Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL
Affordability & debt
- Average net price
- $14,580per year, after aid
- Undergraduates with a federal loan
- 26%
- Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
- 24%need-based, not repaid
- Typical debt at graduation
- $21,339federal loans, students who finished
- Reducing their balance within 3 years
- 43%of borrowers who entered repayment
What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $21,339. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $248 a month, about $29,732 repaid in total, of which $8,393 is interest.
Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $151 a month — but the total climbs to $45,246, roughly $15,514 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.
An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.
Columbia Southern University’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.
Published tuition
- In-state tuition
- $6,760published rate
- Out-of-state tuition
- $6,760published rate
The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.
Outcomes
- Median earnings
- $63,53410 years after entry
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.
Campus life
- Campus setting
- Town: Fringe
- Residential character
- Primarily commuter — most students live off campus
Most common fields of study
- Homeland security & law enforcement38%
- Engineering technology24%
- Business & marketing20%
- Health professions10%
- Computer & information sciences5%
- Liberal arts & humanities2%
Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.
What borrowing would really cost
Starting from the typical debt at Columbia Southern University. Change any figure to see your own.
Standard plan — 10 years
$248per month
- Total repaid
- $29,732
- Interest paid
- $8,393
Longer term — 25 years
$151per month
- Total repaid
- $45,246
- Interest paid
- $23,907
Borrow $21,339 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $15,514 more — $45,246 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.
An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.
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