Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private, for-profit online university based in Orange Beach, Alabama, founded in 1993.[1] Its current logo, registered as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, features a crest containing five architectural columns and a roof line, flanked by two vines of laurel that intersect below the center of the columns. The word “COLUMBIA” appears to the right of the crest, with “SOUTHERN” below it and “UNIVERSITY” beneath that.[2]
Design and History
In March 2018, CSU announced it would launch a rebrand on April 5, 2018, coinciding with its 25th anniversary. The university described the new strategy as “a fresh take on its current logo and branding” that captured CSU’s “exceptional academic tradition and innovative spirit.”[3] Eric McHaney, CSU’s chief marketing officer at the time, said the new logo was “a great illustration of where those two ideals collide,” referring to the university’s history as an online education leader and its embrace of innovation, creativity and progress.[4]
The trademark for the current crest design, registration number 5711441, was filed under serial number 87892086 and remains in active use.[2] The design’s five columns and laurel vines form the central emblem of the university’s visual identity, paired with the stacked wordmark.
Meaning and Symbolism
The university’s official colors are navy blue and gold.[5] Brand asset data for the university lists the primary brand colors as Prussian Blue (#002855) and Laser (#CCAA77), a muted gold tone, along with a secondary Yuma (#D3C69E) shade.[6] The architectural columns and roof line in the crest evoke classical academic imagery, while the laurel vines are a traditional symbol of achievement, though the university has not published an official interpretation of these elements.
Typography and Design
The wordmark portion of the logo stacks “COLUMBIA,” “SOUTHERN” and “UNIVERSITY” in a three-line arrangement to the right of the crest.[2] No official documentation identifying the specific typeface used in the logo has been published by the university.
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