Head to head
Columbia Southern University vs The University of Alabama
Columbia Southern University (Orange Beach, AL) and The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Columbia Southern University | The University of Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Orange Beach, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Private | Public |
| Campus setting | Rural | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $6,760 | $12,180 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $6,760 | $34,172 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $14,580 | $22,420 |
| Acceptance rate | 100% | 77% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | Not reported | 1170–1400 |
| Total enrollment | 18,429 | 38,510 |
| Graduation rate | 33% | 73% |
| First-year retention | 71% | 89% |
What the numbers show
- Columbia Southern University has the lower published in-state tuition ($6,760 vs $12,180 at The University of Alabama).
- Columbia Southern University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($6,760 vs $34,172 at The University of Alabama).
- Columbia Southern University has the lower average net price after aid ($14,580 vs $22,420 at The University of Alabama).
- The University of Alabama has the higher graduation rate (73% vs 33% at Columbia Southern University).
- The University of Alabama has the lower acceptance rate (77% vs 100% at Columbia Southern University).
- The University of Alabama has the larger student body (38,510 students vs 18,429 students at Columbia Southern University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Columbia Southern University or The University of Alabama?
- Columbia Southern University has the lower published in-state tuition: $6,760 versus $12,180. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $14,580 at Columbia Southern University and $22,420 at The University of Alabama — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is Columbia Southern University or The University of Alabama harder to get into?
- The University of Alabama has the lower acceptance rate — 77% versus 100%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Columbia Southern University or The University of Alabama?
- The University of Alabama reports the higher graduation rate: 73% versus 33%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for Columbia Southern University and The University of Alabama come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Columbia Southern University vs The University of Alabama. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/columbia-southern-university-vs-the-university-of-alabama