Columbia Southern University Transfer Credits

From a UPI class to a CSU degree.

Columbia Southern University is known for flexible, career-focused online programs — and UPI Study is a faster way to complete transferable college credits online. Choose from nearly 70 CSU-aligned courses built for general education and electives, complete them at your pace, and submit your transcript for CSU's credit review.

Starts at $89/month · cancel anytime · no application required

✓SACSCOC accredited

✓ACE & NCCRS credit

✓75% transfer limit

✓$8,340 total tuition

How it works

From sign-up to credit awarded.

Enroll in UPI Study

Choose a course on this page. Pay your subscription, start instantly. No admission process, no waiting list.

Learn at your pace

All courses are self-paced and 100% online. Read, watch, and practice on your schedule — nights, weekends, whenever.

Pass the proctored final

Once you're ready, take the proctored final exam online. Credit is awarded based on demonstrated mastery.

Transcript sent to CSU

UPI Study sends your official transcript directly to Columbia Southern University's registrar.

Credit awarded

CSU applies the agreed equivalency. Your credits count toward your Bachelor of Science.

📋Official equivalency chart → See pricing → Try the calculator → Read FAQ →

Pricing

Pick a plan that fits your pace.

One subscription, unlimited courses. Cancel anytime. Every plan includes ACE/NCCRS-recommended credit and direct transfer to CSU.

Monthly

$89 /mo

Best if you finish in under 4 months

✓Unlimited course access
✓Cancel anytime — no contract
✓ACE & NCCRS recommended credit
✓Official transcript sent to CSU

Choose Monthly

A career-focused degree.
Built for online learners.

Located in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private, for-profit online university accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. CSU is widely recognized for its flexible, career-focused undergraduate and graduate degree programs, particularly designed for working professionals, military members, and adult learners. The university offers 100% online programs with flexible scheduling and multiple start dates, allowing students to balance education with work and personal commitments.

Founded 1993 · Orange Beach, AL

DEAC-recognized by the U.S. Department of Education & CHEA

$278/cr

CSU's LearningPartner rate

75%

Of credits can transfer in

90cr

Max transfer credits accepted

1993

Founded · DEAC accredited

The university at a glance

Built differently, from the ground up.

Built for working adults

Founded in 1993 in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University was built from the ground up to serve working professionals, military members, and adult learners. CSU has spent 30+ years refining flexible online programs around real life.

DEAC accredited

Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission — recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA. DEAC is the leading accreditor specifically for distance-learning institutions, with rigorous standards for online programs.

Active UPI Study agreement

Columbia Southern University and UPI Study have an active transfer credit pathway with a published official agreement. 68 UPI Study courses transfer to CSU — most as named CSU course codes, the rest as open electives for filling 300-level requirements.

100% online & flexible

Every CSU program is fully online with multiple start dates throughout the year. No fixed semester schedule — students can begin a new term every few weeks and progress at their own pace within each course.

Military & veteran friendly

CSU is one of the most military-friendly online universities in the country, with dedicated military student services and tuition assistance for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. UPI Study credits stack with military training credits seamlessly.

Open to international students

CSU enrolls students from across the U.S. and internationally — fully online, no visa required, coursework in English. UPI Study credits work the same regardless of where you live.

Degree programs offered

2 paths to a real degree.

Foundational degree

Associate of Science

CSU's 60-credit Associate of Science programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, IT, and Health Care Administration. Fully online with multiple start dates and generous transfer policies for working adults.

Credits required

$8,340

Total tuition

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor of Science

CSU's flagship 120-credit Bachelor of Science programs in Business, Information Technology, Psychology, Health Care Administration, and more. Accepts up to 90 credits (75%) of transfer credit from ACE/NCCRS-approved sources including UPI Study.

120

Credits required

$8,340

Total tuition

Columbia Southern University is known for flexible, career-focused online programs designed for working professionals, military members, and adult learners.

CSU

Columbia Southern University

Transfer credit partner · columbiasouthern.edu

Source: CSU × UPI Study official agreement →

Frequently asked questions

Everything about CSU.

Does Columbia Southern University officially accept UPI Study credits?

Yes — Columbia Southern University and UPI Study have an active transfer credit pathway with a published official agreement on columbiasouthern.edu. CSU evaluates UPI Study credits through their ACE & NCCRS recommendations, the same standards used for CLEP exams and military training evaluations. 68 UPI Study courses transfer to CSU as named courses or open electives.

Can I earn CSU credits without enrolling at CSU first?

Yes. UPI Study lets you take individual courses and earn ACE/NCCRS-recommended credit completely independently — no CSU enrollment, no application, no admission required. Complete the courses first, then submit your official UPI Study transcript to CSU for evaluation when you're ready to enroll.

How many UPI Study credits can I transfer toward my CSU degree?

CSU accepts up to 90 credits (75% of a 120-credit Bachelor's) from outside sources including UPI Study. With 68 UPI Study courses aligned with CSU's transfer table, you can comfortably fill the entire 90-credit transfer cap before enrolling. About 30 of those map to named CSU course codes; the rest fill elective requirements.

What's the difference between a 'named' CSU course and 'Open Electives'?

A named CSU course (like ACC 3301 Managerial Accounting) means the UPI Study credit transfers as that specific CSU course on your transcript — satisfying that named requirement. 'Open Electives' means the credit transfers as general elective hours that fill your degree's elective requirements, but not a specific named course.

How long does it take to complete a UPI Study course?

Most students complete a single course in 2–6 weeks of part-time study. UPI Study is fully self-paced with no deadlines — you can move faster through subjects you know well, or slower through more challenging ones.

How does UPI Study compare to taking the course directly at CSU?

CSU's LearningPartner rate is $278 per credit (about $834 for a 3-credit course). UPI Study's subscription plans start at $89/month for unlimited access to all 70+ courses — meaning a 3-credit course can effectively cost as little as $42 via the annual plan. The credit value is identical; the cost is dramatically lower.

Is UPI Study good for military and veteran students at CSU?

Yes — CSU is one of the most military-friendly online universities in the country, and UPI Study credits use the same ACE/NCCRS standards as military training evaluations. They stack naturally with prior service credit on a single transcript, helping veterans and active-duty military maximize the credits they bring into CSU.

Which UPI Study courses are not listed on this page?

Only one UPI Study course is excluded from CSU: Environmental Science (ENV 121), which is not in CSU's published equivalency table. All other 68 UPI Study courses are available with CSU equivalencies — some as named CSU courses, some as open electives.

From a UPI class to a CSU degree.

From sign-up to credit awarded.

Enroll in UPI Study

Learn at your pace

Pass the proctored final

Transcript sent to CSU

Credit awarded

68 UPI courses → Columbia Southern University credit.

Business Communication

Business Essentials

Business Ethics

Business Law

Entrepreneurship

Financial Management

Foundations of Leadership

Globalization and International Management

Human Resources Management

International Business

Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Leading Organizational Change

Managerial Accounting

Marketing Research

Principles of Finance

Principles of Management

Principles of Marketing

Project Management

Computer Concepts and Applications

Current Trends in Computer Science and IT

Cybersecurity

Data Structure and Algorithms

Database Fundamentals

Database Programming

Ethics in Technology

Fundamentals of Information Technology

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Introduction to Computing

Introduction to HTML and CSS

Introduction to Java

Introduction to Javascript

Introduction to Linux

Introduction to Networking

Introduction to Operating Systems

Network and Systems Security

Programming in C

Programming in C++

Programming in Python

Software Engineering

System Analysis and Design

Business Math

Calculus 1

Calculus 2

Discrete Mathematics

Principles of Statistics

Quantitative Analysis

Chemistry I

Healthcare Finance and Budgeting

Healthcare Organization and Management

Human Resource Management in Healthcare

Intro to Biology 1

Intro to Biology 2

Medical Terminology

Physics I

Abnormal Psychology

Advanced Social Psychology

Advanced Technical Writing

Educational Psychology

Ethics in the Social Sciences

Introduction to Criminology

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

Principles of Philosophy

Psychology of Diversity

Psychology of Personality

Research Methods in Psychology

Pick a plan that fits your pace.

How many credits do you need?

A career-focused degree.Built for online learners.

Built differently, from the ground up.

A career-focused degree.
Built for online learners.