Columbia Southern University Nursing Programs Earn Accreditation Milestone

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Columbia Southern University (CSU) recently celebrated the pre-accreditation candidacy of its nursing programs by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). This indicates that all seven of the university’s nursing programs, launched in December 2024, are on track to meet national accreditation standards.

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• RN to Master of Science in Nursing Education
• RN to Master of Science in Nursing Informatics
• RN to Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems
• Master of Science in Nursing Education
• Master of Science in Nursing Informatics
• Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems.

The pre-accreditation candidacy status is granted for up to three years from CSU’s conferral date, June 18, 2025. During this time, CSU’s nursing program leaders will continue preparing for and completing the full accreditation process. This is the required first step for all new nursing programs.

“Receiving the CNEA pre-accreditation milestone is a significant step that affirms CSU’s commitment to excellence in nursing education and continuous program improvement,” said Nancy Bellucci, academic program director in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “It reflects the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff to meet rigorous national standards. I see this as a strong foundation for building trust with students, partners and future accreditors.”

According to the NLN CNEA, any student who graduates from a program that holds pre-accreditation candidacy is considered to have graduated from an accredited program.

“Receiving NLN CNEA pre-accreditation is a proud milestone for Columbia Southern University. It celebrates the dedication of our faculty, the passion of our students, and our shared commitment to advancing excellence in nursing education,” said Dr. Bonny Kehm, dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences and assistant provost.

The Columbia Southern University bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing hold pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20037; phone 202-909-2487. Holding pre-accreditation status does not guarantee that initial accreditation by NLN CNEA will be received.

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 nursing. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.