Columbia Southern Teams Up with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to Expand Higher Education for Gulf Coast Students

04/10/2025

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Columbia Southern University recently signed an articulation agreement with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). The agreement allows MGCCC students to transfer academic credits toward earning their bachelor’s completely online at CSU.

MGCCC and CSU also established a Learning Partnership. Through the partnership, MGCCC graduates and their immediate families receive 10% off their tuition and are eligible to apply for the Learning Partner Scholarship, awarded multiple times throughout the year.

Both schools, which are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, are excited about the opportunities the agreement will afford MGCCC students.

“We are thrilled to partner with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,” said Dr. Ken Styron, CSU president. “This partnership creates more opportunities for MGCCC students to pursue higher education, and as a result, more opportunities for communities along the Gulf Coast. It’s a win-win.”

“At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, we are committed to creating clear and accessible pathways to higher education for our students,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “This partnership with Columbia Southern University enhances those opportunities by providing our graduates and their families with flexible, affordable options to continue their academic journeys. We are proud to collaborate with an institution that shares our dedication to student success and community impact.”

Columbia Southern University recently signed an articulation agreement with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Pictured L to R: Dr. Janell Gibson, provost and chief academic officer, CSU; Dr. Shakeeka Misher, lead experiential learning coordinator, CSU; Dr. Bonny Kehm, dean and academic program director, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, CSU; Dr. Ken Styron, president, CSU; Dr. Mary S. Graham, president, MGCCC; Dr. Jonathan Woodward, executive vice president of teaching and learning/community campus, MGCCC; Caroline Walters, chief university relations officer, CSU.

About Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
The mission of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to meet the educational and community needs in George, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone counties by providing superior instruction through traditional and technological formats to offer workforce pathways, certificates, diplomas, and associate transfer and applied degrees. The College embraces lifelong learning, productive citizenship, service learning, and leadership development in a dynamic and innovative learning environment.

About Columbia Southern University
As an innovator in online education, CSU was established in 1993 to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience. CSU offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration, military studies and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.