Admissions Requirements
Undergraduate Programs – An accredited official high school transcript (showing completion) or GED. In lieu of a high school transcript or GED, veterans/military service members may submit form DD-214 or a Military Statement of Service indicating high school graduation. Transfer students who have completed an associate degree may provide CSU with the official institutional transcript showing the conferred degree.
Home School Students – CSU understands there are multiple pathways a home school student may take to complete their education. A detailed guide for meeting the CSU admissions requirements is available in the CSU Home School Admissions Guidelines.
Master's Programs – Accredited Bachelor’s Degree
Doctoral Program – Accredited Bachelor's Degree, Master of Business Administration Degree with two years of professional experience post baccalaureate and a resume.
International Students – Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction are required to submit one of the following official test score reports prior to admission:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test score with the following:
- Undergraduate - A minimum of 500 in the paper-based version or 61 in the Internet-based version
- Master's - A minimum of 530 in the paper-based version or 71 in the Internet-based version
- Doctorate - A minimum of 550 in the paper-based version or 80 in the Internet-based version
- A minimum grade of Level 3 on the ACT COMPASS English as a Second Language Placement Test;
- A minimum score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), including the academic writing and academic reading modules;
- A minimum grade of Pre-1 on the EIKEN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAM;
- A transcript indicating completion of at least 30 semester hours of credit with an average grade of "C" or higher at an appropriately accredited/recognized college or university where the language of instruction is English;
- A transcript indicating a grade of "C" or higher in a 3 semester hour English Composition course from an appropriately accredited/recognized college or university (as verified by the International Handbook of Universities (21st ed.)
- A high school diploma completed at an appropriately accredited/recognized high school where the medium of instruction is English. Transcripts not in U.S. equivalency must be translated through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved translating service Please visit www.naces.org for more information.
A student may send copies of transcripts or documents during the initial admission stages and enroll as a student on Conditional Status (not eligible for Title IV). The student must provide official transcripts prior to completing 12 undergraduate/ 7 graduate credit hours. Official transfer credit will not be awarded until official transcripts are received by the Office of the Registrar at CSU.
All documents provided to CSU for admissions become the sole property of CSU and will not be returned at any time nor will CSU forward them to a third party.
Transcripts from unaccredited schools are not acceptable to satisfy admissions criteria. CSU reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who do not meet full admissions requirements. Applicants who are denied admission have the right to appeal this decision by providing supporting documentation to the registrar@columbiasouthern.edu.
Computer Access – CSU students must have access to the internet and an appropriate individual (non-shared) e-mail account in order to complete a program of study at CSU. If personal internet service is unavailable, you are encouraged to contact local libraries, schools or a public business to locate access to the internet. Microsoft Word and Adobe Reader are also required. Other Microsoft Office products may be required for information technology courses such as ITC 3001.