team?? I am sure that having a "real" football team sets the standard of quality education! So what was the "Student Support" there? Maybe a JOCK STRAP?? Most of your so called "real schools" are focused on partying, carousing and recruiting numbers to keep the funding. In other words, for profit or not, students are "customers" and all schools want MONEY. I think huffing all those JOCK STRAPS put the ZAP on your head! Also, by looking at your writing style and grammar, you are no better educated than others who have contributed to this site.

I finished my Bachelors with CSU and was very pleased with my education and thought it a great value compared to other online colleges, Pheonix and Capella, that I had attended. Regarding the accredidation, I have had no problems using my degree to open the door to new jobs or opportunities so I can't see that it really makes a difference. I really enjoyed my time at Columbia Southern and I would recommend it to any of my family or friends.

You know, I've been reading alot of Tam's writings and frankly, I have to agree with just about everything he/she says.  CSU is a company that sells diplomas with some strings attached to give the illusion of legitimacy.  If some employer falls for it and grants your promotion just because you have a diploma, more power to person who did business with "CSU incorporated".

WHOOSH!
Wow...that bus almost got me!

Come on...we all know CSU is NOT an "excellent school" and all that.  It isn't.  It's a bottom of the barrel compromise of an education. PERIOD.  But I'd never judge and experienced professional that made the decision to go back and finish up requirements for a diploma.  (Notice, I say "diploma" and not "degree" because I don't feel CSU is a worthy degree-granting company...err...school?)

My degree is from a real university with a division I football program (oh YEAH!) thank you very much.  (And they did kick butt last weekend!)

Again, God bless all you hard working middle career folks that have worked so hard and had success.  Sometimes employers demand a diploma (any sort) to get that promotion and CSU is getting it done for so many of you.  With CSU, all it takes is money and the "appearance" of effort to get it.

GO CSU!  (oh, never mind...no football team...lol)

Columbia Southern University is an excellent school offering a variety of different undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. 

I earned my MSCJ through CSU. The course work was rigors and challenging, but also practical and useful in the real world. My salary went from 38,000 to 75,000 because of my degree from CSU. I would highly recommend any of CSU's academic programs.

Just a note, I am pursuing a degree in HSE and found the program offered by CSU.  After consideration and a little research I have found that the Board of Certified Safety Professionals recognize the HSE program, and will allow a person to sit for the CSP exam after graduation from CSU.  In my opinion this means that the CSU curriculum is good enough to satisfy a stringent professional accreditation standard.  I will be pursuing my education at CSU due to this fact.  BTW... I have 51 hours at a b/m institution and cannot to school by traditional means so online is the best option for me.   Any thoughts on this out there?

Based on the research I have done thus far, I plan to pursue completion of my BS in Business, concentration in HR, from CSU.  

I do not know of any companies/executives within all of the northern part of my state who make major employment decisions on RA or NA accreditations.  They expect HR to make sure that a degree is from a bona fide accredited school, that's it.  We make sure that people who claim a degree actually have one,  we distinguish certificates from degrees.  We look at the quality of the writing as demonstrated in a letter of interest, pay close attention to the writing/structure of the resume, and weigh heavily the speaking/interpersonal skills from the interviews which are all added to the technical assessment of the person's demonstrated subject matter knowledge.  

.... I shared just in case anyone is interested in a perspective from someone involved in hiring/ promoting/ talent development for global Fortune 200-500 companies... don't get too stressed by the rants of the underachieving bloggers who should be spending their time "learning" on many fronts.

I have been practicing HR for 15 years.  I have a professional certification in the field.  I graduated HS with honors and earned a scholarship to college for 2 years.  By the time I finished my 2 years (with honors) I was very involved in my work, community, civic groups and didn't continue to make time to finish my BS in Business.  

I chose to pursue the professional certification to "shortcut" getting knowledge that I felt would help me forge a career path in HR.  It served me well.  However, I still want to finish my degree... it's just something I've always wanted to do.  I want the degree to be meaningful and from an accredited institution. 

I am appalled at the people who wasted their and others time ranting on this forum (which is clearly set aside for true reviews of CSU from people who have a meaningful experience to share) about things that have no real value on a site like this.

As someone who has screened many thousands of resumes over the 15 years I've been in HR, and conducted thousands of interviews/extended job offers, and conversely been part of executing reductions in force and for cause terminations for hundreds, probably thousands by now... and facilitated many promotions.... and yet NEVER have I been challenged by the business executives (including the top/VP levels of HR)(of Fortune 200, and 500 companies) to make those employment decisions based on whether or not the person held a degree from an institution that was Nat'l accredited or Reg'l accredited.  

The tuition reimbursement programs of the companies I've worked for past/present also only required "accreditation" -- there was no mention of type of accreditation.

I can also say that for myself, accreditation seems to be important regarding transfer credits.... if a degree is started/completed at the same institution then as long as it's accredited, I can't see that the type matters at all.  And even then, the accreditation is simply the equivalent of any other type of credentialing.

For example, the HR manager that I replaced had worked at the company for 13 years, had a BS degree from a brick/mortar RA institution and held a PHR certification.  However, I inherited an absolute disaster of an HR department.  She had "credentials".... but the degree and the certification didn't serve as the "be all/end all".  As others have said, in the end it is up to the individual.

The individual I replaced was spending more time at work on personal agenda items than on what was important and necessary for the business.  I've been part of reducing, terminating many over the years that were sub-par performers -- some of them possessed MBA's from RA schools, some them held CPA licenses, some of them held multiple degrees.  Career paths/opportunities are forged by individuals based on their commitment, their hardwork, their ability to apply knowledge and to continue to learn.

Why are you being so sympathetic to a B***ch like Tam?? The best thing God can do for a piece of s**t like that is realize what a big mistake he made creating "IT" and SPEED UP THE BUS to make the world a better (and happier) place!! I really can't understand "sugar coating" dialouge with BOTTOM FEEDERS. "Tam" is an idiot and will always be an idiot and does nothing more than waste oxygen.