Felicia SumerlinCSU Graduate

2020 Outcomes Assessment

At Columbia Southern University, we truly believe in offering students flexible, affordable, trusted online degree programs with exceptional service. By giving our students the tools they need to succeed, we provide them with an opportunity to take charge of their education in a way that no other university offers. That’s why every year thousands of CSU students achieve their academic goals without putting their lives on hold.

2020 Graduation Rates*

Degree Graduation Rate Threshold Goal

Associate 60% 32% 56%

Bachelor 55% 43% 56%

Master 58% 54% 63%

DBA 14% 40% 40%

Always Forward. Always Online.

2020 Transfer Student Graduation Rate

Degree Level Graduation Rate Threshold Goal

Undergraduate 61% 43% 56%

Graduate 65% 54% 63%

*Graduation rates (January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020) were calculated within 150% of normal completion time designated by the university and are based on groups of students who enrolled in a cohort year and tracked over time. Student cohort includes full-time and part-time students, as well as first-time and non-first-time.

Hayleigh BarlarCSU Graduate, MS Occupational Safety and Health

Brian WardCSU Graduate, M.S. Organizational Leadership

2 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS 2020

PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS PER DEGREE LEVEL

3% College of Arts & Sciences

52%College of Safety & Emergency Services

44%College of Business

37%

The following information aligns with data reported annually and is required by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Data reflects 2020 student demographics, survey responses, graduation/completion rates, and employment rates.

Non-degree and transient students: 1%*Includes undergraduate and graduate certificates

PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS PER COLLEGENon-Degree And Transient Students: 1%

Average Age 39*Source: DEAC 2020 Active Students

MILITARY STUDENTS

Doctorate

1%

Certificate*

1%

Bachelor’s

56%

Master’s

26%

Associate

15%

CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 3 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 3

Degree Program Graduation Rates*

NAME OF DEGREE PROGRAM GRADUATION RATE

AA General Studies 57%

AS Business 64%

AS Criminal Justice 53%

AS Fire Science 70%

AS Health Information Science 40%

AS Health Information Science/Medical Coding Emphasis 42%

AS Occupational Safety & Health 63%

BS Business Administration (BSBA) 52%

BSBA Finance 44%

BSBA Hospitality and Tourism 38%

BSBA Human Resource Management 49%

BSBA Information Technology 47%

BSBA International Management 41%

BSBA Management 43%

BSBA Marketing 36%

BSBA Project Management 53%

BSBA Sport Management 27%

BS Criminal Justice Administration 50%

BS Criminal Justice Administration/Arson Investigation 100%**

BS Emergency Medical Services Administration 100%**

BS Environmental Management 51%

BS Fire Administration 100%

BS Fire Administration/Fire Investigation 100%**

BS Health Care Administration 46%

BS Health Care Administration/EMS Management 100%**

BS Homeland Security 100%**

BS Human Resource Management 56%

BS Information Systems and Cyber Security 100%**

BS Information Systems and Cyber Security/Homeland Security 100%**

BS Information Technology 47%

BS Marketing (Teach out) 100%**

BS Occupational Safety and Health 57%

BS Occupational Safety and Health/Fire Science 49%

NAME OF DEGREE PROGRAM GRADUATION RATE

BS Organizational Leadership 54%

BS Psychology 40%

Master of Business Administration (MBA) 68%

MBA Finance 50%

MBA Health Care Management 59%

MBA Human Resource Management 66%

MBA Marketing 47%

MBA Project Management 64%

MBA Public Administration 52%

Master of Public Administration (MPA) 68%

MPA Criminal Justice Administration 61%

MPA Emergency Services Management 60%

Master of Public Health (MPH) 65%

MPH Community Health Education 46%

MS Criminal Justice Administration 49%

MS Emergency Services Management 62%

MS Occupational Safety and Health 57%

MS Occupational Safety and Health/Environmental Management 62%

MS Organizational Leadership 60%

DBA 14%

*GRADUATION RATES DETAIL:Graduation rates (January 1, 2020-December 31, 2020) were calculated within 150% of normal completion time designated by the university and were completed following the method outlined by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

Graduation Rate Thresholds are 32% for Associate’s degree programs; 43% for Bachelor’s degree programs, 54% for Master’s degree programs, and 40% for Doctoral program. Graduation rate goals are 56% for Associate’s degree programs; 56% for Bachelor’s degree programs, 63% for Master’s degree programs, and 40% for Doctoral program.

150% of CSU’s normal completion time for an Associate’s degree is 4.5 years, a Bachelor’s degree is 7.5 years, a Master’s degree is 4.5 years, and a Doctoral degree is 7.5 years.

Graduation rate population includes students who are on military deployment and those currently enrolled in the indicated program.

**Population is less than five.

4 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report

Certificate Program Completion Rates*

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COMPLETION RATE* COMPLETION RATE*

UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATESCertificate in Environmental Management 73%

Certificate in Finance 50%

Certificate in Fire Science 64%

Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism 40%

Certificate in Human Resource Management 70%

Certificate in Information Technology 25%

Certificate in International Management NA***

Certificate in Management 57%

Certificate in Marketing 50%

Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health 53%

Certificate in Project Management 67%

Certificate in Sport Management 33%

GRADUATE CERTIFICATESGraduate Certificate in Environmental Management 62%

Graduate Certificate in Finance 0%

Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management 50%

Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management 65%

Graduate Certificate in Marketing NA***

Graduate Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health 45%

Graduate Certificate in Project Management 69%

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration 29%

*COMPLETION RATES DETAIL:*Completion rates (January 1, 2020-December 31, 2020) were calculated within 150% of normal completion time. 150% of normal completion is 2.25 years for certificate programs.

Completion Rate Goals for certificate programs are 60% at the undergraduate level and 60% at the graduate level.

Completion rate population includes students who are on military deployment and those currently enrolled in the indicated program.

** Population is less than five.*** New Program.

Student Retention Rates—All StudentsBASE COHORT RETENTION RATE * RETENTION RATE GOAL RETAINED DATES

08/01/2019-10/31/2019 74% 75% 08/01/2020-01/31/2021

*CSU retention rate threshold is 70%.

Course Completion Rates—Bachelor LevelTHRESHOLD 2017 2018 2019 2020 GOAL

60% 88% 89% 89% 88% 65%

*CSU reviewed a three-year rolling average of course completion rates and established a threshold based on the lowest average. The goal was determined by a modest increase of the highest average.

CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 5

Student SatisfactionPercentage of 2020 students who responded “Yes” to the following questions:*

Question Students Who Responded “Yes”

Did you achieve or will you have achieved upon completing your studies, the goals you had when you started the course or program?

97%

Would you recommend CSU programs or courses to a friend? 98%

All things considered, are you satisfied with your studies at Columbia Southern University? 96%

*Goal outlined by the Distance Education Accrediting Committee (DEAC) is 75%.

Employer Satisfaction Rates

Outcome% Satisfied

(Percent of employers who answered Strongly Agree or

Agree)

% Not Satisfied (Percent of employers

who answered Disagree or Strongly Disagree)

Graduate’s amount of knowledge and understanding related to major field of study.

93% 0%

Graduate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be successful in current job role.

90% 0%

Overall level of satisfaction with CSU graduate. 96% 0%

Table does not include percentage of respondents who answered neutral.

6 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report

Employment Rates*

DEGREE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT RATE

AA General Studies 77%

AS Business 47%

AS Criminal Justice 77%

AS Fire Science 95%

AS Health Information Science 33%**

AS Health Information Science/Medical Coding 0%**

AS Occupational Safety & Health 62%

BS Business Administration (BSBA) 59%

BSBA Finance 53%

BSBA Hospitality and Tourism 100%**

BSBA Human Resource Management 50%

BSBA Information Technology 67%**

BSBA International Management 50%**

BSBA Management 50%

BSBA Marketing 67%**

BSBA Project Management 63%

BSBA Sport Management 20%**

BS Criminal Justice Administration 71%

BS Criminal Justice Administration/Arson Investigation 50%**

BS Emergency Medical Services Administration 100%

BS Environmental Management 59%

BS Fire Administration 99%

BS Fire Administration/Fire Investigation 95%

BS Health Care Administration 48%

BS Health Care Administration/EMS Management 67%**

BS Homeland Security 8%

BS Human Resource Management 46%

BS Information Systems and Cyber Security 43%**

BS Information Systems and Cyber Security/Homeland Security 50%**

*Data for employment rates were gathered from the 2020 Employment Survey and Alumni Survey.**Fewer than ten respondents.Employment rate thresholds are 60% for undergraduate students and 70% for graduate students. Employment rate goals are 68% for undergraduate students and 75% for graduate students.

DEGREE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT RATE

BS Information Technology 50%

BS Occupational Safety and Health 72%

BS Occupational Safety and Health/Construction Safety 100%**

BS Occupational Safety and Health/Fire Science 57%

BS Organizational Leadership 69%

BS Psychology 23%

DBA 25%**

Master of Business Administration (MBA) 76%

MBA Finance 67%**

MBA Health Care Management 64%

MBA Human Resource Management 53%

MBA Marketing 67%

MBA Project Management 55%

MBA Public Administration 100%**

Master of Public Administration (MPA) 69%

MPA Criminal Justice Administration 73%

MPA Emergency Services Management 56%**

Master of Public Health (MPH) 56%**

MPH Community Health Education 0%**

M.S. Criminal Justice Administration 67%**

M.S. Emergency Services Management 62%

M.S. Occupational Safety & Health 67%

M.S. Occupational Safety & Health/Environmental Management

82%

M.S. Organizational Leadership 33%

CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 7

TERRITORIES

AA 1

AE 65

AP 32

Guam 4

Puerto Rico 5

US Virgin Islands 5

2020 GRADUATESBY STATE

606

589462107

161

264

307

35830

111

181

143 88 211

146

86

93

64

47

44

101

7566

671

55

25

9

1619

13

105

37111

45

31

133

45

91

443

51

3

17

3

6

4

15

INTERNATIONAL

Vietnam 122

Other 17

CT – 27

DEL – 13

HI – 38

MA – 61

MD – 125

NJ – 55

AL GA

FL

MS

LATX

OKNM

AZ

CA

NVUT

CO

ORID

WA

MT

WY

ND

SD

NE

KS

MN

IA

MO

AR

TNKY

WI

IL IN OH

MI

WVVA

PA

NY

ME

NC

SC

VT

NH

AK

RI – 5

8 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report

The freedom to fit the program into my daily life instead of fitting my daily life

into the program. It really worked because there was freedom to have school/work/personal life balance.

I enjoyed how the professors constantly challenged you

to push your boundaries by not only studying the material but applying them in my writing into situational based scenarios. This forced me to take learn data and apply it to real world settings.

Definetly the flexibility to complete the program in my

timeframe. At first there was intimidation however going through the program I developed a new sense of self-confidence I feel giving me an edge over my peers. Very happy with the program and of course the outcome!

I was very nervous and worried about starting this

journey. Going back to school in my 40’s was terrifying. However, Once I got going and had a few classes under my belt I became more comfortable and not so terrifying. The classes were well taught and I learned so much. The timeframe for each class was perfect and allowed me to still have a home life.

All the professors that help me achieve my goals were

very impressive. Without these professors and all their patience and understanding on how to work with the students was amazing. They are true professionals.

“While I did not WANT to go back to school, the life-pace

learning provided me with the opportunity to study when it best fit my life. This allowed me to proceed very quickly in some classes and take extra time in others. The flexibility was a tremendous benefit.”

The thing that I enjoyed most was learning more in

a field that I was already intimately familiar with based on work experience. This program helped me to understand the “why” in how things are done in the Occupational Safety and Health and Environmental Management fields.

Meeting people from all over the US who had similar goals

to mine. The teachers were so helpful and I thought it was awesome that they too lived all around the US.

Professors were here to teach, help, provide feedback and

truly care. The entire University truly care and was here ready to help at all times.

It is a program that allows you to achieve an MBA while leading an extremely busy

lifestyle (active military, family, kids, etc.). It was stressful, but that is to be expected for any Masters program. However, the flexibility of the program was nice and helpful in lowering that stress.

The material was challenging, but also relevant to current

standards and accepted practices, and the faculty was very well-versed in the subject matter, which made asking and getting answers to questions much easier and explanations of concepts were easier to understand.

Everyone I’ve dealt with over the years has been friendly

and willing to assist with whatever question/issue/concern that I had. Customer service from top to bottom is excellent. The professors are knowledgeable, approachable, and provided feedback that was constructive and encouraging. I enjoyed my educational experience. Thank you.

Sample Of Student Answers When Asked

What Did You Enjoy Most About Your Educational

Experience at Columbia Southern?

INDUSTRY RELEVANT

FLEXIBLESCHEDULE

SUPPORTIVESTAFF

CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 9 CSU 2020 Outcomes Assessment Report 9

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