Frequently Asked Questions

How many credit hours are needed to complete a degree with Columbia College?

In order to complete an associate degree from Columbia College, a student must earn 60 semester credits required specifically for their declared degree. At least 15 credits must be taken with Columbia College to meet residency requirement.

In order to complete a bachelor's degree from Columbia College, a student must earn 120 semester credits required specifically for their declared degree. At least 24 credits must be taken with Columbia College to meet residency requirement.

Are there any specific courses within each degree that must be taken from Columbia College?

Columbia College does not require the student to complete specific courses with the college as long as the student meets the residency requirements for his or her degree: 15 credits for the associate degree and 24 credits for the bachelor's degrees must be with Columbia College. Students must also meet 60 credits of traditional classroom credit for the bachelor's degree.

What is the tuition rate for Columbia College Online Campus?

The tuition rate is $210 per credit hour for undergraduate courses. View our tuition rates.

Does the student pay in-state or out-of-state fees?

All Online Campus students pay the same tuition rate regardless of location. View our tuition rates.

Does Columbia College accept credit by examination?

All baccalaureate degrees awarded by Columbia College require a minimum of 60 semester credits of traditional credit (coursework taken with Columbia College and other approved, accredited institutions); remaining coursework may be earned from traditional or non-traditional (military experience, CLEP exams, etc.) sources. View accepted non-traditional transfer credit.

What transfer credit will Columbia College accept?

We can accept any college-level credit that earned a grade of "C" or higher from a college that was regionally accredited when the course was taken.

How much transfer credit will Columbia College accept?

We can accept any qualifying transfer credit. However, some of the transfer may not apply towards a specific degree. An associate's degree requires a minimum of 15 credits taken through Columbia College, and the remaining 45 credits may be transfer credit. A bachelor's degree requires at least 24 credits with Columbia College, and up to 96 credits may be transfer. No more than 60 credits of a bachelor's degree may be earned through non-college credit, such as military, CLEP, AP, DSST exams, or professional training.

What is the history of Columbia College's distance learning experience?

Founded in 1851, Columbia College prides itself on its ability to change with the times by offering educational programs that meet the needs of an ever-changing society. In 2000, the college launched its Online Campus, which now offers more than 500 online courses and 19 online degrees. More than 16,000 students take at least one online course each year at Columbia College. Learn more about the history of the Online Campus.

Does Columbia College participate in federal financial aid programs for students?

Yes, Columbia College does participate in financial aid programs for students. These programs include:

How do I apply for grants/financial aid?

To apply for Financial Aid please visit http://www.ccis.edu/offices/financialaid/. This Web site is great resource to learn more about FAFSA, Pell grants, student loans and other financial information.

The Registration and Financial Services department can be reached directly at 800-231-2391, ext. 7390 or by email at FinancialAid@ccis.edu.

How do I use my VA benefits?

If you are eligible for Veterans benefits or GI Bill funding, please contact our Veterans Certifying Official at vacert@ccis.edu. Read more about Veteran certification on our Web site.

What is the process that a member of the Navy would follow to apply for admission?

A sailor may apply for admission by completing an application on Columbia College's Web site. To be considered for admission to Columbia College, an applicant must:
  1. Complete the application for admission to the Online Campus undergradute program
  2. Submit the application to Columbia College Online Campus office electronically.
  3. Submit the application fee of US $35.00
  4. Columbia College policy requires official transcripts from all previous colleges, military training, and AP, CLEP, and DSST exams to be submitted before an evaluation can be completed or any credit can be transferred. If you have been discharged from the military, a copy of your DD214 is also required. All transcripts should be sent to:
    Columbia College
    Attn: Online Campus
    1001 Rogers Street
    Columbia, MO 65216
  5. You will need to contact an academic advisor before you are able to register for your courses. You can contact an academic advisor at OnlineAdvisor@ccis.edu or you can call 1-800-231-2391, ext. 7246.
  6. Once you have contacted an academic advisor, you can register for your courses by completing an Assisted Registration form on our Web site. The form will ask you to indicate if you will be receiving Tuition Assistance or other types of financial aid.
  7. Once we receive all transcripts our Evaluations Office will complete an official report to show how all of your previous credit transfers. The completed evaluation will be sent to your Columbia College CougarMail account.

What academic advising services do you provide to support the Navy College Program?

Columbia College Online Campus provides knowledgeable academic advisors prepared to assist any student with his or her educational needs. The purpose of academic advisement is to ensure that students know which courses are needed for degree completion. The academic advisor also assists the student with selecting the appropriate courses based on their declared degree. A degree plan showing transfer credit awarded is prepared for the student and sent to their CougarMail account after official transcript have been accepted and evaluated. The degree plan will explain what courses a student has remaining to complete his or her degree.

There are several Online academic advisors who are accessible for student advisement. The Online academic advisors are available Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Central Time and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Advisors may be contacted via a toll-free phone, e-mail, Fax, or mail. You can email an Academic Advisor at OnlineAdvisor@ccis.edu, or you can call 1-800-231-2391, ext. 7246.

Will I be assigned an advisor, and how will I communicate with that person?

Online academic advisors are available via telephone, e-mail, and FAX. All of our advisors are highly trained and ready to assist you. You can reach an academic advisor at 1-800-231-2391, ext. 7246, or by sending an email to OnlineAdvisor@ccis.edu.

Can I start my program at any time?

Online courses are available during five academic sessions a year, starting in January, March, June, August, and October. Each session is eight weeks long. You can view registration dates from our academic calendar.

How do I review the course syllabus or order my textbook?

The course syllabus can be viewed before a student registers for his or her course through the course schedules on the Web site. Once you have registered for your class, check the MBS Online Bookstore to see what textbooks are required. You are not required to purchase books from the online bookstore if you have a better source, but make sure you visit the online bookstore for correct textbook information.

How Does Online Learning Work?

At Columbia College, we give online students the freedom to access their courses when it is convenient for them, no matter what time of day or night it may be. Students will meet weekly assignment deadlines, but are not required to meet the instructor or other students at a certain time online or in person. When you study is entirely up to you!

Online courses at Columbia College have two main components: the syllabus and the discussion forum. At the beginning of each session, students will receive a detailed syllabus for every class that covers in-depth the overall expectations for the course. The discussion forum is where the bulk of student-to-teacher and student-to-student interactions take place. Not only do instructors check the discussion and offer feedback, but students also benefit from the diverse perspectives and opinions offered by their fellow online students.

Assignments, quality discussion postings, exams and research papers are a large part of most online coursework at Columbia College.  You can read more about how online learning works on our Web site.

What is eServices?

Your eServices account gives you access to your online courses, CougarMail (Columbia College email) and other services.  You will need to activate your eServices account after being admitted to the College.

How many courses am I allowed to enroll in for one session?

Undergraduate students may enroll in two courses (6 credit hours) per session. Because we offer five 8-week sessions per year, taking two courses each session is considered full-time.

Can I continue my degree while deployed?

As long as students have access to the internet, they can complete their degree from anywhere.