Online Degrees at Columbus State University
Columbus State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Computer Science Online 2018.
Columbus State University offers nine undergraduate degree programs online in business, liberal arts, nursing, and sociology. There are 29 graduate programs including Master of Science in Computer Science, Master’s in Education, a Doctorate in Education, Master of Science in Cyber Security Management, several majors in education and educational leadership, an Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner, an Master of Business Administration, and several Master’s in Public Administration degrees. Students can also earn certification and endorsement through online programs.
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree program is designed for people who want a broad educational base instead of selecting one discipline. It is available in three tracks: Military and Global Issues, Human and Social Services and Philosophy. Several courses are required by the university for all undergraduate degrees as a unit called “Essential Skills.” These are in key areas such as writing competence, communication, English, mathematics, and sciences. Other courses are elective but must be chosen from the arts, humanities, sociology, economics, foreign languages, and other interdisciplinary studies. There are 123 credit hours in the program.
The Bachelor of Business Administration contains 123 credit-hours as well and includes the Essential Skills unit. There are 18 credit hours in major-related coursework including Principles of Accounting I and II, Introduction to Business, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and Introduction to Information Systems in Business. There are 27 credit-hours in required core classes like Quantitative Analysis for Business I and II, International Business and Business Law. The program also requires courses in the major and electives.
Students earning advanced degrees can select from 29 programs including the Master of Public Administration degrees. This degree contains 36 credit-hours and can be earned in criminal justice, government administration or health services administration. There are 21 required credits in the core, including a capstone, and 15 in the concentration. In addition, all MPA students must pass a comprehensive exam. There are many other programs available online to students who want to earn their degrees from Columbus State University.
About Columbus State University
Columbus State University of Georgia is a public school that was founded in 1958 as Columbus College. It was a junior college that was housed in a hosiery factory. The school achieved four-year status in 1965 and changed its name to Columbus State University in 1996. It awards undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in more than 90 disciplines. The university is organized into seven schools: The College of the Arts, Turner College of Business, College of Education and Health Professions, College of Letters and Sciences, TSYS School of Computer Science, Schwob School of Music and the School of Nursing. The school is known for its graduate programs in business and for its servant-leadership program.
The U.S. News & World Report ranks the university as #106 of Regional Universities-South. It also ranks as #45 of Top Public Schools. In 2014 the online graduate business and education programs were ranked as #46. Most classes at Columbus State University have between 20 and 49 students. The undergraduate student population is about 6,800, and there are 300 full-time faculty members. The student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. The school has an exchange program with thirteen countries.
Columbus State University has a unique art program. The arts and theater departments moved into downtown Columbus into a specially-designed campus called River Park. They did this to provide a closely-knit community for students in the visual and in the performing arts. The River Park campus has housing for more than 400 students, traditional student services such as administration, libraries, and other resources. In addition, there are two theaters, an oversized art gallery, studios, a radio station, a costume shop and lighting lab, and various other services for students in the arts.
Columbus State University Accreditation Details
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission for Colleges. Additionally, several departments or programs carry special accreditation. The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is accredited by the Georgia Board of Nursing. Both the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Both the Master of Science and the Master of Arts in School Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The art department at Columbus State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the department of theater is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theater. The D. Abbott School of Business is accredited through the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business. The B.S. in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society. In addition, the Columbus State University Continuing Education program is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. The university also has numerous academic affiliations and partnerships.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Columbus State University is $4,181 per academic year. In addition, the school estimates students will spend $1,270 on books and supplies and $1,850 on other fees. Room and board is estimated at $10,198, and the school suggests a budget of $3,590 for personal and miscellaneous expenses. Graduate tuition for 12 hours is assessed at the semester rate of $2,462 and additional fees. Students who earn their degrees online will pay $301 per credit hour plus fees. The room and board for the River Park Campus is $2,915 for housing and $2,025 for a meal program.
Because higher education is costly, most students must have financial assistance to meet their financial obligations. To access federal grants and loans, students should complete the FAFSA form. The government program awards the Pell Grant, the Student Economic Opportunity Grant, and loans such as the Stafford based upon financial eligibility. After receiving the awards letter from FAFSA, students should search for other scholarships and grants to cover as much of their student expenses as possible so that they do not graduate with overwhelming student debt. Georgia offers assistance in the form of grants like the HOPE Grant which helps Georgia residents meet their student debts, the HOPE Career grant that is awarded to Georgia students studying to enter specific industries, and the TEACH Grant. The university has numerous scholarships and grants available. Most of these are awarded for academic achievement including the Honors College Scholarship and the Servant Leadership Award. Various departments at the school have financial assistance available through scholarships and grants, many of which are sponsored by alumni.
Outside scholarships are funded by individuals through endowments or service organizations, and corporations often fund scholarships to their employees or other students entering specific fields. These outside scholarships and grants are especially valuable to graduate students because most scholarships through the university are for undergraduates. An exception is the Graduate Alumni Scholarship.
Another source of funding is student loans. These are loans that have lower interest rates than traditional loans and offer a deferred repayment. Student loans offered through the government may be subsidized or unsubsidized. Graduate students are not eligible for government-sponsored subsidized loans.