Columbia Southern University (CSU) has achieved programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for its undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business. According to a news release, the accreditation covers various programs, including the Associate of Science in business administration, Bachelor of Science in business administration, Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership, Doctor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in organizational leadership.

ACBSP accreditation assesses several criteria such as leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder relationships, academic program quality, and faculty credentials. Universities with ACBSP-accredited programs are dedicated to continuous improvement, ensuring students acquire the skills sought by employers, and validating that students receive value from their educational investment.

The accreditation is retroactive for CSU alumni who completed their business degree programs on July 1, 2022, or later. This means graduates from this date forward hold an ACBSP-accredited degree.

“Generally, the time to achieve accreditation is three years, yet CSU was able to demonstrate compliance to all standards in less than a year,” said Elwin Jones, Ph.D., vice provost for CSU’s doctoral center and dean of the College of Business and Technology.

Jones noted the university's expedited compliance with all standards, attributing it to CSU's well-established and academically sound assessment standards.

CSU has maintained institutional accreditation since 2001 and received additional institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) on Dec. 6, 2022. For further information about CSU, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu.

Gulf Coast Media previously reported on CSU's expansion of business degree offerings in early February. Responding to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating significant growth in financial management (16%) and management analytics (10%) through 2032, CSU introduced new degree programs in business. These offerings,, which include accounting and concentrations in data analytics, aim to equip professionals with the skills needed for the evolving demands of the business landscape.